2 copies of Windows XP on the same drive (again!)

Hi. My 1 st post.

Thanks for letting me post here and to be able look at experts' solutions to problems.

This query has been on this forum several times before but as the threads are closed I can't ask suplemental questions (I think). If so, I apologise for re-posting.

Anyway I resorted finally a fresh install after many repair attempts due currupted XP Pro. I used the same install disc and when installing I chose the same drive and partition letter to re-install into as it "said" it would delete the old XP during installation 'cos two XP O/S's can't comfortably co-exist on the same drive and I only wanted the new install.

However when I boot up there are two XP's to chose from but only the new one works if selected - the other has a missing DLL file apparently.
I have followed the link to Microsoft with instructions how to delete the unwanted copy but I can only find one windows director on my P.C., so I do not know where the unwanted original XP is residing and so cannot delete it.

Having picked up some other comments from previous solutions, I do have a proliferation of users in the Local Settings but do not know if this is in any way connected?
All drives are NTFS.

My Boot.ini log file is:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Anyone help please

 

Welcome stevieb,

Your boot.ini file indicates that you may have had XP installed on two different physical drives at one time and possibly still.

Let's find out where it's at now.

Boot to Windows and click Start > Run > type %userprofile% and press OK or enter. Note the drive letter that your profile is listed under in the Explorer screen that opens.

Post back your results and it will make it possible to direct you how to safely edit your boot.ini file so you won't have the dual boot option presented.

 

Thanks Surferdude.

I've followed your instructions and the drive letter is D which is where the windows directory of my new installation is.
(As a side question I seem to have multiple profiles from previous instalations. Is it safe to delete these (obviously leaving other current users intact))

I can't access the "old" XP instalation without repairing/ re-installing the .dll file it is saying is missing. Should I try to do that and then run %windir% again to see where that XP is? I suspect it is harbouring in my D drive somewhere in my current windows directory!!

All your advice is very much appreciated.

 

OK, since the new install is located on the D: drive, you can edit the boot.ini file to be as follows:

Code:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

That will allow you to boot directly into the Windows version you have on the D: drive.

Before you do that, consider if you would like to attempt to do a "Repair install" of the old Windows system that is located on the C: drive. That's a more conventional location for the operating system. XP will run either way but if you have software installed on the old system, it might be best to resurrect it and abandon the new install. That choice is yours. There are pros and cons to each and how well the old system was working should be considered as a prime factor.

 

Here is a good Repair Install Pictorial Guide for XP in case you elect to go that route.

I'm not ignoring your question but putting it aside until the main issue is resolved. I am a little surprised that a new install would have any more user profiles than necessary so let's let that issue rest for the moment. When we get there, we would only remove User Profiles via the Control Panel Applet for User Profiles.

 

The new install does not have more than one profile per person but I have quite a few user profiles in the local settings folder with creation dates rferring to previous installs.
So aside from this I have been thru the guide whicg appears to guiding me thru the repair of the old XP install - which I want rid of - so that I can then identify and delete safely.

Is this correct or have I completely gone off on a tangent?

 

No, there's no point in doing a Repair Install if you want to be rid of the old install. I just offered that up in case you thought the old install was better for your purpose.

If you had rather keep the new install, you can delete the Windows folder that is located on the C: drive.

Then go ahead and edit the boot.ini file located on the C: root to eliminate the last line it contains. It will then look as I posted earlier.

You must be aware that it will be necessary to keep the bootloader files on the root of your C: drive in order to boot your new system successfully. To clarify, the boot.ini, ntldr, and the ntdetect.com files must always be located on the root of the C: drive. If you erase them you risk not being able to boot to Windows without help.

 

surferdude:

I appear to have it sorted out now thanks to your very valued help and instruction.

Cheers

 

Good for you Steve! Thanks for posting back your results so others may be helped.

All the best,

Dude