windows xp installation screwup

Before I installed windows xp, I had windows 98 and windows 2000. I only used windows 2k and basically, I wanted xp to replace 2k. Instead of clicking on the xp setup file in windows 2k (which gives you an option to upgrade or new install), I ran the setup from the cd-boot. I picked my windows 2k drive to install xp on and I thought it was going to Upgrade it. Instead it created a new xp installation (and left the 2k installation alone). So now I have two operating systems residing on the same drive. How do I remove the xp installation (so I can upgrade windows 2k). At startup, I get an option of Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows 98.

Thanks.

 

First, a good backup would be essential at this point.

Then you will need to furnish some more information before any method can be outlined for clearing the improper XP install from your system.

Which version of XP (Pro or Home) are you installing? How many physical drives do you have? How many partitions are on your drive/drives? Do you use any 3rd party boot manager to accomplish multi-booting? Are all three systems still bootable and fully functional? What are the names of the folders that contain each of these systems?

Some of the questions above can be answered by posting the contents of your boot.ini file. You'll find it in the root of the c: drive or you may choose to use the Find File feature of Windows. (Be sure you are showing hidden files) When located, right-click it and choose to open it with Notepad. Copy the contents and paste them back here in your next post.

What will eventually have to be done is to delete all the XP files that were installed and retry the install selecting to Upgrade the 2k this time. (Assuming you have XP Pro disk) Editing the boot.ini file may be needed. The hazard involved is such that a good backup image is recommended in case something goes awry and the system becomes unbootable.

You may want to consider dumping Win98 as well since you have quite a log-jam collection going on there. You may even consider dumping 2K as well and just going with a clean install of XP. These choices are yours however and I only mention them in passing.

There is a fairly good step by step presentation of some of this process here. Reading that will help you with what lies ahead.

The more information you furnish, the better you can be helped so post back all you can come up with.