Clean install resulted in two OS choices at boot...

I completed a clean install on my Dell last night, but after the install was completed and the system rebooted, I had two XP OS's to choose from. I have only booted from the top XP on the list, haven't had the nerve to see what happens with the second one on the list. I don't understand what would have caused this... I followed the XP install prompts and directions exactly as given.

Do I need to do something different? It only took about 45 minutes to completely reinstall... fast system. I'm not opposed to doing it again, if that's what needs to be done. Hoping for some helpful suggestions from the pros here.

Thanks,
Shannon

 

Try the second one. Hopefully, it won't work.

In that case, all you need do is edit the boot.ini file.

Look around your disk. Are there really 2 installations? How much space did the installation take?

No idea why this may have happened, but we can hope it is just a matter of editing.

 

Thank you!

I did try to boot from the "second" OS choice and received a message stating this was an invalid path. I checked and re-checked my system for evidence of a double install, but only find one installation... so I edited the boot file as suggested. All appears well!

Thank you for your timely response and help!

~Shannon

 

You're welcome. Thanks for the followup.

45 minutes is good time for a single installation, but not enough to do 2 of them.

 

boot.ini

Hey all

I have come across this happening a lot with machines that i have worked on... Its like when u run the win xp install it grabs the boot.ini and puts it back after format or something.

Dunno why but yeah i just edit it after install too.

Wolfsta

 

That's not how it works Wolfsta. The boot.ini file is created on systems when you configure a machine to dual or multi-boot. The file merely contains the parameters & path for where the NTLDR can file the operating system files.

In Shannon's case, I suspect she did not format the drive before doing her fresh install of her OS; otherwise, that boot menu should have never shown up.

 

No need to fromat. Hust have to watch carefull that REPAIR XP ( or what ever it says ) is selected.

If the machine happens to boot from the HD first then the install may see the esisting and create a new and separate install.

I had this ALMOST happen on a re-install of 98SE when I messed up and booted from the HD to start the install.

If a cold boot ( from power off ) is done it should go directly to the Floppy/CD whichever is being used. This way the install/re-install does not even see the old install and makes everything new. But still retains the existing.

Also when the HD is not formated we need to watch CAREFULLY to make sure the new install goes into the EXISTING Windows folder. If we are not careful we can wind up with two installs. Useally this is not a problem if we boot directly to the floppy or CD as then it does not even know that there is an existing OS and uses the C:\Windows by default.

BillyBob

 

Also when booting from the HD there may well be files that are in use and do not get overwritten properly.

This problem is avoided when booting to the Floppy or CD directly from a power off state.

BB

 

Don't misquote me. I never said that she "needed" to format. I merely gave an explanation for why she saw the dual-boot menu.

And don't go around ASSuming that she needed/wanted to repair her current installation without knowing what sort of problems she had.

For a guy who raves about Win98, and spends so much time "tweaking" it and thinks XP would be gone from the face of the planet if it wasn't for Bill Gates, you sure do have a lot to say on this forum.

 

I did not in any way say you were wrong. Because I do suspect the same. And I did not base my reply on what you wrote.

I just simpley said there is no need to format if things are done in the proper order.

You seem to be forgetting ( or ignoring ) the fact that in another post I mentioned that XP Pro is the fourth OS on the HD and it has not been reformated yet.

98 was repaired at least once.
98SE was repaired at least twiice.
XP Pro has been reapired once.

And at no time has this HD been reformated inbetween. Only under EXTREME circumsuances does the HD need reformating.

And last but not least. There is NOTHING to be lost by doing a repair re-install It could well save hours ( if not DAYS ) worth of work.

But it MUST BE done properly. And I guess that is what I have learned to do. AND IT DID NOT come from Microsoft either.

BillyBob

 

I'm pretty sure all NT systems have a Boot.ini file, but I know for sure that XP does, whether multi-booting or not; extra lines are created for additional OSes in multiple boot installations.

Its 9x systems that don't have them. If a 9X system on is on the C partition (which it should be) in a multi-boot environment, XP's boot.ini is created on C.

Regards - Charles

 

I'm pretty sure all NT systems have a Boot.ini file

Charles, you are correct and all NT systems create a boot.ini file at install time be it dual boot or single boot. Also correct that it will be located on C:\ unless you do something to change that.

 

Parden my silliness...

But was it a "clean" install if the drive was not formated prior to thereby making it clean?

 

bent - If the install was to a partition that already existed then no, I'd agree it wouldn't be 'clean' without a removal and reformat of that partition.

shenanigins - we've sorta been around the block with responses here but no one has asked to see a copy of your boot.ini file and that would probably answer the questions.

It is a simple and very short text file but will be hidden so set windows explorer to show hidden files and then open boot.ini in notepad, copy the contents, close notepad, and post the contents here.

Depending on what view options you have, the file may show as boot.ini or possibly just as boot but it should be in c:\

 

A few forehead slaps...

An easier way to see what it looks like:

Start > run > type msconfig > ok > boot.ini tab. The boot.ini will appear. Copy and paste into your post.

Regards - Charles

 

Shannon, read this article.

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;304895&Product=win2000

Although it says W2K, the directions are the same for WinXP.

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Newt, you may be right about that, but I have yet to find a boot.ini file on a single-boot OS machine. The A+ study guide books I have suggest the same.