Resolved Two XP systems on same drive

Hi everyone,just looking for a bit advice..I corrupted my system by accidently deleting some registry files but when I tried to repair my XP it just kept hanging so I re-installed another xp system on the same drive which I have since found out is not the most advisable thing to do..(DUH!!)Anyway what I would like to do is safely get rid of my Windows xp system and keep my Windows3 system,here is my boot.ini log file
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS3
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS3= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
Many thanks for anyones help!

 

Boot.ini has two sections: The [boot
loader] section just sets the delay time and the default OS to boot. The
[operating systems] section points to each system you have installed on this
computer, using drive and partition NUMBERS, rather than drive letters.
Make sure to keep the one you want - probably the one that matches the
default line above, and delete all the others. Then save the edited file
and reboot. When there's only one option in boot.ini, WinXP won't even
present the opening menu and wait the delay time; it will simply boot into
WinXP.

Hopefully this is helpful

 

Thanks for replying richie and for your advice..when you say delete "the others" do you mean just delete the windows folder or should I do something else..cheers

 

Editing the boot.ini file and deleting the line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS= "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

will allow you to boot directly to the parallel installation named Windows3. Bear in mind that it will not contain any of the personal setting or added software of the original install. It will not contain any of the MS updates either.

All things considered, you should consider doing a clean install and leaving this problem behind. The amount of work needed to fix it may be greater than that of a new clean install.

 

many thanks for your help surferdude but i have started loading my windows 3 OS with files and applications from the original OS and trimmed it down as I had too much junk on the original OS and I am happy to get rid of the old OS if this can done safely..or am I just causing too much trouble for myself?..thanks a million

 

Did you create a second partition to do this, if you did its just a matter of deleting the entrie in the boot.ini as directed above and then you can delete the old partition from the machine per these directions http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc738489(WS.10).aspx

 

Correct PeteC thats where I goofed

 

Once you've recovered everything you want from the old Windows folder, you can safely delete it and continue to use the parallel install (Windows3) if you so desire.

Don't be in too big of a hurry to delete it since you may discover something missing later that it contains.

 

Thats the information I think I wished to hear surferdude..I will take my time and go for it when I think I have everything I need..once again thank you!