Cop
Premium
join:2001-09-05
Auburn, AL | Two Installations of xp showing up?
I just recently formatted a friends computer but now when its booting up it gives your the choice to chose from two separate xp installations. I did a fresh format so this shouldn't be showing up. How do I get rid of the second one? |
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koolman2
Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK
 ·GCI.net
| In the root directory (usually C:), you'll find a hidden file named "boot.ini", and it'll look something like this when you open it in Notepad:
Post what his looks like and we should be able to tell you what do delete from the file.
You can also try to boot from both options at startup. If they both boot just fine to the same desktop, then just delete one and restart.
»support.microsoft.com/kb/289022 |
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Cop
Premium
join:2001-09-05
Auburn, AL
·Charter Pipeline
| This is whats in my boot.ini
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WAR DAMN EAGLE!
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La Luna
Surviving Ashraful
Premium
join:2001-07-12
Warwick, NY
clubs:
·Optimum Online
 ·Vonage
1 edit | The link that koolman2  posted shows your exact problem (and how to fix it). You somehow have the previous OS still installed on another partition:
This is a sample of a default Boot.ini file from a Windows XP Professional computer.
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
This is a sample of the above Boot.ini file with a previous installation of Windows 2000 on a separate partition.
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
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1/20/09 The Beginning of the End
12,476 DEADLY TERROR ATTACKS SINCE 9/11 |
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koolman2
Premium
join:2002-10-01
Anchorage, AK | reply to Cop
It looks like you just created a second partition and installed it there. Try the non-default boot option and see what happens. |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
1 edit | reply to Cop
Be very careful that you don't delete or choose to boot the wrong install. Yes, you have XP improperly installed twice.
The step you skipped was Repartitioning the HDD before Formatting it.  |
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tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA | reply to Cop
Partition 1 is the default, so that's probably where you just installed XP. You can delete the last two lines, or you can set the timeout to zero and then it will always boot on the default without seeing a menu. |
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| said by tim_k :Partition 1 is the default, so that's probably where you just installed XP. You can delete the last two lines, or you can set the timeout to zero and then it will always boot on the default without seeing a menu. That's not really a solution and it leaves a partition that is using space that the owner is one day going to ask about why they are missing 5 Gig, 10 Gig, 15 Gig whatever size it is as it can't be used by the other partition..
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tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA
 ·Millenicom
 ·WildBlue
| said by Doctor Olds :said by tim_k :Partition 1 is the default, so that's probably where you just installed XP. You can delete the last two lines, or you can set the timeout to zero and then it will always boot on the default without seeing a menu. That's not really a solution and it leaves a partition that is using space that the owner is one day going to ask about why they are missing 5 Gig, 10 Gig, 15 Gig whatever size it is as it can't be used by the other partition.. It gets him to boot up in XP every time. That's what he wanted. If he wants to do something with the partition that win2k is on, that's a separate issue. He can simply delete the data or format the partition and use it for something else. Or he can use partitioning software to recombine it with partition 1. Lastly, he can reinstall XP and redo the partitions.
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Doctor Olds
I Need A Remedy For What's Ailing Me.
Premium,VIP
join:2001-04-19
1970 442 W30
clubs:
| Actually the PC owner wanted their XP install repaired, not doubled to two separate installs where old files and applications are located elsewhere and a new blank state XP with nothing of theirs is installed or active. You can't simply move applications (only data files can be moved) by merging the partitions as all the settings from the Registry get lost and all the configuration settings are lost, so you in fact lose all the installed applications and they have to be reinstalled after you move all the data files to their new locations. To merge two partitions will also cost the PC Owner as that is not free utility that I'm aware of. They need Partition Magic or similar utility.
And the PC in question is XP Home and XP Home as clearly seen in the posted the boot.ini file here »Re: Two Installations of xp showing up? and you are confusing/mixing up posters. That may be what is confusing you further.
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What’s the point of owning a supercar if you can’t scare yourself stupid from time to time? |
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tim_k
Buttons, Bows, Beamer, Shadow, Kasey
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA | Opps, I was looking at koolman's boot.ini file. |
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