Microsoft → Re: Removing Windows 98 SE (using XP Pro)

Assuming WinXP has the same boot files as Win2K, there are three files that need to be on the boot partition. They are boot.ini, NTDETECT.COM, and ntldr. Steps 2 thru 6 of the procedure I'm listing below will verify if these are the only needed files for WinXP.

I had a configuration with Win98SE on a FAT32 C: partition and Win2K on an NTFS D: partition. I wanted to completely eliminate the C: partition by reformatting. This is the method I used, but certainly not the only way to do it.

1. First, if any part of the WinXP paging space is on the C: partition, you'll need to move it to another partition. Most likely C: is not being used, unless you manually put it there. Likewise, if there's any user data on C: you need to save, move it to another partition.

2. Format a floppy in A: Do this in XP so it will have an XP boot sector.

3. In the C: partition, remove the read-only and hidden attributes on these files:
(do this in a command prompt window)
ATTRIB -R -S -H C:\boot.ini
ATTRIB -R -S -H C:\NTDETECT.COM
ATTRIB -R -S -H C:\ntldr

4. Copy those three files to the A: disk just formatted.

5. Edit A:\Boot.ini using your favorite editor, e.g. NOTEPAD. In the [operating systems] section,
delete the line corresponding to the Windows 98 Boot. It'll look something like "C:\=Windows 98". Save the modified boot.ini to A:\

6. Now boot the floppy disk to MAKE SURE the floppy can start up WinXP without any difficulties. Proceed only if it comes up fine.

7. From an WinXP command prompt, reformat the C: partition. For example:
Format C: /Q /FS:NTFS
or FAT or FAT32 if that's what you want.

8. Upon completion of the format, copy boot.ini, NTDETECT.COM, and ntldr from A: to the C:\ root directory.

9. Reapply the read-only and hidden attributes to those files:
ATTRIB +R +S +H C:\boot.ini
ATTRIB +R +S +H C:\NTDETECT.COM
ATTRIB +R +S +H C:\ntldr

10. Remove the floppy and boot WinXP.

Good luck.

Thanks for your help, but it came a litte too late. I was fooling around and I did just about the same method as you described (from insticnt), and it worked like a charm (after going into FDISK on my Win98 boot-diskette and making my NTFS partition; E Drive; the "active" partition.) It's incredible though! Since I swiped my Win98 partition away, I moved my XP Partition to the FRONT of the harddisk. Now mysteriously my boot time decreased from about 40 secs down to around 10 - 12 seconds. I'm assuming this is because it is located in the faster area of the harddisk.

Thank you anyways! I knew I could count on DSLR to help out.

-Tornberry