Windows install help.

[RicoDirenzo]

My son said he accidently put a second copy of windows xp pro in my cdrom and partially completed a windows install. Now when I boot up I have two choices: My orignal OS and the new windows install. How do I get rid of this 2nd install request log at boot?

 

[BASSMASTER]

You'll have to go into your Boot.INI file........

Heres what a normal xp boot.ini will look like

[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 XP on a separate partition.

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect


Just go into the boot.ini and delete the second installation

 

[RicoDirenzo]

Thanks!!!!! I had suspicion that is where I needed to be but now I'm going to have to remember how to access boot.ini!!

 

[BASSMASTER]

Thanks!!!!! I had suspicion that is where I needed to be but now I'm going to have to remember how to access boot.ini!!

No problem, it's a hidden file don't forget, so you have to unhide it. Should be in the root of your drive.

 

[RicoDirenzo]

Haven't had a chance to do it yet but it's sort of moot because I'm reinstalling a fresh XP pro this weekend. For some strange reason, my XP pro update serial number isn't recognized my MS Genuine (?). I bought XP pro OEM. I want it for reinstall without previous windows verification anyway. Thanks for all your help!

 

[fateisajester]

for the sake of ppl google-ing for the answer, all you have to do is right click my computer and go to properties (or use the windows key+pause/break key), click the advanced tab go to startup and recovery settings and click edit to access boot.ini.

 

[BASSMASTER]

for the sake of ppl google-ing for the answer, all you have to do is right click my computer and go to properties (or use the windows key+pause/break key), click the advanced tab go to startup and recovery settings and click edit to access boot.ini.

I didn't google the answer

 

[fateisajester]

neither did I... i just knew it

 

[RicoDirenzo]

Bump: Update. Editing the boot.ini file accomplished nothing. I had to boot from the XP cd and enter recovery : went to bootcfg /fixboot and and selected the primary os boot from there and..................done deal. Any speculation as to why modifying the boot.ini file failed?

 

[ShoobieRat]

You didn't modify it correctly?...?