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View Full Version : Oh, Oh, I installed XP twice. - [FIXED]


Halder
September 13th, 2006, 22:44 PM
Due to a crash I had to recently reformat and re-install XP. However, I have two hard drives (C. D,) and initially I installed (in error, it was a late night) XP on Drive D.

Later I installed XP again on drive C: (which was my preference), thinking I would just reformat drive D: and erase the XP OS there, leaving me with a fully functional clean install on C:.

XP works fine on Drive C: and after having reformated Drive D: there is no trace of the XP OS on it.

Now here's the issue,

When I turn on my Computer, I get a black and white screen that says, I have XP installed twice and I am given an option of which OS to access. A 30 second timer automatically chooses drive C: if I don't choose it myself.

Out of curiosity I picked drive D: once and it gave me an error message saying System32, file missing blah, blah. It is obvious that there is no XP on drive D: since the reformat of that drive, therefore, the error message.

If the computer or I choose drive C:, then XP boots up fine, no problems.

I'm inclined to just leave it alone, it seems like a harmless situation. However, if there is a quick fix to this, than please let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Halder,

TRYJAY
September 13th, 2006, 22:55 PM
Due to a crash I had to recently reformat and re-install XP. However, I have two hard drives (C. D,) and initially I installed (in error, it was a late night) XP on Drive D.

Later I installed XP again on drive C: (which was my preference), thinking I would just reformat drive D: and erase the XP OS there, leaving me with a fully functional clean install on C:.

XP works fine on Drive C: and after having reformated Drive D: there is no trace of the XP OS on it.

Now here's the issue,

When I turn on my Computer, I get a black and white screen that says, I have XP installed twice and I am given an option of which OS to access. A 30 second timer automatically chooses drive C: if I don't choose it myself.

Out of curiosity I picked drive D: once and it gave me an error message saying System32, file missing blah, blah. It is obvious that there is no XP on drive D: since the reformat of that drive, therefore, the error message.

If the computer or I choose drive C:, then XP boots up fine, no problems.

I'm inclined to just leave it alone, it seems like a harmless situation. However, if there is a quick fix to this, than please let me know.

Thanks in advance,
Halder,



Well ya could go to system properties in the control panel , then click on Advanced tab and got to third "settings" button. Inside you have the option of picking default Operating System.. also have the ability to edit the startup file manually.
Good luck.

Reverend
September 13th, 2006, 23:13 PM
Start > Run and type msconfig. Hit OK or Enter.

On the BOOT.INI tab click the "Check All Boot Paths" button.

When it finds the path related to the OS that you have removed it will ask whether you want to delete that entry from the boot.ini

Click Yes and when you reboot the dual boot option will be removed.

Halder
September 13th, 2006, 23:22 PM
I took your advice and was able to reduce that 30 second countdown to 2 seconds. As to editing the start up file I have this in there now;

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

Now, one of those two "multi(0)...." entries is the one that was deleted on D: but I am not sure which, is it the "NoExecute=OptIn" the first one or the second that just ends with "fastdetect",

thanks again
Halder

Reverend
September 13th, 2006, 23:26 PM
Remove the bottom line:

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

Big Booger
September 14th, 2006, 01:04 AM
:whs:

Halder
September 14th, 2006, 03:06 AM
Thanks Rev. Problem all fixed. Very much appreciated!

Halder

TRYJAY
September 14th, 2006, 06:40 AM
Thanx fer the info, now I know how too!
Thanx!