Boot Loader Frustration.

  • Thread starter Thread starter freewheeling
  • Start date Start date
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freewheeling

Hi:

Somehow my installation of XP-Pro became corrupted on my F drive so I
reinstalled from scratch on another partition (H drive). It works OK,
but I keep getting that stupid boot loader and the default is the
installation that no longer works. In addition it only waits about a
second or two before defaulting, so I have to catch it or I have to
reboot all over again. Someone on this group suggested that I delete
the old XP installation, which I have done (including hidden files) by
"owning" them first. So the old XP installation is now gone, and all
that remains on the drive are my data files. I don't have anywhere to
put them, because there's not room on my current drive.

So how do I tell this stupid boot loader that there's only one
installation of XP on this computer? I've tried booting to the XP
install disk in repair mode, and it identifies one installation (but
says it's on the E: drive, for some reason. The good installation is on
the H drive now, and the old drive is now identified as C by windows.
(It's a bit confusing.) At any rate, in repair mode I'm asked to
provide the administrator password, but when I do that it says it's
wrong. I know I've got the right password, because I'm using the good
installation at the moment, logged in with admin privileges.

So again, how do I get rid of this stupid boot loader. It's driving me
nuts.
 
Replied to [freewheeling]s message :
Somehow my installation of XP-Pro became corrupted on my F drive so I
reinstalled from scratch on another partition (H drive). It works OK,
but I keep getting that stupid boot loader and the default is the
installation that no longer works.
Click to expand...

Here are 2 ways (1st recommended):

1. Start > Run
Type msconfig > Click OK
Go to "BOOT.INI" tab
Click the button "Check all boot paths"
Follow the instructions to remove the invalid line.

2. Click Start > Run > Copy/Paste the following lines and click OK:
bootcfg /delete /ID 1
bootcfg /default /ID 1


As a precaution, no matter which step you choose, run the first step again.
 
If you are not sure which line to be removed then:

1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Properties
2. Click Advanced tab and click Settings button under Startup and Recovery
3. From the "Default Operating System" list choose the working Operating
System. Should be second one.
4. You can increase the time for selection or you can uncheck "Time to
display list of operating systems". Apply the changes.

If by mistake you have choose the wrong OS and restarted your computer. You
can still access the menu by pressing F8 key.

Hope this help, let us know!
--
Tip of The Day
=========
Add SHOW / HIDE Recycle Bin option in "Folder Options". Learn how to at:

http://www.mindurbrain.zippyfreehost.com/
 
Ayush said:
Replied to [freewheeling]s message :
Somehow my installation of XP-Pro became corrupted on my F drive so I
reinstalled from scratch on another partition (H drive). It works OK,
but I keep getting that stupid boot loader and the default is the
installation that no longer works.
Click to expand...

Here are 2 ways (1st recommended):

1. Start > Run
Type msconfig > Click OK
Go to "BOOT.INI" tab
Click the button "Check all boot paths"
Follow the instructions to remove the invalid line.

2. Click Start > Run > Copy/Paste the following lines and click OK:
bootcfg /delete /ID 1
bootcfg /default /ID 1


As a precaution, no matter which step you choose, run the first step again.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ayush (and Raj). Method 1 worked like a charm. msconfig gave me
the option of deleting the line that launch the non-working installation.

Now I wonder if there's any way of changing the drive letter on the
working installation back to C:\, instead of H:\, or is it too late for
that? Oh well, it was satisfying to at least get rid of that irritating
boot loader. After the first reboot a dialog popped up indicating that
system configuration had been launched due to the change and giving me
the option of undoing the change, so I checked the box in the dialog
choosing not to launch the configuration utility next time.
 
Replied to [freewheeling]s message :
Thanks Ayush (and Raj). Method 1 worked like a charm. msconfig gave me
the option of deleting the line that launch the non-working installation.
Click to expand...


You are welcome !!

Now I wonder if there's any way of changing the drive letter on the
working installation back to C:\, instead of H:\, or is it too late for
that?
Click to expand...

I dont know. I think your boot files are on E OR your XP Disk assigns different drive
letters. Try going in Recovery Console and run a dir on E to find out what it really
is ...

After the first reboot a dialog popped up indicating that
system configuration had been launched due to the change and giving me
the option of undoing the change, so I checked the box in the dialog
choosing not to launch the configuration utility next time.
Click to expand...

That is OK...

→ Ayush [ Good :-) Luck ]
 
I will say "No". You can not change the drive letters. This is because C
Drive is now your System Partition and H is your Boot Partition. C will also
be your Primary and Active Partition. So, therefore you can not change the
Drive Letter.

Hope this help, let us know!

--
Tip of The Day
=========
Add SHOW / HIDE Recycle Bin option in "Folder Options". Learn how to at:

http://www.mindurbrain.zippyfreehost.com/


freewheeling said:
Ayush said:
Replied to [freewheeling]s message :
Somehow my installation of XP-Pro became corrupted on my F drive so I
reinstalled from scratch on another partition (H drive). It works OK,
but I keep getting that stupid boot loader and the default is the
installation that no longer works.
Click to expand...

Here are 2 ways (1st recommended):

1. Start > Run
Type msconfig > Click OK
Go to "BOOT.INI" tab
Click the button "Check all boot paths"
Follow the instructions to remove the invalid line.

2. Click Start > Run > Copy/Paste the following lines and click OK:
bootcfg /delete /ID 1
bootcfg /default /ID 1


As a precaution, no matter which step you choose, run the first step again.
Click to expand...
Thanks Ayush (and Raj). Method 1 worked like a charm. msconfig gave me
the option of deleting the line that launch the non-working installation.

Now I wonder if there's any way of changing the drive letter on the
working installation back to C:\, instead of H:\, or is it too late for
that? Oh well, it was satisfying to at least get rid of that irritating
boot loader. After the first reboot a dialog popped up indicating that
system configuration had been launched due to the change and giving me
the option of undoing the change, so I checked the box in the dialog
choosing not to launch the configuration utility next time.
Click to expand...
 
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