Dual boot display but only one OS installed....

[Guest]

I recently did a clean install of Win XP Pro. When I boot up or reset the
system, it gives me the choice to boot into XP or Windows. I only have XP on
my system.....
What gives??

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for all
operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to a valid
operating system. ]]

Msconfig image
http://www.winnetmag.com/Files/16/20784/msconfig.gif

If there is only one you will get:
It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are OK.
-----

Or maybe...

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20


[[You reinstalled Windows XP on your computer thinking it would overwrite
the existing version of Windows XP and now there are two copies when you
boot up. Crap! What to do now? Not to worry, here's the solution.]]
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/two-copies-xp.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

 

[SilverBullet]

Thanks for your reply. I did as you suggested. I got the response saying
that "It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems
are OK." However, when I rebooted, the double entry was still there. I tried
to boot into the other Windows option, but nothing happened - just a
blinking cursor on a blank screen. . Is there a way to edit the boot.ini
file and delete the phantom OS?

DanG

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for all
operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to a valid
operating system. ]]

Msconfig image
http://www.winnetmag.com/Files/16/20784/msconfig.gif

If there is only one you will get:
It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are OK.
-----

Or maybe...

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20


[[You reinstalled Windows XP on your computer thinking it would overwrite
the existing version of Windows XP and now there are two copies when you
boot up. Crap! What to do now? Not to worry, here's the solution.]]
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/two-copies-xp.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I recently did a clean install of Win XP Pro. When I boot up or reset
the system, it gives me the choice to boot into XP or Windows. I only
have XP on my system.....
What gives??

 

[Wesley Vogel]

Yes. Be careful so you don't get rid of the wrong one!

See both of these...

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20

"How Do I Edit The Boot Menu"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#22

Additional info...

HOW TO: Edit the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;289022

Take note of the sample boot.ini's here. Shows a single operating system &
one with two.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;289022#Task3

The Purpose of the Boot.ini File in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314081

You can post back with a copy of your boot.ini if you like.

My boot.ini as a sample.
-------------------------------------------------------
[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
Professional" /fastdetect /sos /NoExecute=OptIn
----------------------------------------------------------

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

Thanks for your reply. I did as you suggested. I got the response
saying that "It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft
operating systems are OK." However, when I rebooted, the double entry
was still there. I tried to boot into the other Windows option, but
nothing happened - just a blinking cursor on a blank screen. . Is
there a way to edit the boot.ini file and delete the phantom OS?

DanG

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid
operating system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry
and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for
all operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to
a valid operating system. ]]

Msconfig image
http://www.winnetmag.com/Files/16/20784/msconfig.gif

If there is only one you will get:
It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems
are OK. -----

Or maybe...

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20


[[You reinstalled Windows XP on your computer thinking it would
overwrite the existing version of Windows XP and now there are two
copies when you boot up. Crap! What to do now? Not to worry, here's
the solution.]]
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/two-copies-xp.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I recently did a clean install of Win XP Pro. When I boot up or
reset the system, it gives me the choice to boot into XP or
Windows. I only have XP on my system.....
What gives??

 

[Bill Ridgeway]

I've only just picked up on this thread so apologies if I am talking out of
turn.

Duel boot systems present problems. I have got over this by having two hard
disks each with an operating system. I have them both set as master on
separate chains but they could be set as master and slave on the same chain.
By simply detaching the data cable from my main hard disk the computer will
boot up onto the other hard disk / operating system.

I appreciate that not every one will know how to or want to get into the
inside of their computer (and that this may not be the answer for some) but
for those that do this is a simple job and avoids the hassles.

Regards.

Bill Ridgeway
Computer Solutions

Thanks for your reply. I did as you suggested. I got the response saying
that "It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems
are OK." However, when I rebooted, the double entry was still there. I
tried to boot into the other Windows option, but nothing happened - just a
blinking cursor on a blank screen. . Is there a way to edit the boot.ini
file and delete the phantom OS?

DanG

Start | Run | Type: msconfig | OK |
Boot.ini tab | Check All Boot Paths button |
A dialog box will open detailing the location of any invalid operating
system locations | Confirm you want to remove the entry and reboot

[[Check All Boot Paths - This button will check the boot paths for all
operating systems listed in the BOOT.INI to ensure they point to a valid
operating system. ]]

Msconfig image
http://www.winnetmag.com/Files/16/20784/msconfig.gif

If there is only one you will get:
It appears that all BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are
OK.
-----

Or maybe...

"I have two installations of XP on the same partition........"
http://michaelstevenstech.com/xpfaq.html#20


[[You reinstalled Windows XP on your computer thinking it would overwrite
the existing version of Windows XP and now there are two copies when you
boot up. Crap! What to do now? Not to worry, here's the solution.]]
http://www.cyberwalker.net/faqs/reinstall-reformat-winxp/two-copies-xp.html

--
Hope this helps. Let us know.

Wes
MS-MVP Windows Shell/User

In

I recently did a clean install of Win XP Pro. When I boot up or reset
the system, it gives me the choice to boot into XP or Windows. I only
have XP on my system.....
What gives??