Dual Win XP Systems

[Haz]

Posted this on hardware also

Due to a blue screen recovery, I now have a (corrupt) XP SP2 on C:\, and a
new plain install of XP on separate partition H:\

Is there a way to get rid of the corrupt version and move the new one back
to C:\??

I did back up My Docs just before the blue screen hit.

Thanks much for any help

Haz

 

[Rich Barry]

You can format C: from H: which will get rid of the corrupt XP but you
will also lose your boot menu file. If you have
backed up all your important data I would start over fresh and do a
clean install of WinXP. You cannot move from H:
to C: Set the Cdrom as first boot device in Bios. Boot from WinXP CD
and choose New Install>Advanced. This will
give you an option to which partition you want XP to install on.

 

[Haz]

Thank you Rich.

I guess I understand that OK. What is the significance of losing the boot
menu file?

I also ran across ms KB 313859, which is a little off target, but includes a
reference to c:\windows\system32\osuninst.exe Is that a viable way to go to
get rid of the corrupt XP on C:/ ??

I'm not going to do anything until I hear back from you.

Really appreciate the help

Haz

 

[Rich Barry]

Haz, when you installed the second version of WinXP it made an entry in
the boot.ini file which is located on the C: drive
This allows you to select either XP version when you boot up and are
presented with a boot menu. To see this more
clearly rt click on MyComputer>select Properties>Advanced>Startup and
Recovery-Settings> Default Operating System Box click on down arrow and you
can move the healthy version of WinXP into the Box window IF it's not there
already.
You can also click on Edit and remove the corrupt WinXP version line
entry. Don't do this if you are not sure.
If you choose to start fresh a new boot.ini file will be
created on the C: drive during the XP install. Choose to format
both partitions and pick the C: partition for the operating system.

 

[Haz]

Rich - replied to you instead of the whole group my mistake - sorry about
that.

 

[Haz]

SUCCESS -
Rich
Thanks so much. I'm off and running with XP on C:\ at last. Looks like the
version on H:\ has vanished in the process. I'll call that serendipity -
you probably have a more technical term, but hey!

Anyway, really appreciate you're hanging in there with me.

Best regards

Haz

 

[Rich Barry]

Haz, glad to hear you were successful in accomplishing what you wanted
to do. If you go to Start>Run type: msconfig
look to see if you have a Boot.ini tab. Let me know. It's been so long
since I have not dual booted that I'm curious. Thanks
Rich

 

[Haz]

Yes - I do have a boot.ini tab. Looks like the default location is what I
tweaked it to another way - thanks to you.

I didn't ever think I wanted a dual boot setup -now I'm absolutely sure of
it.

Thanks again. Much appreciated.

Haz