2 x XP Operating Systems... deleting 1

If it works, leave it alone. "If it aint broke don't fix it".
Next time you do a clean install of Windows it'll be fixed.

RadarMan,

That's a big -4 on that install. When you use XP recovery you get a ghost image so to speak. I don't know why they would have done that. I wonder if he has the intergrated XP Pro or the XP with seperate disk? They nay have made a difference?

😕 Is it showing as a partition? ie, how many hard drives is it showing as?

I ain't going to give instructions on how to remove the '2nd installation' of XP (as it can go wrong) but I will tell you how to remove the option for selection of OS on your startup.

Right click on 'My Computer'. Left click on 'Properties' and select the 'Advanced' tab. Look for the 'Startup and Recovery' heading and click on 'Settings'. You will see a load of options but just click on 'Edit'.

Depending on your configuration it shoud look something like this:-

[boot loader]
timeout=20
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP" /fastdetect

Under [operating systems] make sure you have just one choice and that it matches the one as default.
That usually means deleting the 2nd entry/line under [operating systems]

Then 'File' and 'Save' and you are done.

Please note: these instructins will not remove the 2nd install but will remove the choice to access the 2nd install.

PPS: I accept no responsibility if this goes wrong 😛

Since XP can boot from other than C:\ partition, what bashdaBish says will work, but you need to back up the boot.ini file before playing with it, and you need to be careful that you look at the Partition# of the one that boots OK so you can boot to the correct one. You can remark out the line you do not want to load, I believe with semi-colon at beginning ( followed by space. If semi-colon doesn't remark out unwaqnted line, try two of these, like this at beginning of unwanted line followed by space (:🙂. Once you get your boot.ini file the way you want, you can just reformat the partition with the unwanted OS, or del the Windows folder on it. Also, getting back to original suggestion by bashdabish, I believe as long as the line you want is the "Default," you can just reduce the amt of seconds to zero to stop the prompt. Good Luck, Habu

T.G.K.,

I have a very useful program called Partition Magic which is great for dealing with adding or removing partitions, second operating systems, creating and removing "dual boot" configurations and all that stuff. It does a very good job of figuring out what's on your hard disk and helping you straighten it out. From your desciption, it's not clear to me what the problem with your computer is, but this might help you look at what's on the disk and straighten it out.

I think it costs about 40 USD (20-something pounds) and I have used it many times with no problems. I have one PC at work that I can boot in either Windows 2000 or Windows 98, depending on which hardware I want to run with it (have some old test equipment that will only talk to 9😎. You can do all this stuff manually, but this program automates it very nicely.

Ed

Wow - loads of info - excellent, thanks !

Think I'll print ot off and read and digest it all while flying this evening's Delta VA Flight 1215 from Boston to Cincinnati ........

RM - you might be right, and I certainly have no evidence to suggest I am getting worse performance because of the partition (if it is a partition, I'm not 100% sure).

So maybe I should leave alone but those instructions seem interesting so I'll take a closer look - thanks guys !

What I'm really trying to do is get the PC cooking as well as it can, ready for sticking the super-duper (expensive) new X800 Video Card in, when it arrives tomorrow.....

You got to be so careful with these darn machines..... you know - I spent £90 on an extra 1024Mb of RAM to bring my spec up to 2048Mb.... AND I GOT SLOWER PERFORMANCE IN THE SIM !

It turns out it's not all in the size (of the RAM) but the speed ..... I'm told the additional RAM that I bought was a slower speed and was "dragging" the performance of my original 1024Mb of RAM down...

How's that for bad luck, and a lighter pocket?

I've whipped the "rogue" RAM back out, and the PC is nice and fast again, so will stick with the original 1024Mb.

If I don't see faster Scenery rendering with this new Video Card (considering it cost £245) I am selling the lot and taking up Ballet Dancing. 😎

Thanks !

The-GPS-Kid wrote:

I am selling the lot and taking up Ballet Dancing. 😎

Thanks !

HAHAHA!!! Its definitely cheaper! Yes, I nearly bought the wrong speed RAM but TTT and RadarMan advised otherwise
I've come to the conclusion, if you don't know what your doing with PC's then ask on here as to avoid it all going tits up!

Shame about the RAM
As youve learnt RAM speed is the key to success(as long as its the same type,it will run.But mix speeds,and the slower wins

Im not sure you would have seen any real difference in speed anyway by upping to 2gig

Try d/loading a memory manager(there not much real use,but you can see how much you use.I have 1.5gig and fs9 can use about 1/2 of it)

Photo/video editing will certainly run faster with more ram

OK,all eyes on ebay now to snatch that ram(my girls will be happy )