2 windows=annoying

tmh88

Alright i partitioned my 80 gig western digital into 10 gigs(for windowsxp) and the other 70 for programs and stuff. I had this hard drive sitting around for a while, so i formatted it, and re-installed windows xp. Now when i boot up it thinks i have 2 copies of xp, and it asks me which one to select. When i select the one that i formatted before it tries to load but a few seconds later it says something about the file being corrupted. Any suggestions on how to get rid of the old copies of windows xpwithout having to format it again because i have alot of files that im using on it? Also when i search through my computer and to the hard drive theres only 1 windows listed so i have no clue why it still thinks theres another copy

comfortable

You'll need to edit the boot.ini and remove the obsolete entry. Make sure you remove the correct entry. Your best bet would be to make a copy of it as a precaution. In order to see boot.ini, you'll need to go to Tools > Folder Options > View, and uncheck the 'Hide protected operating system files.'

To edit, notepad works fine, but Control Panel > System > Advanced > Startup & Recovery (settings) > edit should be a little easier.

tmh88

I deleted the obselet one like you said but its still asking me to choose an operating system . It says "windows xp professional" and the other option is "windows(default)"

shwaip

boot into windows, go to control panel->administrative tools->computer management.

Select "Disk Management" in the left column, and please list the following info for each entry:

Volume, Status, Capacity

(or take a screenshot using alt+printscreen, and then paste it in paint)

Tex

When you say you delted the obsolete one... does the boot.ini that you edited have both the entries your seeing when you boot and have a choice?

If not make sure you can see hidden files and check your other drives as your not booting from the drive that you edited the boot.ini file for. I bet their are multiple copies and your not booting from the drive you think you are.

But... if all you want is the menu gone then go into control panel/perf and maint/system/advanced/startup and recovery and you can change both the default OS that boot.ini uses as well as how long the menu is displayed. Set the default and change the time to display the menu to "0" or "1" and it will boot straight in.

Tex

tmh88

ok i pressted alt+printscreen for a screenshot, but nothing happens. I've never taken screenshots before, but do they end up in a folder or something that you have to go to in order to view them?

Tex

You have to open a package like paintbrush or Photoshop etc and open a blank screen and then clcik on edit and paste. printscreen only gets it to the clipboard.

But I told ya how to fix your problem above. You don't need a printscreen any more. Just go change the default time to display the menu to zero or one if it defaults to the right OS.

Tex

tmh88

Alright that somewhat solved my problem. When i turn it on it still asks me which operating system to select from. Instead of listing 2 windows xp professional, it only says Windows "xp Professional", and the other option is "windows(default)". The windows(default) is highlighted when the screen first appears, so if set the timer to 0, it would just load that one, which doesnt work. I went to the edit screen like you said and it shows the two options, the one saying "default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS" which is the windows(default), and the other one saying "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect", which is the one that works and loads windows. The second one I listed is the one that works, so should i delete the first one <windows(default)> i listed, or will it somehow not be able to load windows and mess up because it says default, ? help would be greatly appreciated.

Tex

You can just change the default OS right on the same screen you set the timer to. Its basicaly editing the boot.ini for you. You just were not finding the correct boot.ini to edit so I tried to point ya to an easier way.

You can edit the file yourself also by clicking edit right where the timer was located. Or right above that it lets you choose the default OS. Just set it there and your fixed.

Tex

Enverex

If you only have the one OS, go onto...

Right Click My Computer >> Properties >> Advanced >> Startup & Recovery Settings >>

and untick the box that says "Display list of Operating systems".

Tex

But isnt he saying he has two and it defaults to the wrong one? Or did I misread it?

Tex

Enverex

No, he has one installed, but he said the bootloader "thinks" he has two...

tmh88

Ok i previosly installed windows on it, and i formatted the drive. I re-installed it and now it still thinks the other copy of windows is still there, and it doesnt work. Thats what it sets the windows(default) as.

Straight_Man

Correct, BOTH Tex AND Enverex have valid points, EXCEPT that Tex is right in that the non-working one is the boot.ini default. Thus, if the display does not occur, and second choice is not chosen, before the default is changed as Tex says, boot malf would occur (first and DEFAULT boot choice leads to an erased core OS set of files, thus since files are missing on partition 2 of the primary master IDE drive (cable 0 is primary cable, drive 0 on that cable is the master drive) and the first and default choice points there, erm....). Recovery Console can also set default BOOT OS Instance to the right (completely bootable) instance, if that happens, but recovery console can be interesting to navigate. I'd do as Tex says, period.

tmh88

Alright now that people explained it more techinically, i want to ask my question. Is it alright to delete the windows(defualt) because it doesnt work, and is highlighted when it first asks me to choose an os to run? I figure if i delete this it wont ask me to pick an os and should load normally. please help. its getting kinda irritating having to select everytime i turn my computer on

Tex

You don't need to delete the invalid one. In fact if you don't chage the deafult one it won't even help. Your jacked. Just chage the DEFAULT ONE like I told ya how to above and set the timer to zero. And your done. This is easier then your making it out to be.

Tex

Tex

Enverex wrote:

No, he has one installed, but he said the bootloader "thinks" he has two...

Yes but the boot.ini defaults to the WRONG ONE so if it doesnt display the menu it won't boot at all. The boot.ini needs to be altered to default to the WORKING ONE first.

Tex

tmh88

Ok i get it now. Alright and to switch the default to the working one i would do what? Where it says defalut operating system, and lets me choose which one, only the bad one is listed. Does this mean i have to go back to that screen where i can edit, and paste "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect" because it is the working one, and should re-appear in the selection for the default operating system

Tex

Do you know how to go into folder options and make sure you can see hidden files? As boont.ini is hidden.

If so do that and search for the boot.ini files on your system then

tmh88

No how do you get to see the hidden files in this folder. As you can tell im not to great with this kinda stuff.

tmh88

nevermind i found out how to see the hidden files....i just had an incredibly stupid moment there. I went back to the edit section for the os and it still wasnt there after changing it so that the files werent hidden

Tex

Did you search for boot.ini on all drives? I bet you got more then one is the problem.

tex

tmh88

I finally fixed it the quick(relatively) and easy way, so now i can start up my computer normally instead of selecting which windows to run, when only one works! I deleted the partitions, formatted my hd, and re-installed windows. I had alot of random crap on my hd anyway, so I dont really care about losing the info. Thanks for all your help