Multiple operating systems?

[marsius]

Background: I recently reformatted my laptop. I've had it since 2002 and things were definitely beginning to slow down (that, and it came pre-loaded with things like Roxeo which I just didn't want. XP can burn all of the CD's I need, thank you very much. I don't need Roxeo demanding control, disabling Window's ability to burn and keeping me from hibernating because its driver sucks. In addition, I could only read from one CD or DVD before I'd have to reboot because it couldn't recognize a new disk. Stupid Roxeo) and I was running out of HD space (I was down to less than 800 meg free. After the reformat I reinstalled all of the programs that I had installed on the old one(things like Office, Photoshop, Studio MX, etc) and transferred all of my music back onto it (I have 11 gb of music on my laptop) and I still had over 5 gb free. Stupid clutter. No amount of cleanup and defragmenting fixed the problem before the format either). Everything is now back up to what I remember (oh is it fast). Everything is hunky dory now, with one exception.

The Problem: My PC now thinks that there are two copies of Windows XP on my computer. When it starts up it brings up a screen asking which XP I want to run (both are the same). If I select the second one it tellse me that it cannot open it, reboots and goes back to the same screen.

This is, admittedly, little more than an annoyance. The first option runs fine but it takes it thirty seconds to auto-select that one and I don't like putting up with it. How do I fix this?

Specs:

P4m - 1.6 ghz
HD - 20 gb
320 MB RAM
32 MB Geforce 2
Integrated Audio
16x CD-RW/DVD-ROM Combo Drive

I'd appreciate any assistance that anyone would be willing to offer.

Thanks,

Marsius

[Exedore]

I believe this is a result of a faulty boot record that is logging two installations of windows XP instead of one. I don't know how to fix it, unfortunately, but I know there are a few utilities that can fix them. Perhaps someone else knows how to fix it.

[hammocksleeper]

The problem is not with your computer. It's because of something Whiteknight did.

Ok seriously, here's the solution.

Open up the file "boot.ini" in Notepad. (I'm not exactly sure where this file is located because I don't have XP, but search for it)

Find a part that looks something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
C:\="Microsoft Windows"





Notice in this example there are two operating system entries (the blue and the green). These are what show up to select from at the boot screen. Only it won't say "MS Windows 2000 Advanced Server," it will probably say something like "MS Windows XP" or whatever.

From here you have two options. You can either delete one of the OS entries from the list(you have to know which one). The one listed as "default" in the [boot loader] section is the one that it auto-selects. But all the choices are listed in the [Operating Systems] section. Your other option is that you can change the file to read timeout=1 or some other number instead of timeout=30. This is the number of seconds the computer waits before it makes the choice for you.


Either will work. When you're done, save the file and reboot.




Inspiration for this answer comes from here (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307061&Product=winxp).

[Exedore]

hammocksleeper, use the [code] tag, and it will allow for non-breaking lines.

[pixels]

Heh. But I have 2 copies of XP that its seeing an 1 copy of 2k aswell. I also have linux installed (which I need to uninstall, its taking up way to much space on my 40GB) that it ISNT showing me.

Oy. I dont want to delete the wrong one O_O

[Hunta]

Right click on the icon of My Computer on your desktop -> click on Properties -> clik on the tab called Advanced.

Now you will have three options. Choose the last one called something like Boot and Repair configuration. From there you can easily edit the boot.ini file.

I told you this because I was unable to find my boot.ini file when I wanted to edit my multiple operating systems. Very strange, I just couldn't find it with the Search function of Windows.

[hammocksleeper]

Heh. But I have 2 copies of XP that its seeing an 1 copy of 2k aswell. I also have linux installed (which I need to uninstall, its taking up way to much space on my 40GB) that it ISNT showing me.

Oy. I dont want to delete the wrong one O_O
Well if you are really worried, just change the "timeout" value to 1. Instead of your PC taking an additional 30 second to boot up on its own, it will only take an extra one second.

[pixels]

Taken care of. Well, hopefully. I deleted the 2k and one of the XP boot ups, lowered the waiting time, and I've yet to restart.

[marsius]

Thank you guys! I deleted the second OS from the boot.ini file and it worked wonderfully (I've even restarted and everything is great!).

[hammocksleeper]

No prob marsius.

LOL Pixels where did you come from? You never said you were having problems. I just realized you made a post in here. ;p