Removing W2K from dual boot system-help!

Northville Dave · 12-19-2007, 11:45 AM

Built a new system, first loaded W2k. Then I added XPHE to the system. I am able to select either operating system when booting.

My problem is that I would like to remove W2K. W2k is on the primary partition of my SATA drive.

Is there any means of removing W2k and being able boot from XP alone?

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 12:03 PM

How To Remove One Operating System from a Dual Boot Windows XP Computer

http://www.comptechlib.com/3070.html

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 12:04 PM

http://www.syschat.com/remove-xp-xp-...boot-1927.html

Northville Dave · 12-19-2007, 01:28 PM

Thanks, tosh9i, for the replies!

The "comptechlib" method only works if you want to keep the system that is on the c: drive - I don't.

The "syschat" method may do the trick, but I already tried something similar by cloning my XP partition on to a second (PATA) hard drive, adding the necessary "ntldr" and "ntdetect.com" files and performing the "mbr fix".

I was able to boot from this new drive but only if the SATA drive with the original OS was connected. When only the PATA drive was connected all went well until the blue "Welcome" screen appeared, at which point the system hung!

I don't want to format my W2k out of existence until I have something that will boot the XP.

Thanks again for the response.

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 01:35 PM

Okay, which drives "and" partitions are the Operating Systems on?

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 01:39 PM

By the way, if you have a PATA and a SATA, do the jumper setting need to be changed on the PATA?

Northville Dave · 12-19-2007, 02:17 PM

W2k is on primary partition of SATA drive. XP is on a secondary partition of the same drive. If XP were on the pri. partition I would just format the secondary partition, modify boot.ini and be done with it.

I installed the PATA drive only after I cloned XP on to it (jumper is OK) - if I had been able to boot XP from this drive I would have formatted the entire SATA then cloned XP back on to it, but for whatever reason, the PATA will not boot (hangs at blue "Welcome" screen) unless the SATA drive is also enabled.

Thanks again for the help.

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 02:35 PM

It probably hangs at the Welcome screen because it's searching for something, mainly windows 2000.

Did you modify the boot.ini file?

http://blogs.chron.com/helpline/arch..._i_remove.html

Northville Dave · 12-19-2007, 02:53 PM

The latest link only works when removing an OS on a secondary partition. W2k, which I want to remove, is on the primary partition.

My boot.ini is correct. When system hangs at Welcome screen it has already started loading XP since the Welcome screen comes much later than the "Loading XP" screen with the sliding blue bar. I'm sure it's looking for something, but is trying to load XP.

Dave

**tosh9i** · 12-19-2007, 03:02 PM

Okay, what happens when you take out the SATA, and leave the PATA, and boot up using the Windows XP CD, doing a repair installation of windows xp should do the trick.

Northville Dave · 12-20-2007, 07:32 AM

Tried the repair and I can now boot from the PATA on it's own. (Early on I tried this but I had forgotten that you had to select "install" rather than the first repair option which just takes you to the "Recovey Console"!)

Since this worked on the PATA, I may boot from it, then format the W2k partition and try to "repair" the XP on the SATA, rather than cloning the PATA to the SATA.

Thanks again for your help.

Dave

12-19-2007, 11:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Northville Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xpsp3, vista, ubuntu	Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! Built a new system, first loaded W2k. Then I added XPHE to the system. I am able to select either operating system when booting. My problem is that I would like to remove W2K. W2k is on the primary partition of my SATA drive. Is there any means of removing W2k and being able boot from XP alone?

12-19-2007, 12:03 PM	#2 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! How To Remove One Operating System from a Dual Boot Windows XP Computer http://www.comptechlib.com/3070.html

12-19-2007, 12:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! http://www.syschat.com/remove-xp-xp-...boot-1927.html

12-19-2007, 01:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
Northville Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xpsp3, vista, ubuntu	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! Thanks, tosh9i, for the replies! The "comptechlib" method only works if you want to keep the system that is on the c: drive - I don't. The "syschat" method may do the trick, but I already tried something similar by cloning my XP partition on to a second (PATA) hard drive, adding the necessary "ntldr" and "ntdetect.com" files and performing the "mbr fix". I was able to boot from this new drive but only if the SATA drive with the original OS was connected. When only the PATA drive was connected all went well until the blue "Welcome" screen appeared, at which point the system hung! I don't want to format my W2k out of existence until I have something that will boot the XP. Thanks again for the response.

12-19-2007, 01:35 PM	#5 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! Okay, which drives "and" partitions are the Operating Systems on?

12-19-2007, 01:39 PM	#6 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! By the way, if you have a PATA and a SATA, do the jumper setting need to be changed on the PATA?

12-19-2007, 02:17 PM	#7 (permalink)
Northville Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xpsp3, vista, ubuntu	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! W2k is on primary partition of SATA drive. XP is on a secondary partition of the same drive. If XP were on the pri. partition I would just format the secondary partition, modify boot.ini and be done with it. I installed the PATA drive only after I cloned XP on to it (jumper is OK) - if I had been able to boot XP from this drive I would have formatted the entire SATA then cloned XP back on to it, but for whatever reason, the PATA will not boot (hangs at blue "Welcome" screen) unless the SATA drive is also enabled. Thanks again for the help.

12-19-2007, 02:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! It probably hangs at the Welcome screen because it's searching for something, mainly windows 2000. Did you modify the boot.ini file? http://blogs.chron.com/helpline/arch..._i_remove.html

12-19-2007, 02:53 PM	#9 (permalink)
Northville Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xpsp3, vista, ubuntu	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! The latest link only works when removing an OS on a secondary partition. W2k, which I want to remove, is on the primary partition. My boot.ini is correct. When system hangs at Welcome screen it has already started loading XP since the Welcome screen comes much later than the "Loading XP" screen with the sliding blue bar. I'm sure it's looking for something, but is trying to load XP. Dave

12-19-2007, 03:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
tosh9i TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,680 OS: Windows XP	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! Okay, what happens when you take out the SATA, and leave the PATA, and boot up using the Windows XP CD, doing a repair installation of windows xp should do the trick.

12-20-2007, 07:32 AM	#11 (permalink)
Northville Dave Registered User Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5 OS: xpsp3, vista, ubuntu	Re: Removing W2K from dual boot system-help! Tried the repair and I can now boot from the PATA on it's own. (Early on I tried this but I had forgotten that you had to select "install" rather than the first repair option which just takes you to the "Recovey Console"!) Since this worked on the PATA, I may boot from it, then format the W2k partition and try to "repair" the XP on the SATA, rather than cloning the PATA to the SATA. Thanks again for your help. Dave