How to delete old Windows Xp partitions

ac3z · 06-09-2009, 11:56 PM

Quite a while back, after a computer crash and boot loop, one of my siblings decided it would be a good idea to format the computer.
However instead of reformatting the C: and creating another version of windows, they accidentally partitioned it, splitting it into...
/windows, /windows.0 And finally /windows.0.0

On boot up, i receive a screen stating which version of windows i would like to open. The top, is the current one i am running, and the latter of the two is the one that tries to boot, and then bootloops...

If anyone has a way to delete the old partition, it would be of great use because it is using disk space that could be used for much better things then an idle version of windows xp

OR

Help me with the bootloops so i can access my old files and settings...
I am planning a wipe of the C: sometime in the future, after i backup my current files, even if this may be in vain to help me with the program, it will be good learning experience with computers.

I would also like to add that this forum is excellent and the community using it is extremely helpful, Thanks!~

EDIT: Or if it exists redirect me to a previous thread which solves this, Thanks again

Riskyone101 · 06-10-2009, 03:07 AM

Hello and Welcome to TSF,

Heres an easy way to remove the second os.

Use the "run" command on the start menu and run "msconfig". Then click on the

"boot.ini" tab. Next click on the button "check all boot drives".

It will say that one of them is invalid and ask if you want to remove it. Click yes.

you can mark thread solved under thread tools near top of this page, ty.

ac3z · 06-10-2009, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riskyone101

Hello and Welcome to TSF,

Heres an easy way to remove the second os.

Use the "run" command on the start menu and run "msconfig". Then click on the

"boot.ini" tab. Next click on the button "check all boot drives".

It will say that one of them is invalid and ask if you want to remove it. Click yes.

you can mark thread solved under thread tools near top of this page, ty.

Just to make sure right now, will this delete the partition and free disk space? or will it stop the computer from recognizing the partition, Effectively doing nothing to my system whatsoever to speed it up in any way shape or form? If so, my question remains... Thanks

EDIT, my bad i didn't quite read the question properly, i clicked the "Check all boot PATHS" button you stated, and it said all are fine, and nothing happened, there was no prompt to delete the unusable partition

Riskyone101 · 06-11-2009, 01:10 AM

On boot up, i receive a screen stating which version of windows i would like to open. The top, is the current one i am running, and the latter of the two is the one that tries to boot, and then bootloops...

Theres your answer to your problem, you stated it here, simply delete it
where I told you to go.

ac3z · 06-11-2009, 03:54 AM

Can you please look at the image that i placed in my EDIT, it shows that there is no delete function, and there is no "check all boot drives" button.
Can you please post an image showing where the delete or "Check all boot drives" button is? Thanks again!~

Riskyone101 · 06-11-2009, 04:02 AM

just highlight it and click on check all boot paths.

ac3z · 06-11-2009, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Riskyone101

just highlight it and click on check all boot paths.

After checking both the drives, i still receive the same message...
"It appears that BOOT.INI lines for Microsoft operating systems are OK"

Riskyone101 · 06-11-2009, 07:08 PM

Ok I see what the problem is now,

Boot into windows (the one that is working)
delete the windows folder in drive C: (the one you dont use

Now do this:

Use the "run" command on the start menu and run "msconfig". Then click on the

"boot.ini" tab. Next click on the button "check all boot drives".

It will say that one of them is invalid and ask if you want to remove it. Click yes.

you can mark thread solved under thread tools near top of this page, ty.

ac3z · 06-14-2009, 04:04 AM

Hello again.
I was away fro te weekend, so i couldn't reply as promptly as i would have liked to.
Just when you though the problem was solved, as i tried to delete the old partition "Windows" File i received the attached message, it seems this file is invisible, because i went into the folder and deleted everything in there no problems, as i went back i checked the properties of the folder and i saw that there was still something like 150 folders and a little under 4000 files still in there. when i checked the folder is empty. As i try to delete the folder, i get a long hang time, followed by the message... how do i delete the folder?

Riskyone101 · 06-14-2009, 06:11 PM

Uninstall flash player from add/remove in control panel.
You can reinstall it later here:
http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

Are you deleting the old windows folder? and not the new one?

Have you rebooted the pc since you have done this in your last post?
and the pc is ok booting up, no problems?

reboot pc into safemode and delete the folder now.
Did it work?

ac3z · 06-28-2009, 03:27 AM

Sorry for the Extreemly late reply i racked my brain trying to do this before hand, and decided to take a break...
I'm currently in safe mode now any i still cannot delete the "Windows" File (The unused one)
I really think that unisnalling flash plugin will help with this, for that folder has not been edited in any way shape or form since 2005.

ac3z · 06-28-2009, 03:28 AM

EDIT: I'm kinda coming to the conclusion that at this point it would be best to just Reformat this computer, But properly, To avoid this happening again :P

**simpswr** · 06-28-2009, 10:01 AM

Probably your easiest way out . .

Riskyone101 · 06-28-2009, 03:12 PM

Yes agreed.

06-09-2009, 11:56 PM	#1 (permalink)
ac3z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 23 OS: Windows Xp Service pack 3... :P	How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Quite a while back, after a computer crash and boot loop, one of my siblings decided it would be a good idea to format the computer. However instead of reformatting the C: and creating another version of windows, they accidentally partitioned it, splitting it into... /windows, /windows.0 And finally /windows.0.0 On boot up, i receive a screen stating which version of windows i would like to open. The top, is the current one i am running, and the latter of the two is the one that tries to boot, and then bootloops... If anyone has a way to delete the old partition, it would be of great use because it is using disk space that could be used for much better things then an idle version of windows xp OR Help me with the bootloops so i can access my old files and settings... I am planning a wipe of the C: sometime in the future, after i backup my current files, even if this may be in vain to help me with the program, it will be good learning experience with computers. I would also like to add that this forum is excellent and the community using it is extremely helpful, Thanks!~ EDIT: Or if it exists redirect me to a previous thread which solves this, Thanks again Last edited by ac3z; 06-09-2009 at 11:57 PM. Reason: Shoulda' wirtten it before

06-10-2009, 03:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Hello and Welcome to TSF, Heres an easy way to remove the second os. Use the "run" command on the start menu and run "msconfig". Then click on the "boot.ini" tab. Next click on the button "check all boot drives". It will say that one of them is invalid and ask if you want to remove it. Click yes. you can mark thread solved under thread tools near top of this page, ty. __________________

06-11-2009, 01:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions On boot up, i receive a screen stating which version of windows i would like to open. The top, is the current one i am running, and the latter of the two is the one that tries to boot, and then bootloops... Theres your answer to your problem, you stated it here, simply delete it where I told you to go. __________________

06-11-2009, 03:54 AM	#5 (permalink)
ac3z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 23 OS: Windows Xp Service pack 3... :P	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Can you please look at the image that i placed in my EDIT, it shows that there is no delete function, and there is no "check all boot drives" button. Can you please post an image showing where the delete or "Check all boot drives" button is? Thanks again!~ __________________ "Soy un perdedor, I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?"

06-11-2009, 04:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions just highlight it and click on check all boot paths. __________________

06-11-2009, 07:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Ok I see what the problem is now, Boot into windows (the one that is working) delete the windows folder in drive C: (the one you dont use Now do this: Use the "run" command on the start menu and run "msconfig". Then click on the "boot.ini" tab. Next click on the button "check all boot drives". It will say that one of them is invalid and ask if you want to remove it. Click yes. you can mark thread solved under thread tools near top of this page, ty. __________________

06-14-2009, 06:11 PM	#10 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Uninstall flash player from add/remove in control panel. You can reinstall it later here: http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ Are you deleting the old windows folder? and not the new one? Have you rebooted the pc since you have done this in your last post? and the pc is ok booting up, no problems? reboot pc into safemode and delete the folder now. Did it work? __________________ Last edited by Riskyone101; 06-14-2009 at 06:14 PM.

06-28-2009, 03:27 AM	#11 (permalink)
ac3z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 23 OS: Windows Xp Service pack 3... :P	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Sorry for the Extreemly late reply i racked my brain trying to do this before hand, and decided to take a break... I'm currently in safe mode now any i still cannot delete the "Windows" File (The unused one) I really think that unisnalling flash plugin will help with this, for that folder has not been edited in any way shape or form since 2005. __________________ "Soy un perdedor, I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?"

06-28-2009, 03:28 AM	#12 (permalink)
ac3z Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Australia Posts: 23 OS: Windows Xp Service pack 3... :P	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions EDIT: I'm kinda coming to the conclusion that at this point it would be best to just Reformat this computer, But properly, To avoid this happening again :P __________________ "Soy un perdedor, I'm a loser baby, so why don't you kill me?"

06-28-2009, 10:01 AM	#13 (permalink)
simpswr Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: May 2007 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 11,852 OS: XP, Vista, Win 7	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Probably your easiest way out . . __________________ Rich MemTest86 \| BenchTest \| Virus/Trojan/Spyware Help How to post a Screen Shot \| PC running slow?

06-28-2009, 03:12 PM	#14 (permalink)
Riskyone101 Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Chicago, IL. Posts: 3,675 OS: XP Pro SP3, MCE 2005 sp3, Vista Ultimate SP2, Windows 7 Ultimate My System	Re: How to delete old Windows Xp partitions Yes agreed. __________________