D'oh! I installed XP TWICE on same drive!
 

I wanted to do a clean install, so now when my video editing PC boots up, I have to choose Windows XP or Windows XP. The first version is the one I wanted to remove, and the second is an "empty" one that runs with all the defaults (and a completely bare desktop, oddly enough).

How can I remove the 2nd copy of XP?

I planned on installing my third-party apps, but I didn't budget time for this. HELP!

Thanks for advice! (Other than "buy a Mac.")

How you did that "clean install" I'm not sure if that is possible, I mean two XP OS in the same drive, it sounds more like a corrupted instalation. If I were you I'll format the drive first and start a real clean setup. Then Ghost your Drive.


Have Fun,

Alexis

I think you made a mistake on chosing the instalation partition. You must have installed the second copy on a different partition. It's not a bad thing though.
Is the installation you wanted to replace really bad - if not you can still continue using or just run Repair Install from the WinXP CD. Remember to point to the apropriate partition that contains the affected WinXP install.

Alexis and Brogdan,

Thank you for your replies. I was able to edit the boot.ini file and remove the second XP option. Problem solved.

The problem stemmed from my choosing "clean install" option instead of "upgrade (recommended)" when I inserted the Windows XP OEM disc. The OS wasn't installed on the same drive, as I had stated; this time, XP installed itself onto my video drive (D:), not my system drive (C:).

I do appreciate your trying to help. This IS the best message board.

T.J.

As you found out you can have multiple XP's on the same system.
The problem is that you didn't wipe the old one (which now is
STILL there even if you removed it from boot.ini, you just can't
select it anymore!). Normally you would either hand wipe the
partition the OS is one or do this during install when you choose
the parition. You have the option to format it. Do this (make sure
you have backed up everything important) and then you will have
a clean parition with just one XP.

<<<-- Originally posted by Rob Lohman : As you found out you can have multiple XP's on the same system.
The problem is that you didn't wipe the old one (which now is
STILL there even if you removed it from boot.ini, you just can't
select it anymore!). Normally you would either hand wipe the
partition the OS is one or do this during install when you choose
the parition. You have the option to format it. Do this (make sure
you have backed up everything important) and then you will have
a clean parition with just one XP. -->>>

Rob,

Thanks for the reply. The second instance of XP was installed on my my video capture (D:) drive. After editing boot.ini, I just deleted the whole D:\Windows folder and deleted all my other junk (which I'd already backed up). After defragmenting the D: drive, I have the full formatted capacity (111GB under NTFS for a 120GB Western Digital SATA drive), so I think I'm back to normal. Everything seems stable.

I'm curious; how can I reformat and partition my C: drive if I want to? When I reinstalled XP, I saw no option to format the C: drive, which I what I wanted to do (even though Microsoft says that wasn't necessary). The Format option is unavailable when I right-click C: in My Computer. It's present for hard drive D: though.

Take care,

T.J.

Tim, Set your computer to boot from your CD or dvd drive (you do this in the Bios settings) remember to save changes. Now Boot with the Windows cd in, follow the screen instructions, luck.

PD When selecting the drive to be formatted be sure thats the one ( I loose a Back up drive once) .

Alexis

<<<-- Originally posted by Alexis Vazquez : Tim, Set your computer to boot from your CD or dvd drive (you do this in the Bios settings) remember to save changes. Now Boot with the Windows cd in, follow the screen instructions, luck.

PD When selecting the drive to be formatted be sure thats the one ( I loose a Back up drive once) .

Alexis -->>>

Thanks for the tip. Now I know what to do if needed. I'm editing video in Ulead MediaStudio Pro 7.2 and all is fine now.

This only happens indeed during the setup if you boot from the CD.