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  • #2280611

    Removing Dual Boot Option

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    by kg5vw ·

    I wanted to know if anyone knows how to remove a dual boot and make it only boot to the XP volume. Here is the config right now. C drive has Win2K and G drive has XP Pro. I wanted to remove the C drive completely from the system, which will make current G drive the C drive. If I understand this correctly, the boot file(s) are on the current C drive and the computer will not boot to the current XP volume, which will be the new C drive. I can fix the drive assignments, but don’t know how (or if I even can) correct the bootup after the switch. Does any of this make sense to anyone? I have confused myself trying to describe it!!!

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    • #3388740

      Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

      by tech_wiz03 ·

      In reply to Removing Dual Boot Option

      Ideally, MS win stuff doesn’t take well to modifying which op system to boot in a multi-boot enviroment. If You must remove an op system back-up all your data first preferably to a separate partition than either op system is resident on as well as back-up media.

      As for drive assignments the only way to make winxp on g: be seen as winxp on c: would be to wipe c: of the 2k version and re-install xp on c:
      (C: is seen as the boot drive by the bios default although if you want to chance it you can try and get fdisk to assign g: as the active boot drive. Some tech have reported some success in doing this whereas Microsoft and others like myself have found this causes loss/damage to all partitions!)

      regards
      rick

      • #3388685

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by kg5vw ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        I’m trying to get away with not having to re-install Windows, but that may end up being the “fix all” solution. I’ve got another answer below, but it doesn’t allow me to remove the original boot drive, unless I’m misenterpreting what is happening. Thanks for the reply.

    • #3388728

      Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

      by dmiles ·

      In reply to Removing Dual Boot Option

      Remove a XP/2K/NT and keep a different XP/2K/NT plus 2K and/or Win9x if also present.
      We just make Win #1 the Default OS. Then edit Boot.ini to remove the Win #2 line and to make Timeout=0. Win #1 will now boot directly. The Win #2 directory can then be deleted.
      Do not use System or Msconfig to disable the Win #2 – that’s unsatisactory.

      Example: Remove NT and keep XP: (other combinations are the same)
      1. Create a ‘temporary’ Rescue Bootdisk for your current situation (1 floppy disk).
      2. Make XP the Default operating system: (Control Panel > System > Advanced tab
      > Startup and Recovery > Settings > “Default operating system” list in System startup).
      3. Tip: Boot NT. Uninstall any NT-only software that’s mixed in with XP software.
      4. Boot XP. Backup Boot.ini to Boot.inn (it’s in root of the system partition).
      5. Go to Start > Run. Type in – press [Enter] after each line
      CMD
      CD..
      ATTRIB -R -S -H BOOT.INI
      NOTEPAD BOOT.INI
      Confirm that the Default= line points to your XP installation, and not to Win9x.
      If only one OS will remain, change the Timeout=? to TIMEOUT=0
      Delete the NT line [multi(0)disk(0)rdisk( – it will be obvious which is for NT].
      7. Save as Boot.ini, and exit Notepad.
      ATTRIB +R +S +H BOOT.INI
      8. Close the Command box, and Reboot.
      It will boot straight to XP (if Timeout=0). Test.
      9. If all is satisfactory, create a new Rescue Bootdisk to reflect your new situation.
      10. Delete the NT installation directory (usually \WINNT) and any unrequired NT data.
      Warning: Do not Format the drive containing Boot.ini (that’s the system partition!).

      • #3388686

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by kg5vw ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        This sounds like it will fix the dual boot issue but not the removal of the extra drive. The XP Pro is on the drive that will stay in the computer and the boot files are on the drive that has to be removed. Please respond if I’m misenterpreting your instructions. Thanks for the responce.

    • #3388674

      Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

      by ronnonf ·

      In reply to Removing Dual Boot Option

      There are two methods you could try. The first involves a copy of Partition magic.
      1) Build a bootable diskette and change the partition number from 2 to 1. Building a bootable diskette is documented by Microsoft basically you need to format a diskette through NT/2000/XP and copy specific files.
      2) Obtain a copy of PqMagic and delete the first partition then resize the second (OS) partition to take it’s place.
      3) Reboot system and plan to use the diskette to boot to the OS
      Second method:
      1) Build a bootable diskette and change the partition number from 2 to 1. Building a bootable diskette is documented by Microsoft basically you need to format a diskette through NT/2000/XP and copy specific files.
      2) Use a free tool called DelPart to delete the first partition
      3) Reboot system and plan to use the diskette to boot to the OS

      • #3389876

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by kg5vw ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        This has possibilities, may have to try it. However, the next answer may infact be the solution to the problem. All the steps seem to fit so I may give it a try instead of this one. Thanks for the reply.

    • #3388663

      Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

      by ted_pas7 ·

      In reply to Removing Dual Boot Option

      I have researched this because I am planning to do the same thing. I have two physical drives in my system: drive (1) is split into two logical partitions; the first is drive C:\ with Win2k and the 2nd is drive I:\ with WinXP. Drive (2) is labeled D:\ and is used for files/email pst file/downloads, etc.

      I’ll assume that you have 2 physical disks in your description: C: (boot drive with Win2k) and G: (WinXP).

      Only your C: drive will have a boot.ini file and it determines which version to boot up. Drive G: does not have a boot.ini file and will need one to become a bootable disk if you make it drive C:.

      Copy your boot.ini file over to the root (C:\) of your G: drive. Edit the file in Notepad from something like this:
      [boot loader]
      timeout=20
      default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
      [operating systems]
      multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition” /fastdetect
      multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT=”Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional” /fastdetect

      To this:
      [boot loader]
      timeout=0
      default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
      multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition” /fastdetect

      Now search your I386 folder for the files: Ntldr and ntdetect.com and copy both to your root, G:\ (which will become your root drive when your remove C:\ and rename G:\ to C:\).

      These 3 files: boot.ini, ntldr and ntdetect.com are required to boot an Intel based computer to Windows NT/2000/XP.

      Now boot to Win-XP and open Computer Management through Administrative Tools and under Storage, select Disk Management. Rt-clk on your C: drive and change the drive letter to some unused letter on your system. Now rt-clk on your G: drive and change it’s drive letter to C:.

      Reboot and you’re done.

      ALWAYS make sure you have saved any important files prior to making these kinds of changes to your system. you can use any available space on your current C: to copy files from G:.

      • #3388661

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by ted_pas7 ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        All of the above should be done while working in WinXP.

      • #3388660

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by ted_pas7 ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        Answer 2 from dmiles is close, but they forgot to tell you about ntldr and ntdetect.com

        Ted

      • #3389877

        Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        by kg5vw ·

        In reply to Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

        I think this answer may be the solution to the problem. Logically speaking I don’t see any problems with your solution. Of course, one can never truly predict the outcome of messing with windows startup files!!! Thanks for the answer.

    • #3389875

      Reply To: Removing Dual Boot Option

      by kg5vw ·

      In reply to Removing Dual Boot Option

      This question was closed by the author

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