removing a second boot partition

[David Mis]

I was experincing some installation problems with my
Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out of
the installation. When I went to re-install, the
reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
required for installation were missing. The only option I
could run that would work would be a complete
reinstallation which would overwrite many of the files I
had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus, when
I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot partition
in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing the
installation of this second partition, I recovered my
desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd partition.
However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
partition from a system running XP home edition?

[R. C. White]

Hi, David.

In WinXP, use Disk Management to create, delete and format partitions. This
built-in utility does the jobs that we used to do with FDISK and Format,
back in MS-DOS and Win9x/ME days. There are several ways to find the
utility; one way is to type at the Run prompt: diskmgmt.msc

You can change the appearance of Disk Management on your screen by clicking
View. I like to run it Maximized, with the Volume List on top and the
Graphical View at the bottom. Also, the Help file reached from here is very
informative.

Removing the partition should be as easy as highlighting it in Disk
Management, then right-click on it and choose Delete Partition... or Delete
Logical Drive..., as appropriate.

Deleting the partition will, of course, delete everything on the partition,
not just the WinXP installation. After deleting the partition, you can run
msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab and click Check All Boot Paths. This
should remove the reference to that copy of WinXP from the menu you see when
rebooting.

> The only option I
> could run that would work would be a complete
> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the files I
> had in my system.

Did you try an "in-place upgrade", also known as a repair reinstallation?
See in this KB article:
How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;q315341

An in-place upgrade would completely reinstall WinXP itself, but preserve
your installed applications and data. Then, after getting your firewall and
antivirus back in place, you would need to visit Windows Update to be sure
you have the latest Service Pack and later updates.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"David Mis" > wrote in message
...
>
> I was experincing some installation problems with my
> Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out of
> the installation. When I went to re-install, the
> reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
> required for installation were missing. The only option I
> could run that would work would be a complete
> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the files I
> had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
> until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus, when
> I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot partition
> in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing the
> installation of this second partition, I recovered my
> desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd partition.
> However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
> provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
> partition from a system running XP home edition?

I did try the in-place upgrade/repair installation. That
is what failed several times looking for a specific file.
(don't have the name of the file). It would reach a
certain point and be looking for a file that was no
longer existing or corrupt. Thus, I was forced to
complete the reinstallation to move forward. Thanks for
the information. I will try them when I get home and let
you know if this worked. Aleways nice to get the
confiormation.

Thanks RC

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, David.
>
>In WinXP, use Disk Management to create, delete and
format partitions. This
>built-in utility does the jobs that we used to do with
FDISK and Format,
>back in MS-DOS and Win9x/ME days. There are several
ways to find the
>utility; one way is to type at the Run prompt:
diskmgmt.msc
>
>You can change the appearance of Disk Management on your
screen by clicking
>View. I like to run it Maximized, with the Volume List
on top and the
>Graphical View at the bottom. Also, the Help file
reached from here is very
>informative.
>
>Removing the partition should be as easy as highlighting
it in Disk
>Management, then right-click on it and choose Delete
Partition... or Delete
>Logical Drive..., as appropriate.
>
>Deleting the partition will, of course, delete
everything on the partition,
>not just the WinXP installation. After deleting the
partition, you can run
>msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab and click Check All
Boot Paths. This
>should remove the reference to that copy of WinXP from
the menu you see when
>rebooting.
>
>> The only option I
>> could run that would work would be a complete
>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the files
I
>> had in my system.
>
>Did you try an "in-place upgrade", also known as a
repair reinstallation?
>See in this KB article:
>How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of
Windows XP
>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
us;q315341
>
>An in-place upgrade would completely reinstall WinXP
itself, but preserve
>your installed applications and data. Then, after
getting your firewall and
>antivirus back in place, you would need to visit Windows
Update to be sure
>you have the latest Service Pack and later updates.
>
>RC
>--
>R. C. White, CPA
>San Marcos, TX

>Microsoft Windows MVP
>
>"David Mis" > wrote
in message
...
>>
>> I was experincing some installation problems with my
>> Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out of
>> the installation. When I went to re-install, the
>> reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
>> required for installation were missing. The only
option I
>> could run that would work would be a complete
>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the files
I
>> had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
>> until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus,
when
>> I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot partition
>> in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing the
>> installation of this second partition, I recovered my
>> desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd partition.
>> However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
>> provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
>> partition from a system running XP home edition?
>
>.
>

[Dave Mis]

I tried what was suggested. I believe I may have
improperly understood the issue. After using the Diskmgmt
utility, I see only one partition exists. However, when I
boot my system, it would ask for which OS to boot from.
Upon further investigation of the boot.ini parmeters, I
see I loaded a 2nd version of the OS within the same
partition. The original was loaded in the /windows
directory. The 2nd copy was loaded in the /windows1
directory. I created the second directory when I was
reloading and did not want to overwrite any of the data.
I have recovered what was needed. Now I need to determine
how to remove the OS identified in the "windows1"
directory. I did not see an option from the disk magmt
utility to do so. Nor did the msconfig utility allow me
to remove it. Can you expand on this area?




>-----Original Message-----
>I did try the in-place upgrade/repair installation. That
>is what failed several times looking for a specific
file.
>(don't have the name of the file). It would reach a
>certain point and be looking for a file that was no
>longer existing or corrupt. Thus, I was forced to
>complete the reinstallation to move forward. Thanks for
>the information. I will try them when I get home and let
>you know if this worked. Aleways nice to get the
>confiormation.
>
>Thanks RC
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi, David.
>>
>>In WinXP, use Disk Management to create, delete and
>format partitions. This
>>built-in utility does the jobs that we used to do with
>FDISK and Format,
>>back in MS-DOS and Win9x/ME days. There are several
>ways to find the
>>utility; one way is to type at the Run prompt:
>diskmgmt.msc
>>
>>You can change the appearance of Disk Management on
your
>screen by clicking
>>View. I like to run it Maximized, with the Volume List
>on top and the
>>Graphical View at the bottom. Also, the Help file
>reached from here is very
>>informative.
>>
>>Removing the partition should be as easy as
highlighting
>it in Disk
>>Management, then right-click on it and choose Delete
>Partition... or Delete
>>Logical Drive..., as appropriate.
>>
>>Deleting the partition will, of course, delete
>everything on the partition,
>>not just the WinXP installation. After deleting the
>partition, you can run
>>msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab and click Check All
>Boot Paths. This
>>should remove the reference to that copy of WinXP from
>the menu you see when
>>rebooting.
>>
>>> The only option I
>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
files
>I
>>> had in my system.
>>
>>Did you try an "in-place upgrade", also known as a
>repair reinstallation?
>>See in this KB article:
>>How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of
>Windows XP
>>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
>us;q315341
>>
>>An in-place upgrade would completely reinstall WinXP
>itself, but preserve
>>your installed applications and data. Then, after
>getting your firewall and
>>antivirus back in place, you would need to visit
Windows
>Update to be sure
>>you have the latest Service Pack and later updates.
>>
>>RC
>>--
>>R. C. White, CPA
>>San Marcos, TX

>>Microsoft Windows MVP
>>
>>"David Mis" > wrote
>in message
...
>>>
>>> I was experincing some installation problems with my
>>> Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out
of
>>> the installation. When I went to re-install, the
>>> reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
>>> required for installation were missing. The only
>option I
>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
files
>I
>>> had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
>>> until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus,
>when
>>> I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot
partition
>>> in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing
the
>>> installation of this second partition, I recovered my
>>> desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd partition.
>>> However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
>>> provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
>>> partition from a system running XP home edition?
>>
>>.
>>
>.
>

[R. C. White]

Hi, Dave.

I'm glad you got the partition problem figured out.

To delete \Windows1, just boot into \Windows as usual and then delete the
\Windows1 folder in the usual way. WinXP won't let you delete its own "boot
folder", but the other one is "just another folder" to the currently running
WinXP.

That won't get rid of the line in C:\boot.ini that offers to boot that copy
in \Windows1 for you. There are a couple of ways to fix that. Probably the
easiest is to run msconfig, click the BOOT.INI tab, and then click Check All
Boot Paths. This should delete any invalid paths, including the one to
\Windows1.

No, you can't do either of these fixes from Disk Management. You are not
trying to delete or otherwise change any partition. You are just deleting a
folder that is in a partition. And the second step is just editing
C:\boot.ini, which is a simple text file. Hidden, System and Read-only, but
still just text. Both of these are much simpler and easier than deleting a
partition. ;<)

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Dave Mis" > wrote in message
...
>I tried what was suggested. I believe I may have
> improperly understood the issue. After using the Diskmgmt
> utility, I see only one partition exists. However, when I
> boot my system, it would ask for which OS to boot from.
> Upon further investigation of the boot.ini parmeters, I
> see I loaded a 2nd version of the OS within the same
> partition. The original was loaded in the /windows
> directory. The 2nd copy was loaded in the /windows1
> directory. I created the second directory when I was
> reloading and did not want to overwrite any of the data.
> I have recovered what was needed. Now I need to determine
> how to remove the OS identified in the "windows1"
> directory. I did not see an option from the disk magmt
> utility to do so. Nor did the msconfig utility allow me
> to remove it. Can you expand on this area?
>
>
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>I did try the in-place upgrade/repair installation. That
>>is what failed several times looking for a specific
> file.
>>(don't have the name of the file). It would reach a
>>certain point and be looking for a file that was no
>>longer existing or corrupt. Thus, I was forced to
>>complete the reinstallation to move forward. Thanks for
>>the information. I will try them when I get home and let
>>you know if this worked. Aleways nice to get the
>>confiormation.
>>
>>Thanks RC
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>Hi, David.
>>>
>>>In WinXP, use Disk Management to create, delete and
>>format partitions. This
>>>built-in utility does the jobs that we used to do with
>>FDISK and Format,
>>>back in MS-DOS and Win9x/ME days. There are several
>>ways to find the
>>>utility; one way is to type at the Run prompt:
>>diskmgmt.msc
>>>
>>>You can change the appearance of Disk Management on
> your
>>screen by clicking
>>>View. I like to run it Maximized, with the Volume List
>>on top and the
>>>Graphical View at the bottom. Also, the Help file
>>reached from here is very
>>>informative.
>>>
>>>Removing the partition should be as easy as
> highlighting
>>it in Disk
>>>Management, then right-click on it and choose Delete
>>Partition... or Delete
>>>Logical Drive..., as appropriate.
>>>
>>>Deleting the partition will, of course, delete
>>everything on the partition,
>>>not just the WinXP installation. After deleting the
>>partition, you can run
>>>msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab and click Check All
>>Boot Paths. This
>>>should remove the reference to that copy of WinXP from
>>the menu you see when
>>>rebooting.
>>>
>>>> The only option I
>>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
> files
>>I
>>>> had in my system.
>>>
>>>Did you try an "in-place upgrade", also known as a
>>repair reinstallation?
>>>See in this KB article:
>>>How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of
>>Windows XP
>>>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
>>us;q315341
>>>
>>>An in-place upgrade would completely reinstall WinXP
>>itself, but preserve
>>>your installed applications and data. Then, after
>>getting your firewall and
>>>antivirus back in place, you would need to visit
> Windows
>>Update to be sure
>>>you have the latest Service Pack and later updates.
>>>
>>>RC
>>>
>>>"David Mis" > wrote
>>in message
...
>>>>
>>>> I was experincing some installation problems with my
>>>> Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out
> of
>>>> the installation. When I went to re-install, the
>>>> reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
>>>> required for installation were missing. The only
>>option I
>>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
> files
>>I
>>>> had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
>>>> until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus,
>>when
>>>> I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot
> partition
>>>> in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing
> the
>>>> installation of this second partition, I recovered my
>>>> desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd partition.
>>>> However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
>>>> provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
>>>> partition from a system running XP home edition?

R.C.,

Thanks for all your help. The delete and check booth path
did the trick.


Much appreciated.


>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, Dave.
>
>I'm glad you got the partition problem figured out.
>
>To delete \Windows1, just boot into \Windows as usual
and then delete the
>\Windows1 folder in the usual way. WinXP won't let you
delete its own "boot
>folder", but the other one is "just another folder" to
the currently running
>WinXP.
>
>That won't get rid of the line in C:\boot.ini that
offers to boot that copy
>in \Windows1 for you. There are a couple of ways to fix
that. Probably the
>easiest is to run msconfig, click the BOOT.INI tab, and
then click Check All
>Boot Paths. This should delete any invalid paths,
including the one to
>\Windows1.
>
>No, you can't do either of these fixes from Disk
Management. You are not
>trying to delete or otherwise change any partition. You
are just deleting a
>folder that is in a partition. And the second step is
just editing
>C:\boot.ini, which is a simple text file. Hidden,
System and Read-only, but
>still just text. Both of these are much simpler and
easier than deleting a
>partition. ;<)
>
>RC
>--
>R. C. White, CPA
>San Marcos, TX

>Microsoft Windows MVP
>
>"Dave Mis" > wrote
in message
...
>>I tried what was suggested. I believe I may have
>> improperly understood the issue. After using the
Diskmgmt
>> utility, I see only one partition exists. However,
when I
>> boot my system, it would ask for which OS to boot from.
>> Upon further investigation of the boot.ini parmeters, I
>> see I loaded a 2nd version of the OS within the same
>> partition. The original was loaded in the /windows
>> directory. The 2nd copy was loaded in the /windows1
>> directory. I created the second directory when I was
>> reloading and did not want to overwrite any of the
data.
>> I have recovered what was needed. Now I need to
determine
>> how to remove the OS identified in the "windows1"
>> directory. I did not see an option from the disk magmt
>> utility to do so. Nor did the msconfig utility allow me
>> to remove it. Can you expand on this area?
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>I did try the in-place upgrade/repair installation.
That
>>>is what failed several times looking for a specific
>> file.
>>>(don't have the name of the file). It would reach a
>>>certain point and be looking for a file that was no
>>>longer existing or corrupt. Thus, I was forced to
>>>complete the reinstallation to move forward. Thanks for
>>>the information. I will try them when I get home and
let
>>>you know if this worked. Aleways nice to get the
>>>confiormation.
>>>
>>>Thanks RC
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Hi, David.
>>>>
>>>>In WinXP, use Disk Management to create, delete and
>>>format partitions. This
>>>>built-in utility does the jobs that we used to do with
>>>FDISK and Format,
>>>>back in MS-DOS and Win9x/ME days. There are several
>>>ways to find the
>>>>utility; one way is to type at the Run prompt:
>>>diskmgmt.msc
>>>>
>>>>You can change the appearance of Disk Management on
>> your
>>>screen by clicking
>>>>View. I like to run it Maximized, with the Volume
List
>>>on top and the
>>>>Graphical View at the bottom. Also, the Help file
>>>reached from here is very
>>>>informative.
>>>>
>>>>Removing the partition should be as easy as
>> highlighting
>>>it in Disk
>>>>Management, then right-click on it and choose Delete
>>>Partition... or Delete
>>>>Logical Drive..., as appropriate.
>>>>
>>>>Deleting the partition will, of course, delete
>>>everything on the partition,
>>>>not just the WinXP installation. After deleting the
>>>partition, you can run
>>>>msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab and click Check
All
>>>Boot Paths. This
>>>>should remove the reference to that copy of WinXP from
>>>the menu you see when
>>>>rebooting.
>>>>
>>>>> The only option I
>>>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
>> files
>>>I
>>>>> had in my system.
>>>>
>>>>Did you try an "in-place upgrade", also known as a
>>>repair reinstallation?
>>>>See in this KB article:
>>>>How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of
>>>Windows XP
>>>>http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-
>>>us;q315341
>>>>
>>>>An in-place upgrade would completely reinstall WinXP
>>>itself, but preserve
>>>>your installed applications and data. Then, after
>>>getting your firewall and
>>>>antivirus back in place, you would need to visit
>> Windows
>>>Update to be sure
>>>>you have the latest Service Pack and later updates.
>>>>
>>>>RC
>>>>
>>>>"David Mis" >
wrote
>>>in message
...
>>>>>
>>>>> I was experincing some installation problems with my
>>>>> Windows XP home edition and was forced to cancel out
>> of
>>>>> the installation. When I went to re-install, the
>>>>> reinstallation process continued to fail. Some files
>>>>> required for installation were missing. The only
>>>option I
>>>>> could run that would work would be a complete
>>>>> reinstallation which would overwrite many of the
>> files
>>>I
>>>>> had in my system. I did not want over wrie any files
>>>>> until recovered some personal files onto a CD. Thus,
>>>when
>>>>> I reinstalled, I installed with a 2nd XP boot
>> partition
>>>>> in a new directory called windows1. Upon completing
>> the
>>>>> installation of this second partition, I recovered
my
>>>>> desired files. I now want to delete the 2nd
partition.
>>>>> However, I can not find a way to do this. Can anyone
>>>>> provide some insight as to how to remove a 2nd XP
>>>>> partition from a system running XP home edition?
>
>.
>