Remove Windows 2000 after Upgrade to XP Pro

[Jim Yanacek]

Xref: kermit microsoft.public.windowsxp.basics:226766

I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove Wildows
2000 from my computer so it does not have two operating
systems? This is interferring with Norton System Works
and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.

[R. C. White]

Hi, Jim.

Removing one of two (or more) Windows installations is a simple 2-step
process:

1. Delete the "boot folder" (usually \WinNT or \Windows) of the unneeded
installation.

2. Edit C:\boot.ini to remove the line that tells where to find that
unneeded installation.

If you need details, please post back.

But, I'm using Norton Internet Security 2004 (which includes Norton
Antivirus 2004) with WinXP. My multi-booting - with Win2K, a second copy of
WinXP, Win2K3 Server, and even Longhorn, at various times - has never
presented a problem for NAV. As I recall, there was a problem several years
ago when I was running Norton System Works with Win98/Win2K, but I've
forgotten the details. Of course, I've always observed the Golden Rule:
ALWAYS install each copy of Windows into a separate volume (usually a
separate logical drive in an extended partition); NEVER two installations
into one volume.

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

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Jim Yanacek" > wrote in message
...
>I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove Wildows
> 2000 from my computer so it does not have two operating
> systems? This is interferring with Norton System Works
> and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.

>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, Jim.
>
>Removing one of two (or more) Windows installations is a
simple 2-step
>process:
>
>1. Delete the "boot folder" (usually \WinNT or
\Windows) of the unneeded
>installation.
>
>2. Edit C:\boot.ini to remove the line that tells where
to find that
>unneeded installation.
>
>If you need details, please post back.
>please provide more details
>But, I'm using Norton Internet Security 2004 (which
includes Norton
>Antivirus 2004) with WinXP. My multi-booting - with
Win2K, a second copy of
>WinXP, Win2K3 Server, and even Longhorn, at various
times - has never
>presented a problem for NAV. As I recall, there was a
problem several years
>ago when I was running Norton System Works with
Win98/Win2K, but I've
>forgotten the details. Of course, I've always observed
the Golden Rule:
>ALWAYS install each copy of Windows into a separate
volume (usually a
>separate logical drive in an extended partition); NEVER
two installations
>into one volume.
>
>RC
>--
>R. C. White, CPA
>San Marcos, TX

>Microsoft Windows MVP
>
>"Jim Yanacek" >
wrote in message
...
>>I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove
Wildows
>> 2000 from my computer so it does not have two operating
>> systems? This is interferring with Norton System Works
>> and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.
>
>.
>

[R. C. White]

Hi, Jim? (I can't tell if this is the same person.)

>>If you need details, please post back.
>>please provide more details

Windows always installs into the "boot folder" on the "boot volume". The
boot volume can be any primary partition or any logical drive in the
extended partition on any physical hard disk in your computer. The boot
folder is always in the Root directory (\) and always named \Windows, by
default, except in WinNT4 and Win2K, when the default name is \WinNT. But
when you upgrade from an earlier Windows, WinXP inherits the name of the
former boot folder. (In my case, I upgraded from Win2K to WinXP, so my
WinXP boot folder is \WinNT.) In the typical dual-boot system, you might
have one in C:\Windows and another in D:\Windows.

If a second Windows is installed into the same volume, the existing folder
name can't be used again, of course, so it will be called \Windows2, or some
such variation. (This is just one of the reasons why we should never
install multiple Windows into a single volume.)

Windows will not let you "saw off the limb it's sitting on" by deleting its
own boot folder. But it will happily delete another Windows installation's
boot folder, which is "just another folder" to the Windows that is running.
So, boot into the one you want to keep (C:\Windows ?) and delete the other
one (C:\WinNT ?). If you get an error message, step back and figure out
why. Deleting that folder - and all its subfolders and files - should free
up at least .5 GB of disk space and maybe 2 GB or more (after you empty the
Recycle Bin).

To remove the now-invalid choice from your opening menu of operating
systems, edit C:\boot.ini. This is a simple text file, but it normally is
hidden, system and read-only. One easy way to edit it is to go to System
Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery Settings, and click the Edit
button. Locate the line under [operating systems] that points to the Win2K
boot folder and delete it. Another easy way is to Run msconfig, click the
BOOT.INI tab and click the button to Check All Boot Paths; this should
delete the path to the now-removed Win2K.

Any other questions?

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

Microsoft Windows MVP

> wrote in message
...
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi, Jim.
>>
>>Removing one of two (or more) Windows installations is a
> simple 2-step
>>process:
>>
>>1. Delete the "boot folder" (usually \WinNT or
> \Windows) of the unneeded
>>installation.
>>
>>2. Edit C:\boot.ini to remove the line that tells where
> to find that
>>unneeded installation.
>>
>>If you need details, please post back.
>>please provide more details
>>But, I'm using Norton Internet Security 2004 (which
> includes Norton
>>Antivirus 2004) with WinXP. My multi-booting - with
> Win2K, a second copy of
>>WinXP, Win2K3 Server, and even Longhorn, at various
> times - has never
>>presented a problem for NAV. As I recall, there was a
> problem several years
>>ago when I was running Norton System Works with
> Win98/Win2K, but I've
>>forgotten the details. Of course, I've always observed
> the Golden Rule:
>>ALWAYS install each copy of Windows into a separate
> volume (usually a
>>separate logical drive in an extended partition); NEVER
> two installations
>>into one volume.
>>
>>RC
>>
>>"Jim Yanacek" >
> wrote in message
...
>>>I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove
> Wildows
>>> 2000 from my computer so it does not have two operating
>>> systems? This is interferring with Norton System Works
>>> and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.

[Jim Yanacek]

RC,

That worked!!
I was able to install my Norton System Works and Norton
Anti Virus.
Thanks a million!!

Jim


>-----Original Message-----
>Hi, Jim? (I can't tell if this is the same person.)
>
>>>If you need details, please post back.
>>>please provide more details
>
>Windows always installs into the "boot folder" on
the "boot volume". The
>boot volume can be any primary partition or any logical
drive in the
>extended partition on any physical hard disk in your
computer. The boot
>folder is always in the Root directory (\) and always
named \Windows, by
>default, except in WinNT4 and Win2K, when the default
name is \WinNT. But
>when you upgrade from an earlier Windows, WinXP inherits
the name of the
>former boot folder. (In my case, I upgraded from Win2K
to WinXP, so my
>WinXP boot folder is \WinNT.) In the typical dual-boot
system, you might
>have one in C:\Windows and another in D:\Windows.
>
>If a second Windows is installed into the same volume,
the existing folder
>name can't be used again, of course, so it will be
called \Windows2, or some
>such variation. (This is just one of the reasons why we
should never
>install multiple Windows into a single volume.)
>
>Windows will not let you "saw off the limb it's sitting
on" by deleting its
>own boot folder. But it will happily delete another
Windows installation's
>boot folder, which is "just another folder" to the
Windows that is running.
>So, boot into the one you want to keep (C:\Windows ?)
and delete the other
>one (C:\WinNT ?). If you get an error message, step
back and figure out
>why. Deleting that folder - and all its subfolders and
files - should free
>up at least .5 GB of disk space and maybe 2 GB or more
(after you empty the
>Recycle Bin).
>
>To remove the now-invalid choice from your opening menu
of operating
>systems, edit C:\boot.ini. This is a simple text file,
but it normally is
>hidden, system and read-only. One easy way to edit it
is to go to System
>Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery Settings,
and click the Edit
>button. Locate the line under [operating systems] that
points to the Win2K
>boot folder and delete it. Another easy way is to Run
msconfig, click the
>BOOT.INI tab and click the button to Check All Boot
Paths; this should
>delete the path to the now-removed Win2K.
>
>Any other questions?
>
>RC
>--
>R. C. White, CPA
>San Marcos, TX

>Microsoft Windows MVP
>
> wrote in message
...
>>
>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>Hi, Jim.
>>>
>>>Removing one of two (or more) Windows installations is
a
>> simple 2-step
>>>process:
>>>
>>>1. Delete the "boot folder" (usually \WinNT or
>> \Windows) of the unneeded
>>>installation.
>>>
>>>2. Edit C:\boot.ini to remove the line that tells
where
>> to find that
>>>unneeded installation.
>>>
>>>If you need details, please post back.
>>>please provide more details
>>>But, I'm using Norton Internet Security 2004 (which
>> includes Norton
>>>Antivirus 2004) with WinXP. My multi-booting - with
>> Win2K, a second copy of
>>>WinXP, Win2K3 Server, and even Longhorn, at various
>> times - has never
>>>presented a problem for NAV. As I recall, there was a
>> problem several years
>>>ago when I was running Norton System Works with
>> Win98/Win2K, but I've
>>>forgotten the details. Of course, I've always observed
>> the Golden Rule:
>>>ALWAYS install each copy of Windows into a separate
>> volume (usually a
>>>separate logical drive in an extended partition); NEVER
>> two installations
>>>into one volume.
>>>
>>>RC
>>>
>>>"Jim Yanacek" >
>> wrote in message
...
>>>>I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove
>> Wildows
>>>> 2000 from my computer so it does not have two
operating
>>>> systems? This is interferring with Norton System
Works
>>>> and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.
>
>.
>

[R. C. White]

You're welcome, Jim. And thanks for the feedback. ;<)

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

Microsoft Windows MVP

"Jim Yanacek" > wrote in message
...
> RC,
>
> That worked!!
> I was able to install my Norton System Works and Norton
> Anti Virus.
> Thanks a million!!
>
> Jim
>
>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>Hi, Jim? (I can't tell if this is the same person.)
>>
>>>>If you need details, please post back.
>>>>please provide more details
>>
>>Windows always installs into the "boot folder" on
> the "boot volume". The
>>boot volume can be any primary partition or any logical
> drive in the
>>extended partition on any physical hard disk in your
> computer. The boot
>>folder is always in the Root directory (\) and always
> named \Windows, by
>>default, except in WinNT4 and Win2K, when the default
> name is \WinNT. But
>>when you upgrade from an earlier Windows, WinXP inherits
> the name of the
>>former boot folder. (In my case, I upgraded from Win2K
> to WinXP, so my
>>WinXP boot folder is \WinNT.) In the typical dual-boot
> system, you might
>>have one in C:\Windows and another in D:\Windows.
>>
>>If a second Windows is installed into the same volume,
> the existing folder
>>name can't be used again, of course, so it will be
> called \Windows2, or some
>>such variation. (This is just one of the reasons why we
> should never
>>install multiple Windows into a single volume.)
>>
>>Windows will not let you "saw off the limb it's sitting
> on" by deleting its
>>own boot folder. But it will happily delete another
> Windows installation's
>>boot folder, which is "just another folder" to the
> Windows that is running.
>>So, boot into the one you want to keep (C:\Windows ?)
> and delete the other
>>one (C:\WinNT ?). If you get an error message, step
> back and figure out
>>why. Deleting that folder - and all its subfolders and
> files - should free
>>up at least .5 GB of disk space and maybe 2 GB or more
> (after you empty the
>>Recycle Bin).
>>
>>To remove the now-invalid choice from your opening menu
> of operating
>>systems, edit C:\boot.ini. This is a simple text file,
> but it normally is
>>hidden, system and read-only. One easy way to edit it
> is to go to System
>>Properties | Advanced | Startup and Recovery Settings,
> and click the Edit
>>button. Locate the line under [operating systems] that
> points to the Win2K
>>boot folder and delete it. Another easy way is to Run
> msconfig, click the
>>BOOT.INI tab and click the button to Check All Boot
> Paths; this should
>>delete the path to the now-removed Win2K.
>>
>>Any other questions?
>>
>>RC
>>
> wrote in message
...
>>>
>>>>-----Original Message-----
>>>>Hi, Jim.
>>>>
>>>>Removing one of two (or more) Windows installations is
> a
>>> simple 2-step
>>>>process:
>>>>
>>>>1. Delete the "boot folder" (usually \WinNT or
>>> \Windows) of the unneeded
>>>>installation.
>>>>
>>>>2. Edit C:\boot.ini to remove the line that tells
> where
>>> to find that
>>>>unneeded installation.
>>>>
>>>>If you need details, please post back.
>>>>please provide more details
>>>>But, I'm using Norton Internet Security 2004 (which
>>> includes Norton
>>>>Antivirus 2004) with WinXP. My multi-booting - with
>>> Win2K, a second copy of
>>>>WinXP, Win2K3 Server, and even Longhorn, at various
>>> times - has never
>>>>presented a problem for NAV. As I recall, there was a
>>> problem several years
>>>>ago when I was running Norton System Works with
>>> Win98/Win2K, but I've
>>>>forgotten the details. Of course, I've always observed
>>> the Golden Rule:
>>>>ALWAYS install each copy of Windows into a separate
>>> volume (usually a
>>>>separate logical drive in an extended partition); NEVER
>>> two installations
>>>>into one volume.
>>>>
>>>>RC
>>>>
>>>>"Jim Yanacek" >
>>> wrote in message
...
>>>>>I do not want a dual boot system. How do I remove
>>> Wildows
>>>>> 2000 from my computer so it does not have two
> operating
>>>>> systems? This is interferring with Norton System
> Works
>>>>> and not letting me install Norton Antivirus.