Member Avatar for bjedne

Hi, i recently re instaled windows xp due to some nastyness, and now the computer thinks i have 2 OS'es, and every boot i get the question of wich to use. the name is the excact same, but the one i use is the one listed last when i get asked.

anyways, here is my boot file:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Rik_

Dani AI

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Nice catch by and good follow-up from — duplicate boot entries with identical labels are a common XP-era side effect after reinstalling. Below are clear, safe steps to identify which entry points to which physical install, how to back up before editing, and simple recovery options if something goes wrong.

To map an entry to a disk/partition: open Disk Management (run diskmgmt.msc) and note the disk numbers and partition order. In boot.ini the rdisk(n) value refers to the physical disk (Disk 0 = rdisk(0)), and partition(n) refers to the partition ordinal (starts at 1). Assign a temporary drive letter to a partition you suspect, then check its root for the Windows folder to confirm which installation that boot entry references. You can also use diskpart (list disk, select disk N, list partition) to inspect disks from the command line.

Always back up and restore attributes when editing boot.ini. Example sequence to make a safe copy, edit, and re-hide the file:

attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini
copy c:\boot.ini c:\boot.ini.bak
notepad c:\boot.ini
attrib +s +h +r c:\boot.ini

If an edit leaves the system unbootable, boot from the Windows XP CD into the Recovery Console and rebuild the loader or repair the boot sector:

bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot
fixmbr

Extra tips: give each quoted label in boot.ini a unique name so you can tell them apart at boot, and only delete or format an old Windows partition after you have verified it is the unused copy. These notes apply to Windows XP and earlier (Vista and newer use BCD/bcdedit instead).

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Member Avatar for Rik_

You can set timeout to 1 and delete "multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(2)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect".
Make sure you delete the correct one or you will kill windows.

Member Avatar for bjedne

Make sure you delete the correct one or you will kill windows.

thats a big part of my problem. its the exact same name on the two "OS'es", how do i know wich is wich? when i get asked wich OS to start during boot, i choose the 2. option. how can i be sure wich one to delete?

Member Avatar for Rik_

If you let the timer run out, will it boot? If so, the default command points to the correct one which is the top one.

Member Avatar for bjedne

solved :) the method you described works. another way that i found is to: run --> msconfig---> boot.ini.
that gives me al the options i need :)

Member Avatar for Rik_

I am glad to hear that it's now sorted. :)

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