Member Avatar for HuNgOver

I have two hard drives with XP installed in both and I want get rid of XP on one. I don't know much, I formatted the 2nd hard drive with the Windows XP CD and it installed XP along formatting. I ended up having to pick from 2 options all the time when i start my computer and my 2nd hard drive only has 40gb and it justs wastes valuable space with XP installed. Can someone tell me how to get rid of it if it takes formatting again somehow.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by Bob_180_Bob

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A concise, practical caution and procedure to remove the extra XP install safely (builds on ’s report and ’s warning about being certain which installation to keep).

First, identify where the boot files actually live. Boot the copy of XP that must remain (use the BIOS boot menu if needed) and open Computer → Manage → Disk Management. The Status column will label one partition as System (holds NTLDR/boot files) and another as Boot (holds the running Windows folder). If the System partition is on the 40GB drive, the boot files must be moved before erasing that disk — otherwise the machine will become unbootable.

A safe sequence

  1. Verify with Disk Management which physical disk is System/Boot.
  2. If the boot files are on the disk to be removed, copy them to the intended keep-drive and rebuild the boot information from the Recovery Console. Typical Recovery Console commands (CD letter may vary—use the map command first) are:
copy D:\i386\ntldr C:\
copy D:\i386\ntdetect.com C:\
bootcfg /rebuild
fixboot C:
fixmbr

After successful repair and a reboot that confirms the kept Windows starts by itself, remove the unwanted install from the second disk. The safest test before wiping is to temporarily disconnect the 40GB drive and boot the system; if it starts correctly, reconnect and wipe the drive with Disk Management (delete volumes and create a data partition) or format it for storage.

Lastly, remove the extra boot-menu entry (msconfig → BOOT.INI tab or the Recovery Console bootcfg command) so the boot menu no longer appears. Always back up personal files and have the XP CD (or recovery media) at hand before changing boot or partition structures.

Recommended Answers

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Member Avatar for Catweazle

Delete everything on the second drive. Then to remove the reference to the second OS installation.

Member Avatar for HuNgOver

By deleting do u mean uninstall everything from the hard drive or formatting hard drive?
And it's as simple as deleting the bold text?

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

Member Avatar for Catweazle

Be absolutely certain which of the two installations is the one you want to keep. Wipe the unwanted drive of it's installation. (Format or delete as you wish, NOT uninstall.)

Then delete the leftover entry from the boot information file, yes!


I can't tell you precisely which line it is. I can't look at your machine to be sure which installation is the one you want to keep. Best way is to make a bootable floppy, boot from it and use DOS commands to double check the contents of the hard drive(s). Drive letters can be different in Windows to how the machine itself allocates them.

When you're sure, get rid of the one you don't want, edit the file and you're left with only the one windows installation and your second drive free for data.

Member Avatar for abbinay

plz some body suggest me what to do .My problem is .
1)while installing windows XP it could not copy the system files, after the formatting of the drive is being done.It is displaying a message as "system cannot copy ks.sys" i m forced to face this problem from many days .I hope u will definately help me.Thsnk you

Member Avatar for Bob_180_Bob

First up, start a new thread of your own so people can see what you are after.
When there post a detailed report.
What is the details of your PC?
Did you have a OS before XP setup?
Is "coping of files" started?
Are there any error messages?
Can you borrow another copy of XP and try to see if it OK?
Can you boot into Repair console?
Any and all information that could help some one here see what is going on where you are. The more information the better the chance of good help!!!

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