Re: Deleting "Previous Windows Operating System on C:"


[inline and bottom replies]
"Boris" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Richard" <richard@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Boris" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Richard" <richard@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
"Boris" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ha5bqp$n9r$1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

While trying to do a clean install of XP, my system locked up in
the middle of the first phase of Setup (copying files), and I had
to power off with the on/off button.

I started the clean install process from the beginning, and was
able to complete the install. But, I now have a system that starts
up with a dual boot choice:

Previous Windows Operating System on C:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (this one is the default and is
alwasy highlighted)

I have 30 seconds to decide.

If I hit Previous Windows Operating System on C:, the screen goes
black with nothing but a blinking cursor, and remains like this.

If I let the system boot to Microsoft Windows XP Professional (this
one is the default and is alwasy highlighted), all is well.

I'd like to get rid of the failed XP install on C: But, when I go
into Disk Management, and do a Properties on C:, there are two
partitions, C and D. D is very small, but it shows that it is the
MBR.

Is there any way to get rid of D, without harming the successful
install on C? Can I put an MBR on D? If so, how do I later get
rid of D?

The only other workaround, I guess, is to set the timeout for the
dual boot decision to 3 seconds, the minimum allowed, and let the
system boot to Microsoft Windows XP Professional, by default, in 3
seconds.

Another thought is to modify the boot.ini file and eliminate the
line that says "Previous Windows Operating System on C:". But, I'm
afraid to do this for fear the system may not boot, and, I'll still
have partition D.

I have read 8 different articles, some by Microsoft, on how to fix
this, but none seems like it will work.

Any ideas?

Hi Boris,

First, I was following your other thread, so am aware of the CD
problem. To be sure what you ended up with, while logged onto the
good installation, Click Start, click Run, type or paste next line
and press Enter:
%windir%

That should open up your workable Windows folder. Is it called
Windows, or something else, like Windows.0?

Boris answer:
%windir% gives C:\WINDOWS


Second, right-click My Computer, click Properties, click Advanced
tab. Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings. Click Edit. That
will open boot.ini in NotePad. Select All and Copy that information,
(close NotePad and dialog,) and Paste a copy into a reply, so we can
verify what you have.

Boris answer:
[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect
C:\="Previous Operating System on C:"


BTW: My timer is set for 5 seconds, but when the boot screen first
appears and I can see the timer counting down, it is already down 3
seconds.

HTH. (Hope This Helps. :)
--Richard

Boris answer:
Some other readings:

My Computer\System Properties\System:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional, version 2002, Service Pack 1

Accessories\System Tools\System Information:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional
5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600
Windows Directory: C:\Windows
System Directory: C:\Windows\System32
Boot Device: \Device\HarddiskVolume1

Disk Management:
C: Partition, Basic, NTFS, Healthy System, 128GB Capacity, 126.19GB
Free

The graphic in Disk Management for Disk 0 is broken up into three
blocks:

Left Block: Disk 0, Basic, 149.05GB, Online

Middle Block, (C:) Primary, Location 0(0), 128GB NTFS, Healthy
(System)

Right Block, 21.05GB Unallocated, Locataion 0(0), Volume shows:
Partition style is Master Boot Record [MBR}, Capacity 152625MB,
Unallocated space 21556MB, Reserved space 0MB

Thanks, and HTH.


Hi again Boris,

Yes, that helps, especially the extra information you provided. It
looks like you have a good installation in C:\WINDOWS, so you can do
this:

I do.


Right-click My Computer, click Properties, click Advanced tab.
Under Startup and Recovery, click Settings. Click Edit. That will open
boot.ini in NotePad, as you did before. On the menubar, click File,
click Save As, and in the Filename box, name that BOOT_BAD.TXT and
click Save. Then close Notepad, and click the Edit button again to
open Boot.ini, and delete the C:\="Previous Operating System on C:"
line, and click Save. That will get rid of the extra boot option. You
can leave timeout=10 for now.

I performed all these steps, and the results were exactly as you
described.
I now boot the machine, and there's no dual boot screen! It boot directly
to my Windows desktop.


This next is optional, but since you cannot boot from CD, I think it
would be a good idea to install the Recovery Console onto your C:
drive:

I think this is a good idea, too. I'd never have thought of it,
but...read on.


To install the Recovery Console as a startup option:
With Windows running, insert the Setup CD into your CD-ROM drive.
If the Welcome to Microsoft Windows XP screen appears, click Exit.

I did.

Click Start, click Run, (and if the CD-ROM is D:\) type the following:
D:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
Press Enter, and Follow the instructions on the screen.

I did, and I got "Setup cannot continue because the version of Windows on
your computer is newer than the version on the CD. I think this is
because I installed XPSP3 a few days ago, after I wrote. If you had
known this, you probably would have predicted this result. I guess I
could do one of three things:

1) remove XPSP3 and try again
2) slipstream the XPSP1a install CD and XPSP3 onto a single CD (but I'm
not sure this would work)
3) make an image of my system for future use, if needed (I realize this
would only be a snapshot in time, with only the applications and data
files that are on the system now


Oh oh! So much for plan A. I found the reason that didn't work here:
You receive an error message if you try to install the Recovery Console
on a Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2-based computer
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/898594/


Plan B. See if you have an i386 folder on your drive, at either:
C:\i386 or C:\Windows\i386

If so, look for winnt32.exe in the i386 folder.

If present, then if you have C:\i386, then:
Start> Run> C:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

or, if you have C:\Windows\i386, then:
Start> Run> C:\Windows\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

Follow instructions. If Plan B doesn't work, then:


Plan C. Integrate SP3 into the Windows XP installation folder.

How to integrate Windows XP Service Pack 2 files into the Windows XP
installation folder
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/900871

The above page has the basic idea, but we will use the SP3 installation
file, instead of SP2, with these modified Method 1 instructions:

Method 1: Use the /integrate switch

1. Create two new folders on the computer:
C:\XPCD\i386 and C:\XPSP3

2. Copy the files and folders in the i386 folder from the original
Windows XP-sp1a CD to C:\XPCD\i386.

3. Download the Windows XP SP3 installation package. Put it in C:\XPSP3.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=5b33b5a8-5e76-401f-be08-1e1555d4f3d4
Filename: WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe
(If you already have that file, put it in the C:\XPSP3 folder.)

4. Click Start, click Run, type CMD, and then click OK.

5. At the command prompt, type next line and press Enter:
CD C:\XPSP3

6. At command prompt, type next line and press Enter:
WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe /integrate:C:\XPCD

7.The Windows Service Pack 3 Setup Wizard starts and notifies you that
Windows XP SP3 files are being integrated into the Windows XP installation
folder. Follow the instructions in the Windows Service Pack 3 Setup Wizard.

8.Click OK when you see the dialog box that indicates that the integrated
installation has completed successfully.

Now, you should be able to install Recovery Console from your drive.
Click Start, click Run, type or paste next line and press Enter:
C:\XPCD\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons

Read my previous instructions quoted below, about verifying boot.ini, and
adjust the countdown timer to 5 seconds.

To avoid endless startup error loops if something goes wrong:
right-click My computer, click Properties, click Advanced (tab)
under Startup and Recovery, click Settings
Under System failure, UN-check Automatically restart

Description of the Windows XP Recovery Console for advanced users
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314058
- - -

Slipstreaming SP3 into an installation CD is also a good idea.

Here are a few of the many web pages related to SP3 and slipstreaming:

Slipstream Windows XP CD Using SP3 Final
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp3_cd_final.htm

Slipstreaming Windows XP with Service Pack 3
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/xpsp3_slipstream.asp

Create a Slip Stream version of Windows XP
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Creating Your Own Custom XP Installation CD/DVD
http://techysm.wordpress.com/2007/12/27/creating-your-own-custome-xp-installation-cddvd/

WinXP SP3 Installation Package 316MB
Page:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=5B33B5A8-5E76-401F-BE08-1E1555D4F3D4&displaylang=en
File:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/3/0/d30e32d8-418a-469d-b600-f32ce3edf42d/WindowsXP-KB936929-SP3-x86-ENU.exe

WinXP SP3 ISO CD Image File 545MB
Page:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=2FCDE6CE-B5FB-4488-8C50-FE22559D164E&displaylang=en
File:
http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/e/9/ee9d0116-c9fe-4fc2-b59c-406cbfb6d515/xpsp3_5512.080413-2113_usa_x86fre_spcd.iso

XP ISO Builder 1.45 MB (Freeware)
http://winfuture.de/xpisobuilder3_en

AutoStreamer 844 KB (Freeware)
http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=223562
Other source:
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-Tweak/Autostreamer.shtml
- - -


Do not restart the computer yet. (Remove CD now. :)

That will add a super hidden "cmdcons" folder in (C:) root, and add a
second option to the boot.ini file:
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

You can go back to the Startup and Recovery dialog and click Edit
again, to verify boot.ini, and change timeout to 5. The Recovery
Console setup will leave your C:\WINDOWS as the default boot option.
Regardless of how short the timeout is, you can stop the countdown by
pressing an arrow key. Also, Pause/Break key to pause, and Ctrl+Pause
(or Enter) to resume. The nice thing about a boot menu: More time to
press F8 for Safe Mode.

Make a floppy copy of a good boot.ini in case you have future
problems.

I did. I guess if I need it, I would copy it to C:\ ?
I forget my DOS syntax. Would that be:
A:\copy destination filename source filename
i.e. A:\copy C:\boot.ini A:\boot.ini ?

To copy from floppy to C-drive, first rename old:
rename C:\boot.ini boot.old

Then:
copy A:\boot.ini C:\boot.ini


Whether you add that optional Console or not, you should be able to
restart your computer now with no problems. Keep in mind that if you
ever get a startup message telling you that HAL.DLL is missing or
corrupt, that is usually a false error message due to a faulty
boot.ini file, not HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer). The cure is to
use the Recovery Console to access the C: root folder, Use the "type
boot.ini" command to view it and if you need to change it, first use
the "copy boot.ini boot2.ini" command (without quotes of course)
before copying the extra copy from floppy to C, with the
"copy A:\boot.ini C:\boot.ini" command (without quotes.)

In the last message in your other thread, before the setup completed,
you said you had this:

C showed:
$LDR$ 245,920
$WIN_NT$ ~BT <DIR>
$WIN_NT$ ~LS <DIR>
COMMAND COM 93,880
NTDETECT COM 47,580
NTLDR 233,632
TXTSETUP SIF 454,830

When setup completed it probably deleted the $*$ files, and
TXTSETUP.SIF also. You still need NTDETECT.COM, NTLDR, and BOOT.INI -
Command.com is optional, since you have that in C:\WINDOWS\system32
also. It looks like the only thing left behind by the first failed
setup was an extra boot option.

Yes, a dir of C:\ gives:

Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]
(C) Copyright 1985-2001 Microsoft Corp.
C:\>dir
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 5890-4ED5

Directory of C:\

10/01/2009 09:03 PM 0 AUTOEXEC.BAT
10/06/2009 07:54 PM 251 bad_boot.txt
10/01/2009 09:03 PM 0 CONFIG.SYS
10/01/2009 10:57 PM <DIR> Documents and Settings
10/06/2009 11:27 PM <DIR> Downloads
10/01/2009 01:23 PM 431,278 INF000.SWP
10/01/2009 01:23 PM 154,693 INF001.SWP
10/07/2009 10:30 PM <DIR> Program Files
07/16/2003 04:41 AM 71,189 Sunset.jpg
10/07/2009 11:32 PM <DIR> WINDOWS
10/04/2009 09:38 PM <DIR> WUTemp
6 File(s) 657,411 bytes
5 Dir(s) 133,029,691,392 bytes free

C:\>


Your DIR above did not show the hidden files, try again with:
DIR /A

(I don't need a copy.)

In your latest information above, I did not see a D partition, but
unallocated space. Did you delete the partition?

I don't believe I ever had a D partition. At this point, I can't
remember.
Currently, as shown in Disk Management, I only have C with two sections
(128GB NTFS Healthy System, and 21.05GB unallocated, that shows it's the
MBR).

I have no particular
advice concerning the unallocated space on your disk(0) after the C:
partition, which probably has plenty of space for your current needs.
If the drive has 2 platters, and 4 heads, that unallocated space would
be physically located on the bottom side of the 2nd platter, between
the middle track and innermost track, which is the slowest part of the
disk. I would not use a slow partition for anything but data storage.

If 2 platters, each surface is 25% of whole drive space.
21.05GB / 149.05GB = about 14% / 25% = 0.56
If 1 platter, each surface is 50% of whole drive space.
14% / 50% = 0.28 - last partition would begin even closer to inner
track.

Free Partition Master (can change existing partitions)
http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

Windows XP Prefetch monitors the startup of boot files and other
applications and creates *.pf files to speed up the loading of
programs. Every 3 days, during idle time, it will also SECRETLY use
the built-in Disk Defragmenter to move frequently used program files
to what it thinks is the outermost fastest edge of the disk to
"optimize" disk access time. Windows is ignorant of the actual
physical location on platters of the beginning of the partition. (Of
course middle tracks are faster than innermost. :)

The last thing I noticed is that, in your other thread, you mentioned
installing SP3, but your System Information above says your new
installation is Service Pack 1, I assume SP1a, which does not include
Windows Firewall, so it is not a good idea to connect to the internet
before SP3 is installed. After SP3 is installed, and Windows Firewall
is active, you should connect to the Windows Update site only, choose
custom, and get up to date on all critical patches, a few at a time
and restart the computer between times. If you wait until the computer
is updated before installing your antivirus, or disable it, the update
process will be a lot faster. (Of course you need active
antivirus/antispyware before going to other web sites.)

Windows Update website:
http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx

Optional: If you want to provide more complete System Information,
there might be some other things you can do to optimize your new
installation further. While the System Summary is displayed in System
Information, Select All, and then hold Ctrl-key and click the System
Name and User Name lines to de-select those two, and then copy and
paste in a reply.

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Activation Status Activation Pending (28 days remaining)
System Manufacturer Gateway
System Model E-4600
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 15 Model 0 Stepping 10 GenuineIntel ~1596 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Intel Corp. GB85010A.15A.0046.P13.0108201551,
8/20/2001
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 337.14 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 1.22 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys


OK. I don't see any problems there.


C:\>On the tree on the left, expand Components, expand
Storage, click Drives, SelectAll, copy, and paste that here. Then
click Disks, SelectAll, copy and paste that also. (Notice the "offset"
before the beginning of the first partition.)

Drive A:
Description 3 1/2 Inch Floppy Drive

Drive C:
Description Local Fixed Disk
Compressed No
File System NTFS
Size 128.00 GB (137,436,168,192 bytes)
Free Space 123.90 GB (133,034,168,320 bytes)
Volume Name
Volume Serial Number 58904ED5

Drive D:
Description CD-ROM Disc

Drive E:
Description CD-ROM Disc


That is all I can think of for now. Thanks.

(Triple-click here, to be of good cheer. :)
--Richard


Thanks for all the help. This has been very informative.

Boris


You're welcome. Thanks for letting me share your experience.

(Be happy, be Very happy! :)
--Richard



.

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