Re: Getting rid of dual boot setup?

From: Pegasus \(MVP\) (I.can_at_fly.com)
Date: 12/22/04 

Date: Thu, 23 Dec 2004 10:53:19 +1100

> And why do you think that the OP didn't have ntdetect.com,
> ntldr and boot.ini on his WinXP system? Here's what he wrote:
>
>
> "I have Win ME on C: WinXP Pro on D: and data files
> on E: (all partitions on the same drive). I would like to
> get rid of Win ME now as I don't need it anymore (for
> older program compatibility). Is there any way to remove
> ME and still keep XP working without having to reinstall
> XP? TIA"

When installing WinXP, the files ntldr, ntdetect.com and boot.ini
are installed on the first active partition, which is drive C:. In the
case of the OP, the rest of WinXP went to drive D:. When he images
drive D: to drive C: then he will miss out on these files - they
do not exist on drive D:!

When installing WinXP on a drive other than C: then it is
irrelevant if that drive is on a primary partition or if it is a logical
drive.

> If WinXP had been installed on a Primary partition, it would
> have those files. Are you assuming that his WinXP was
> installed on an Extended partition? And did you try your
> experiment with a WinXP installed on an Extended partition?
>
> There is no other explanation for the absence of those files.
> Partition Magic doesn't strip files before it moves a partition.

See above.
=============================
> Furthermore, the Master Boot Record is not part of an
> OS's partition. You can delete an OS's partition and the
> MBR will remain. The MBR merely sends control to
> whatever is the "active" partition on the hard drive. If
> you're trying to use the boot files on a particular partition,
> that partition better be marked "active".

Agreed.

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