2 Copies of XP on my System

[hlp45777]

I recently reformatted my Hard drive. I deleted all partitioned sections of my drive and performed a new install of Windows XP. I doubled my storage space by doing this. ( which was my objective. The problem is this, when I boot up now I get a screen asking me which system do I want to use; it looks like this;
Windows XP Home
Windows XP Home
Windows XP setup

I have to pick one of these to boot up every time I Reboot!
How can I get rid of the extra XP home and the Windows XP Setup so my computer boots normally, without stopping for a chooice from me. If I don't choose one it starts up whatever happens to be highlighted.

Also I checked in my C drive for a second Windows File but can't find one, however I am really not sure what I am looking for.
Can anyone help? I am new to the forum and apologize if I am not doing any thing properly or am not adhering to proper forum etiquette.
If you have an answer to my problem Please email me as well as posting here.
My e-mail is hlp45777@comcast.net
Thanks
Herb

[DougL]

you have to edit the boot.ini file, have a look here

http://support.microsoft.com/default...;EN-US;q289022


Doug

[hlp45777]

Ok, I am getting somewhere but I am not sure where. This is what the article you sent me to says my boot Ini should say;

[boot loader]
timeout=30
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

After deleting the 2nd XP home and the XP setup from MY boot ini, it now looks like this:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

I am still getting two options when I startup,
XP Home Edition
Windows (default)
The second option brings me to a new install or repair page.

Somehow I need to combine these two to get the right Boot Ini. I think It should be something like this:

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

(Change from 5 to 30 in timeout?) Maybe 5 is better!
and get rid of the “no execute=optin

I think these changes will get me back to normal, but this is my first time playing with the boot ini and I want to be reasonably sure of what I am doing.

Thanks for the help will be waiting on a reply
Herb

[hlp45777]

I did it, couldn't wait for a reply, so I took a chance and tried my solution.

My boot file looked like this:

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


I deleted the current boot file and replaced it with the following;

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS=" Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition " /fastdetect

(Changed)
(Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT)
to (default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS)

and got rid of the “no execute=optin"

Everything worked out fine.

Thanks to DougL and the great team at PC Mech
Keep up the good work!
Should I do something on the forum now that I fixed my problem?
Is there a way to close my post, what is the normal procedure?
Thanks Everyone
Herb

[DougL]

Only just read your post, glad everything worked out ok.

Doug