How to delete 2nd OS in Boot.ini file?

[Hamhound]

I just re-installed XP home and deleted all partitions, re-formatted before the install. Did this with the XP disk guiding me along. Working fine, except when the BIOS is booting, it stops and wants me to choose either of two exact OS: 'Please select the operating system to start'. They are 'Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition'. Selecting the first of the two boots fine. Selecting the 2nd gives a message saying there was a computer disk hardware config problem, etc.
Disk Management confirms one partition. Disk Defrag shows 2 mft tragments.
So, I ran msconfig and opened Boot.ini and it shows two entries for my OS. Both are the same except one says ...partition(1)... and the other says partition(2)....

I hit the button to 'check all boot paths'. It tells me that the partition(2) line does not refer to a valid OS. It asks if I want to remove it. Seems obvious, but bad stuff can happen if I screw up.

Remove or something else?

Where the heck would the bad one come from on a new format, new install?
Thanks!
Al

[PzkfW]

I think your master boot record (MBR) was not deleted when you reformatted. Did you repartition/reformat through windows XP? If so it probably didn't touch your MBR, so your previous OS is still listed (but not actually present).

If you can, you can reformat with DBAN (Dan's boot and nuke) or GPARTED, that should nuke everything on the drive including your MBR

Can you uncheck the second one in msconfig?
If you fear killing your boot.ini, you can always back it up and re-copy it later with a live CD of a linux distro. ie, if you copy the file, and somehow mess it up and windows can't boot (but you need your data/windows back), you can boot using linux and copy the working boot.ini file back.

[Force Flow]

Go to the C:\ and find the boot.ini file. If it's not there, you'll need to show hidden files

My computer > tools > folder options > "view" tab > select "show hidden files and folders"

Once you find it, open it in a text editor and remove the invalid line. Save it, and at the next boot, it shouldn't pester you anymore.

[glc]

Not quite that simple - before you can use a text editor you have to remove the read-only attribute. I'd use the msconfig method.

HOWEVER - if you don't have any data to lose, I would recommend you zero fill the hard drive and start over.

[Hamhound]

All comments basically understood and appreciated. I did let XP do the formatting so I guess I got the leftovers. I prefer not to start over, only due to the time involved.

GLC said 'use the msconfig method'. Does that answer my baisc question about letting it delete the line that is the 'extra OS' in the Boot.ini tab? Sure seems to be easier for me.

I am surprised this does not come up more often unless the only people re-formatting and re-loading the OS are you experts and most being smarter than me and leaving it to the experts!
Thanks again for the expert help.

[Force Flow]

Originally Posted by Hamhound GLC said 'use the msconfig method'. Does that answer my baisc question about letting it delete the line that is the 'extra OS' in the Boot.ini tab? Sure seems to be easier for me.

Yes. You may still have to uncheck the "read only" file property, though.

[mjkovis]

This is a program called EasyBSD. You can try running this program and see if it will delete that line for you.

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

[Hamhound]

So, I have tried but failed to remove the line in boot.ini via the use of msconfig (aka System Configuration Utility). Agreeing to remove the line that is suggested to be unneeded, the Utility puts itself into the Selective Mode and announces this upon re-boot. Changing the mode back to Normal makes the removed line re-appear and the problem is back to where it was: BIOS wants to know which to start. I do not know how to remove via msconfig.

I find in Sys Config Utility Boot/INI tab that I can select the line (that it says can be deleted) and it will allow a choice to make this the default. Selecting the other line (the desired one?) will not offer the choice to make i the default. I did not change it.

So, I open boot.ini with Notepad but chickened out about modifying it. GLC said 'before you can use a text editor you have to remove the read-only attribute' and ForceFLow said 'You may still have to uncheck the "read only" file property'. Unfortunately, I do not know how to do either.

I will consider mjkovis' suggestion if I get no other love.

I do not mind learning and will keep at it. Fortunately, this is not a big deal. Thanks for spending your valuable time.
Al

[Force Flow]

Right click on the file > properties > uncheck "Read only"

[Hamhound]

Will do. Thanks. Also, MS KB said boot.ini an be edited by this:
Right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
-or-
Click Start, click Run, type sysdm.cpl, and then click OK.
On the Advanced tab, click Settings under Startup and Recovery.
Under System Startup, click Edit.

Tried this on other machine and the file is open and looks llike it can be edited.
Tomorrow's task since the 'better half' wants some time! Thanks again.

[mjkovis]

Originally Posted by Hamhound I will consider mjkovis' suggestion if I get no other love.

It is a VERY small download and a quick install. It couldn't hurt. I have never used it to try and delete a ghost OS before though, so not sure if it would show up. I have always had to write zero's to the drive and reinstall...

[Hamhound]

Fixed my problem without a hitch. The usual angst and learning but simple.
Found boot.ini in the C:\ and found properties. Read Only was NOT checked so I proceeded back to My Computer/Properties/ASdvanced/Startup and Recover/Settings/Startup/Edit. I deleted the 'ghost OS' line from the file, saved and all done.

As usual, the experts here patiently helped and all is well. Great service and I hope to be back to offer help instead of seek it!