How do I delete second copy of Windows on my pc?

Question

I need to delete one, b/c I am low on memory. Obviouisly, I need to keep the particular copy that I use. When my pc boots up I choose the second Windows XP. This is the one I want to keep, I want to delete the first copy. How do I do this without accidentally deleting the second copy??? Thanks!!!

Answer 1

What makes you think you have a second copy? The prompt you get? This means nothing. It could be the same copy.

from a command prompt, type:
ECHO %WINDIR%

That is your Windows directory. DO NOT DELETE IT. Boot to the other install and do the same thing. If both say C:\WINDOWS then you DO NOT have two copies of windows, you just have a boot.ini file that lists Windows twice.

If you DO have two copies of Windows, then boot into the one you want and delete the folder of the other, as determined by that ECHO %WINDIR% command before.

Then type NOTEPAD C:\BOOT.INI

Look at the lines there - it should look something like this:
[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" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINXP="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Note the name following ..(1)\ - WINDOWS is what you will probably see. If there's another entry, then post it here and no one will see it because most people stop looking at these questions after they answer them. So as an alterntive, use a site like www.experts-exchange.com or www.tek-tips.com to ask this question and people will actually have the opportunity to interact with you and help solve the problem.

Answer 2

WOW, how did you manage to do this?

You should never keep a double boot of the same OS

I have a double boot system using Mandriva Linux and Windows XP. Each on a different drive!

Now, the problem is that when you delete one, the other goes, too.

Because you've loaded both on the same drive.

But, anyway, even if you'd loaded them on different drives, the same thing would happen.

Please back up all the data that you want to save on a removable media like a CD or DVD and then format the disc and reinstall XP only on C drive and make sure that this time you don't install it again.

Sorry, but there's nothing else you can do about it.

All the best.

Answer 3

ok, pop in your cd of windows and then restart your computer. once you have done this, boot off of the cd, not on the hard drive. enter the setup windows part and follow the instructions. once you have done this, it will ask where you want to install windows and three partitions will be listed. using the directions posted on the screen somewhere, delete the partition you need to (save the one that has the same amount of total memory as the one you use normally) and then exit the setup. that should completely clear it, BUT you will not be able to use this new space untill you re install windows the same way i just told you. for more help, call microsoft.

Answer 4

At the command prompt, type:
bootcfg /delete /ID#
Where # specifies the boot entry ID that you want to be deleted from the operating systems section of the BOOT.INI file (e.g. 2 for the second Operating system that is listed.

(check out my source and read through it)

Answer 5

I relatively have precisely an identical difficulty. In my case, it got here approximately because of the fact I had to reinstall domicile windows becuase of a substantial disc difficulty. while it had finished, there have been now 2 variations - and one is ingesting up numerous disc area.

Answer 6

do a complete formatt and reload