Loose the XP bootloader??

[mschell]

I got a bit of a problem preparing a Win XP Pro system I'm selling to a friend. The system is currently set up with two XP operating systems accessed by the XP bootloader. One OS is on C: and the other OS is on H:. The H: OS works much better than the origional C: OS, this is the one I boot to but the C: OS actually contains the boot info and is necessary to boot to the H: OS. I would like to boot this system from the H: system which would become C: with the normal single OS XP boot sequence that just boots straight into the OS. Problem is imaging H: to another drive using Drive image 5.0 does not allow that drive to boot into Win XP. I've tried copying the C: boot files(ntldr, io.sys, ntdetect, etc.) to the the H: drive but that did not help. It would save a ton of time if i did not have to reload XP and all the apps just to sell the machine, any help would be greatly appreciated, - M.

 

[stevewm]

To change the drive letter of a system volume REQUIRES a reinstall.

If you change H: to C: you will break many registry entries that where created by the OS during install and installed apps, and also any configuration files that have been written with file paths in them.

If your selling the computer I would just recommend completely wiping the entire hardrive and installing everything fresh.

 

[johnlog]

Just curious.

Why are you installing XP two times on the same computer? You are creating problems for yourself.

 

[Mrburns2007]

Originally posted by: mschell
I got a bit of a problem preparing a Win XP Pro system I'm selling to a friend. The system is currently set up with two XP operating systems accessed by the XP bootloader. One OS is on C: and the other OS is on H:. The H: OS works much better than the origional C: OS, this is the one I boot to but the C: OS actually contains the boot info and is necessary to boot to the H: OS. I would like to boot this system from the H: system which would become C: with the normal single OS XP boot sequence that just boots straight into the OS. Problem is imaging H: to another drive using Drive image 5.0 does not allow that drive to boot into Win XP. I've tried copying the C: boot files(ntldr, io.sys, ntdetect, etc.) to the the H: drive but that did not help. It would save a ton of time if i did not have to reload XP and all the apps just to sell the machine, any help would be greatly appreciated, - M.

1. Copy all the boot files from c drive and save them (make sure you unhide the files and protected system files), there small so they will fit on a floppy.

2. Format the C drive

3. Move the H drive down to C drive or D drive or where ever you want it using a Partitioning tool, or not at all if you just want to leave it there.

4. Copy the boot files back to the C drive and edit the boot.ini (and the backup copy as well which is called BOOT.BXP)


The Boot files have to be on C drive, you should have created a small 100 meg c drive and then installed XP on the D drive but it's to late for that.

here's my boot.ini file:

[boot loader]
timeout=15
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(3)\WINDOWS="Windows XP" /fastdetect /KERNEL=LOGOOS.EXE
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(4)\NET="Windows .NET server RC1" /fastdetect

 

[MisterMe]

Since you're selling the system to a friend, how about a reformat and clean install. I'm sure he would appreciate it and you both would know all the ducks are in a row...

 

[cleverhandle]

Originally posted by: MisterMe
Since you're selling the system to a friend, how about a reformat and clean install. I'm sure he would appreciate it and you both would know all the ducks are in a row...

I agree - even if it's possible to do what you're trying, it's pretty iffy, and time-consuming anyway. I wouldn't sell a system I've hacked around on like that to a friend.

 

[mschell]

Thanks for the tips. I guess once two OS's have been installed, it's not possible to run the system like a default one OS XP install.
The reason two XP operating systems are on the machine is I originally ran a default one OS install and had a minor disk corruption problem?? that kept Windows from booting. In using the XP CD in an attempt to recover the system, another XP OS was installed inadvertently along with the boot loader. I had important work to do so I just reinstalled everything to the new OS and ran with it.

I agree that selling a system with a fresh, application free install is the best thing but my friend has used the system and likes most of the programs currently installed. I'm talking two full Word suites, five or so other "productivity" apps, games, Flt Sims, you name it and it's probably installed. Installing everything again would be such a hassle but I've bitten the bullet and am rebuilding a new install on another hard drive. Windows Update is currently gagging or something so the rebuild process has halted for the time being. I get to repeat installing everything when I get the parts for my new system - Aopen AX4GE Max with a 1.8 running at 533MHz for 2.4GHz. Hopefully the Files and Settings transfer wizard will make things a bit easier.