Topic awaiting preservation: Dual to Single Boot (Page 1 of 1)

Hi...say I had a computer wth two boot partitions:

1. Primary Boot Partition: Win98SE
2. Dual Boot Partition: WinXP

Now, if I was to reformat the primary partition, it'd cut off access to the Secondary one beucase that's where all the boot.ini files are. Ifi was to install XP on the primary drive, I'd effictvley have XP on both drives, and I can then access the second partition and wipe it clean without preventing the computer from booting...would that work?

Sorry if I seem to be babbling, I'm really thinking into my computer here, and I'd like some confirmation for my ideas if I could get it.

I don't know if I understood it right. (a) You want to get rid of Win98 and you want to have WinXP in your primary partition? (b) Or you just want to get rid of Win98?
If (a) is the case, do what you say: install WinXP, fresh, in partition 1 (delete win98 first, using the other WinXP installation), and just reformat the other partition to get rid of the other WinXP (and edit boot.ini).
If (b) is the case, from inside WinXP (part. 2), delete all the files from partition 1 except the ones in the root dir. These require to be careful to know which one can be deleted.
I believe that you really can't reformat partition one. But you can always use the WinXP CD to boot, if needed, and then, I don't know how, to restore the multiboot in partition one. I wouldn't do this because I don't know what is going to happen.

What do you want?

"Freedom of speech is by no means freedom to insult others" from the Razorart goodbye letter.

I`m having a similar problem.
I wanted to do a clean install over the existing OS (WIN2K pro) in the *C* drive. Windows, (in all it`s wisdom) installed it on an empty partition, instead.
So, I have WIN2K pro (malfunctioning) on my Primary Boot Drive, and the functioning version on my *E* drive(formerly known as Scratch Disc)

Can I get it to format and install clean on the *C* drive from the working version (E Drive) ? I mean, if it tries to reboot after the format, there won`t be anything there, right ?

I`m a-feared

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I wanted to do a clean install over the existing OS (WIN2K pro) in the *C* drive. Windows, (in all it`s wisdom) installed it on an empty partition, instead.

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You, as the user, is the one that decides where Windows is going to be installed. If you choose a partition where already there is a previous Windows installed, it'll be upgraded (not recommended by many 'experts', included me ); if you choose a partition without any Windows installed in it, you get multiboot. The installer may suggest a partition, but you always have the power to override the suggestion.

quote:

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So, I have WIN2K pro (malfunctioning) on my Primary Boot Drive, and the functioning version on my *E* drive.

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If Win2k is malfunctioning and you don't care about it, then copy all your important stuff to partition E:, like documents, installers, mp3, p0rn, etc... (do not copy installed programs, of course), insert your WinXP CD into the drive, and just guide the WinXP installation to do a clean install into partition C; in some point, it'll ask you if you want to format the partition, says YES, and re-format (if it doesn't ask, there is a way to force this option). Don't worry about not being able to access your files in D;, E: etc..., because they'll be not accessible only while there is no Windows installed in C:. Remember that the WinXP installation CD can boot by itself (unless you have an very old machine, that I suppose it's not the case).

So, after you have reformatted C:\, and only C:\, install a clean WinXP there. Then, next time you boot to this WinXP, delete all the non-documents of E: (the files that are part of the WinXP that were installed there and all other files related to programs you had installed in that WinXP installation). You may prefer to copy all you document-like files to D:, or F: or any other but E:. Then, after you have WinXP in C:, just re-format also E:.

ADDED: make backups of your important stuff. If something goes wrong, don't blame on me. Accept my advices "as is".

[This message has been edited by viol (edited 03-02-2003).]

Thanks.