unwanted double boot option

Question

I have just formatted and reinstalled XP on my dimension 8250 using the Dell reinstallation CD. Everything seems fine except for a few minor annoyances. The main one is when the computer is starting, I am asked "PLEASE SELECT THE OPERATING SYSTEM TO START" but the options are both "MICROSOFT WINDOWS XP HOME EDITION". Before format the computer just booted straight into Windows, so how can I get it back the way it was before?

sara-ann · Answer

Denny, I have been in looked at, and backed up the boot.ini file. This is what it says:

[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 Home Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

Do I just delete the second one (partition 2)? I am so scared of making a mess of it!

Thanks for your help.

Denny Denham · Answer

sara-ann, You can remove the 'second' Windows XP by editing the boot.ini file using the procedure here.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

sara-ann wrote: Denny, I have been in looked at, and backed up the boot.ini file. This is what it says:
[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 Home Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect

If you start with the Default Windows OS , partition(1) then you can safely Delete partition2.
(the Default Windows OS is shown as 1st choice after reinstallation of XP)

Since you have two Windows OS , looks like you didn't do a Clean Install & maybe cause of problems.

I have listed the supersite link last as it assumes Clean Install status so doesn't include step to delete existing partition at step 5 & so achieve Clean Install status.

You this link & select XP Home or PRO then method , ie: Used Hard Drive , Multi_Page has text & large pictures of Clean Install.
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/

Use this link for Clean Install of XP , if you click on Pictures they Expand for easy view
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html (Delete existing partition at step 10b for Clean Install)

or use this link ( *** Delete existing partition at step 5 for Clean Install ***)
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp

Clean Install deletes existing partition (like FDISK) & Formats HD during Install of Windows XP from XP CD.
Set BIOS to use CD-ROM as 1st boot device usually by pressing F2 during boot (startup).
Re-start Computer & when message "Press any key to boot from CD" shows do it & let subsequent messages "Press any key...." time out to Windows setup.

redwolfe_98 · Answer

this happened with me too when i did a clean re-install of win xp on a new dell.. i don't know why it happens, but it seems to be common.. it wasn't difficult to resolve (thanks to denny's posts).. i changed the folder view to show hidden files, opened the boot.ini file with notepad, and deleted the extra entry... i don't remember exactly what it looked like..

Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 01-18-2004 04:09 PM

sara-ann · Answer

Thanks to all you guys, have edited the boot.ini file and all is back to normal. I dont know about clean installs, I just followed the instructions from the Dell knowledge base article for my dimension 8250, which is now a year old.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

redwolfe_98 wrote: this happened with me too when i did a clean re-install of win xp on a new dell.. i don't know why it happens, but it seems to be common.. it wasn't difficult to resolve (thanks to denny's posts).. i changed the folder view to show hidden files, opened the boot.ini file with notepad, and deleted the extra entry... i don't remember exactly what it looked like..

Curios . ?
Did you follow supersite info called Clean Install http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
as it doesn't include step to delete existing partition at step 5 & so achieve a Clean Install status.
Would be a common problem if site info was used by others trying to Clean Install.

redwolfe_98 · Answer

i think it is probably associated with there being two partitions on the harddrive when a new dell comes from the factory, one 32 mb dos parttion with utilities installed on it, and one ntfs.. i think the proper thing to do that would prevent the problem would be to use dell's harddrive 'debug' program when reformatting the harddrive ('to remove the dos partition').  http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?dn=1011054 Message Edited by redwolfe_98 on 01-18-2004 06:42 PM

gryjhnhpe · Answer

sara-ann wrote: Thanks to all you guys, have edited the boot.ini file and all is back to normal. I dont know about clean installs, I just followed the instructions from the Dell knowledge base article for my dimension 8250, which is now a year old.

Checked DELL KB info
http://support.dell.com/us/en/kb/document.asp?dn=1071993
& it is for a bootable HD a Clean Install procedure so must be a common fault with Windows XP or only DELL computers.

gryjhnhpe · Answer

I don't think so as I have two DELL Inspiron Computers with FAT partitions & Clean Install of both worked OK several times.
Deleting the FAT partition isn't always advisable as some Computers can access it by pressing F12 key at startup.
Curios. ?
What Computer type/model this you have problem with.

Windows General

unwanted double boot option

Was this post helpful?