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General discussion

Anybody with a dual boot

Sep 9, 2006 7:27AM PDT

This may just be my machine but when I setup a dual boot with Win XP and Win Vista I have problems when removing vista. Because Win XP uses the boot.ini that we all know and love, and vista uses something different (not completely sure of the new name) it causes a glitch. When I go to format my secondary HD with Vista installed the reminants of Vista's boot file remains. Meaning that when the machine boot's up the NT Loader is still looking for Vista and when it can't find Vista I get an error screen that allows me to choose "start older version of Windows".
To get rid of this screen I need to do a repair of XP this does get rid of Vista's boot file and that screen. However the problem with the repair is that XP reverts back to install specs. Then I have to go back and reinstall all the updates that weren't included when I bought the OS, and I bought it before SP2 was released. So you can imagine that's a lot of updates. Does anybody know what I'm talking about or better yet found a way around the problem. Thanks.

Discussion is locked

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Possibly backing up the boot.ini.....
Sep 9, 2006 7:40AM PDT

before the dual boot is initiated, will provide a means of restoring XP without a Repair install.

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Actually...
Sep 9, 2006 8:49AM PDT

Vista doesn't use boot.ini, instead utilizing the new BCD (Boot Configuration Database), so backing up and/or editing the boot.ini file won't do any good...Windows Boot Manager is still overriding NTLDR.

If you have a dual-boot configuration and want to remove Windows Vista, you must:
* Be in either Vista or the older OS
* Launch the command prompt with administrative access. (Right-click the shortcut or executable and select Run as Administrator.)
* Type in the command Drive:\Boot\Bootsect.exe ?NT52 All (with the spaces) where Drive is the drive letter where the Vista DVD or mounted ISO is located.
* Reboot the computer...NTLDR should have taken control once again now that WBM is gone.

Hope this helps,
John

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John when do I do this ..
Sep 11, 2006 6:31AM PDT

I'm assuming I do this before I format the drive with Vista on it. I'm just making sure. What I do is use Disk Managaer off of device manager in Win Xp to format the secondary drive. So do I rewrite the NT Loader first then format. Or format then rewrite the NT Loader.

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Right...
Sep 12, 2006 3:29AM PDT

Microsoft recommends removing Vista's Windows Boot Manager first and then reformatting the drive containing Vista. However, I believe it can be done either way successfully since it's just using the DVD/ISO to remove the Vista files on the primary partition.

One important note, though: If Vista is your primary OS (C:\) then you cannot remove Vista without rendering other installations inoperable. In that case you'd have to perform repair options on all other OSes in order to regain functionality.

Hope this helps,
John

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I have 32 bit version of XP and 64 bit version of Vista
Sep 16, 2006 1:53AM PDT

I apologize John this totally slipped my mind. Even when I was reading your reponse on how to get rid of WBM. XP won't be able to get rid of Vista because it's not a 64 bit OS. Any advice?

Thanks

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It shouldn't matter...
Sep 16, 2006 5:14AM PDT

It shouldn't matter if it's 64-bit Vista or not...the command to unload the WBM is designed to work regardless of whether you're running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. Also, once the boot loader is gone you can format the partition and use it however you like...there is no special tool you need to use to wipe the partition as a result of having a 64-bit OS loaded on your computer.

John

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RE:
Sep 16, 2006 5:33AM PDT

If I understood you correctly I need to set the driver to my DVD ROM with the RC1 disc in it. When I do this it returns an error stating that this program can not be launched in the version of Windows. The same error one gets when trying to install a 64 bit OS on a secondary HD from inside a 32bit OS.

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Nevermind John, I came up with a new way and it worked
Sep 16, 2006 6:52AM PDT

Thanks for your help.

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heh
Oct 1, 2006 6:33AM PDT

''Drive:\Boot\ Bootsect.exe ?NT52 All (with the spaces)''

This is the correct way to do it apart from the with spaces bit :E

Drive:\Boot\Bootsect.exe ?NT52 All

There should not be a space between the BOOT switch and BOOTSECT.

Now if you could tell me how to get the ruddy thing to communicate with my Linksys router I'll be laughing :/

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Thanks...
Oct 1, 2006 7:59AM PDT

I originally copied-and-pasted that line from Microsoft's own documentation onto a scratch pad so that I wouldn't have to type it out each time. (I really should have taken a second look at it...the space may be easily overlooked but it is a critical mistake!) It should be corrected in my posts shortly and I'll be passing along a note to Microsoft.

Thanks again.
John

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Dual boot removal WinXP
Oct 8, 2007 10:28AM PDT

So John....
What would be the command to remove the dual boot from
my WinXP system. It is dual boot w/Linux. Should I put in my original WinXP CD, reboot so it starts with WinXP, then what.......????....and where??

I just want to remove the dual boot, then re-format the
Linux partion so I can give the computer to my niece all nice and clean. Thank you.
kalar43

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If you want to make it "clean"...
Oct 9, 2007 11:07AM PDT

The easiest solution is to perform a clean installation of Windows XP using the XP CD. When you reach Step 10 be sure to follow 'part b' to delete all current partitions, then create a single partition for XP. That will not only get rid of the Linux distro but also all of your personal/private files, settings, installed programs, etc. (Be sure to backup any files you wish to keep first!) In short, it will be like giving her a brand new computer right out of the box.

Hope this helps,
John


P.S. If you want to ensure that she can't recover your deleted files you may want to run DBAN before reinstalling XP. In that case step 10b would be unnecessary as DBAN would have already done it.

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How to Remove Dual Boot WinXP vs Linux
Oct 9, 2007 11:36AM PDT

John or anyone,
I have done all those things about cleaning. I
have an old WinXP disk (apparently) and it won't allow me to re-install; says it is older than files on my HDD and so on. I've tried believe me! I have to slip-stream my old CD with updates, etc. etc. Too much bother and something I'm not sure I can or want to do.

I just want to remove the dual boot. Someone mentioned to type in "fixmbr" at boot up. Where exactly? I can boot from my orig WinXP disk, so should I go into Safe Mode or what. Where do I type in "fixmbr". I'm not sure if I can even get to a command line to type something in anyway. That is why I am here asking folks with more brains and experience than my mere 20 years give or take fighting with a MS O/S once
again Happy
kalar43

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No Vista? Why Post In This Forum?
Oct 11, 2007 12:50AM PDT
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dual boot
Oct 3, 2006 3:45PM PDT

make a mirror of your xp install , so that if you need to reinstall , you will have all files on drive at the last backup, personally I suggest using a seperate hdd for vista , it will eliminate a lot of problems !