XP partial install

[metbid]

Hi,
I just received a computer for repair that has a problem I'm not sure how to remedy. The person that we got it from was having some issues and tried to re-install WinXP Home Edition. About 1/2 way through it apparently failed. Now every time the computer boots it comes up to the screen like it has dual operating systems installed. One called "Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" and one called "Microsoft Windows XP Set Up". It defaults to the XP Set Up as it first choice and if you don't change it, it tries to boot to that. It then comes up to a screen saying it can't find the CD ROM drive even though I was told they started the reinstall that way. (I verified that it would not find the drive with the Win XP CD in the drive bay). It will boot properly and seems stable if you choose the Home Edition boot up.

Also, when I received the computer, System Restore was off so I have no dates to restore to. I don't believe there was a problem in the first place beyond the owner not knowing how to do something and getting in over their head.

What I'd like to do is remove the partial install. Can anyone please help me accomplish this?

I did read what posts I could find on the subject and did change the boot sequence as proposed by Disk Contented and that helped. But I would still like to be able to remove the partial install.

Thank you,
Metbid

[vidster]

The easiest way to do this is to right click on 'My Computer', go to 'Properties', then 'Advanced', 'Startup and Recovery'. Uncheck the box that says 'Time to display list of operating systems' and set the full install as default.

There is also a hidden file (C:\boot.ini) that contains the settings for bootup. You can remove the partial install from this. Make sure you delete the right one though

[metbid]

Originally Posted by vidster

The easiest way to do this is to right click on 'My Computer', go to 'Properties', then 'Advanced', 'Startup and Recovery'. Uncheck the box that says 'Time to display list of operating systems' and set the full install as default.

There is also a hidden file (C:\boot.ini) that contains the settings for bootup. You can remove the partial install from this. Make sure you delete the right one though

Thank you for the reply. I have done the two things you mentioned. It does now boot without problem. I just rem'd out boot.ini line rather than remove it in case I screwed up somehow.

My only other concern was actually removing any files on the hard drive left over from the aborted install. Is there a way to identify and safely remove these?

Thank you again for the reply.
Metbid

[vidster]

I can't think of a way of checking off the top of my head Metbid. If i think of a way I'll post it here. Something i would do is run sfc /scannow to make sure all the files are in tip top condition and schedule/run the disk checker to make sure there aren't any bad sectors left on the HD

[metbid]

Originally Posted by vidster

I can't think of a way of checking off the top of my head Metbid. If i think of a way I'll post it here. Something i would do is run sfc /scannow to make sure all the files are in tip top condition and schedule/run the disk checker to make sure there aren't any bad sectors left on the HD

Thank you Vidster, the system seems stable now and they have a 120 gig HD, but they're only using about 12% of it, so I don't believe a few left over files will cramp their style anyway.
Metbid

[vidster]

I doubt anyone would notice a few stray files too on a 120GB HD too Metbid. Glad it's all sorted