dual boot problem and possible solution

[SanderD]

my prob: i recently installed WinXP next to WinME cuz i was sick of WinME crashing all the time. I kept WinME just to be sure. WinXP is on D: and WinME is on C:. now, i want to get rid of ME ASAP cuz i can use the diskspace. My problem is now how to get rid of it. After a long search i found this solution:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/forum/winxp/r1026762534

the problem is that it gets rid of XP and not of ME. Now, could i do this "the other way around" and delete ME instead of XP? i'm not sure, so.. because i'm affraid that it wont boot from D: but try to boot from C:, and that will be impossible.

NOTE: i cant uninstall ME properly, i have no uninstall info.

thanks in advance, and sorry if i've posted this before (kill me ) but i couldn't find the post anymore, for some weird dark reason.

[beeboy]

All the link does is tell you how to remove the entry from the boot record not how to uninstall the OS. You can remove ME by reformatting the partition it is on and converting that partition to free space for your XP. I always use Partition Magic for this but someone may be able to give you advice for using FDISK to do this. Your XP boots from ME. Once ME is gone you will not be able to boot into XP. This is where it gets complicated. You need to repair the XP boot from the install cd - which means copying files from the cd to xp and rewriting the Master Boot Record. You can do google search on "repair xp" and "repair xp boot" for more info and step-by - step instructions. Its been awhile since I did this and my situation was more complicated by having XP and ME on C drive and another XP on D drive. When I removed ME I had quite a struggle to regain XP on D drive as the install cd would only recognize C drive. Study up well before you attempt this. And wait for more input here.

[SanderD]

Will do. Thanks for helping so far

[SanderD]

I suddenly thought of something... Im not planning on reformatting the disk, just deleting the windows files on it. The boot sector will remain untouched. Can i go on that way? or do i still have to be careful?

[SanderD]

I found the following on some dark page somewhere on the world wide web:

REMOVE WINDOWS 9X FROM A DUAL BOOT WITH WINDOWS 2000

This one is a bit simpler, and can be done whilst working in Windows 2000. Remove the Read Only property from the boot.ini file and then open the boot.ini file using notepad. Delete the lines that refer to Windows 9X, ensuring first that the Default= line refers to your Windows 2000 installation, not Windows 9X!! If you are not comfortable deleting the reference to Windows 9X, you can simply disable it in the boot.ini file by adding the line [any text] above the information you wish to disable, e.g.

[Boot Loader]

timeout=3

Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT



[Operating Systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microso ft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect /nodebug

[any text]

C:\="Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition"

You may then wish to set timeout=0 so that the Boot Loader does not display: this will boot the system directly into Windows 2000. Then delete the WINDOWS and PROGRAM FILES folders from the Windows 9X partition, and delete the boot files: io.sys, msdos.sys, command.com and if necessary autoexec.bat and config.sys.

Since Win 2000 and WinXP are quite similar on this issue, i see no problems for doing as i proposed.

I just need to be sure, i don't want to loose all my docs and burning them to CD would take a LOT of time.

[curtybob]

all modifying boot.ini will do is change the screen at boot that asks which OS to use. this will not delete anything, save for the 2 lines of text that you delete from boot.ini. win me will still be there, teasing and taunting until you back up the files you want, and reformat and send it back through the bill gates of hell. sorry, i'm late for my medication!

[SanderD]

I know ME will be still there, my actual question is, can i just delete ME off that drive without taking the risk that my PC will be unbootable. I may be an XP noob but im certainly not a PC noob anyway thanks for your help.
So, only one question, can I?

[curtybob]

ok. here is what you do. modify boot.ini to make the xp installation the default. i won't go into it because you probably already know how. boot once to make sure it works. then do what you may to Me. i would still say to back up the things you want, and start from scratch. things always go alot smoother when windows sets itself up. it is when you start changing the way it runs that things go Iraq on you.

[curtybob]

ooh, i think i was wrong. 'cause if you delete me you will delete the boot.ini as well. i would go for the fresh install of xp. sorry i couldn't help more.

[SanderD]

If i delete windows ME i delete boot.ini as well? is boot.ini in the windows ME folder then? i cant find it with the XP search option... If it isnt there should be no problem for me to delete c:\windows, or is there.

[curtybob]

boot.ini should be in the root of the c drive. i was getting a little tired last nite. but the bottom line is, there will be a risk, but it will not be the end of the world. i am sorry if i sound like i am steering you towards a re-install, but i hate loose ends like the main drive being on D:/. but i also know that ...gulp... it is your computer and your choice.

[SanderD]

i know, booting from d: is a bit "untidy" but hey it works thank god it does...

anyhoo thanks for your help, there's no real risk then.