Failed XP install, need to remove boot menu

[beetlebzz]

So a few weeks ago I was going to scrap a 40gb SATA drive, and reinstall my copy of XP on the 500gb SATA seagate that ive been using for media sharing on the network. Ultimately I couldnt get it to install (went through the installation blue screens, got error msg upon reboot) which I attributed to incorrect SATA controller drivers. I dont need the headache and its not a big deal, SO I reinstalled my 40gb, and reformatted the 500gb.

now after a reboot, I have to choose which OS to run, windows XP professional or windows XP professional. I thought formatting (even removed, and recreated the main partition on the 500gb drive) would have removed any trace of XP but I guess not. I have my pc set to automatically restart and restart PS3 Media Server should we have power issues, and usually I get home to find the error message that its a faulty install etc because no action at the boot menu selects the first one, which is the failed install.

any idea how to remove the traces of the failed install, while keeping the data on the drive in tact?

 

[tigsounds]

Since there are two choices, and one is right and one is wrong, it sounds like one of them has to go.

Determine which one you select to start Windows successfully, the first or second on the list. The order is important.

Click...

Start>Control Panel>System>Advanced>{startup and recovery} Settings.

The first area is labeled 'System startup' and has a dropdown box labeled 'Default operating system'.

Click the drop arrow and click on the instance of XP that starts successfully (here is where the order is important).

Un-check the 'Time to display list of operating systems' checkbox.

Click Ok, then Ok again to exit.

If you selected the wrong one, (you'll know next time you start the computer), re-start again and poke (not hold) the F8 key and when the boot choices menu shows up, select to start Windows normally. The two choices will show next and here choose the right one and when Windows is running again, reverse your choices you made in my instructions above.

 

[beetlebzz]

Learn something new every day. That did the trick!

thanks

 

[tigsounds]

My little bag of tricks grows every day.

This was a non-destructive method of accomplishing what you needed to have happen.
You may still have orphaned installer files lying around in one of your hard drives.

 

[Pegaso01]

Since there are two choices, and one is right and one is wrong, it sounds like one of them has to go.

Determine which one you select to start Windows successfully, the first or second on the list. The order is important.

Click...

Start>Control Panel>System>Advanced>{startup and recovery} Settings.

The first area is labeled 'System startup' and has a dropdown box labeled 'Default operating system'.

Click the drop arrow and click on the instance of XP that starts successfully (here is where the order is important).

Un-check the 'Time to display list of operating systems' checkbox.

Click Ok, then Ok again to exit.

If you selected the wrong one, (you'll know next time you start the computer), re-start again and poke (not hold) the F8 key and when the boot choices menu shows up, select to start Windows normally. The two choices will show next and here choose the right one and when Windows is running again, reverse your choices you made in my instructions above.

Gracias hermano. Todo resuelto. Que Dios te lo page.

 

[srinsripada]

My little bag of tricks grows every day.

This was a non-destructive method of accomplishing what you needed to have happen.
You may still have orphaned installer files lying around in one of your hard drives.

 

[srinsripada]

that was a neat way to remove the unwanted os choice. now, how do i delete the orphaned installer files lying around in my hard drive?

 

[lon0]

that was a neat way to remove the unwanted os choice. now, how do i delete the orphaned installer files lying around in my hard drive?

Go to start, run, type in 'msconfig', click ok, go to the 'boot' tab, select what should be the now NON default OS and click delete. Please make sure that you are on the right one!

 

[st naum]

that was a neat way to remove the unwanted os choice. now, how do i delete the orphaned installer files lying around in my hard drive?

Go to start, run, type in 'msconfig', click ok, go to the 'boot' tab, select what should be the now NON default OS and click delete. Please make sure that you are on the right one!

..hah, tnx for help, I use all of this.. so far so good, but under "boot.ini" tab , there is no delete option, just "move up" or "move down" (+ "check all boot paths" and "set as default").. help, pls

 

[Saga Lout]

It's best to go back into msconfig, click on the BOOT.INI tab then click on "Check all boot paths" to let the system decide if any are no longer valid.

Only one more day to clear this up before this old thread is closed.

 

[iamceasur]

Since there are two choices, and one is right and one is wrong, it sounds like one of them has to go.

Determine which one you select to start Windows successfully, the first or second on the list. The order is important.

Click...

Start>Control Panel>System>Advanced>{startup and recovery} Settings.

The first area is labeled 'System startup' and has a dropdown box labeled 'Default operating system'.

Click the drop arrow and click on the instance of XP that starts successfully (here is where the order is important).

Un-check the 'Time to display list of operating systems' checkbox.

Click Ok, then Ok again to exit.

If you selected the wrong one, (you'll know next time you start the computer), re-start again and poke (not hold) the F8 key and when the boot choices menu shows up, select to start Windows normally. The two choices will show next and here choose the right one and when Windows is running again, reverse your choices you made in my instructions above.

I accidently selected the wrong operating system. I choose a windows xp installation instead and now it skips letting me choose wich operating system I want and pressing or holding f8 won't let me select the right one. It goes straight into winfows xp installation and II get "file \$ win_nt $.~BT\biosinfo.inf could not be loaded. The error code is 14. " setup cannot continue. Press any key. Please help. I don't have any installation cds.