Two instances of XP on same machine...formatting problem

raksrules

raksrules

Level N
I had Windows XP installed on my C: of my laptop. Now since this installation was causing problems i though of reinstalling XP.
I reinstalled it on D: this time and thought that after install, i will format the C:
Now whenever i try formatting C: it says "Windows cannot complete format" (similar error)
Also while starting the computer it now shows me two installations to choose from and i have no idea how to remove the unwated (C: one) from this list.

So now i have Windows XP installed on C: and D: of my machine and i only need the one on D: with my C: entirely formatted but due to above mentioned error i am unable to format C:, neither full nor quick format :S

What to do ???
Should i boot from a Linux distro (USB based) and format it???
 
You must be getting a select menu at the start like:

Windows XP Professional
Windows XP Professional

And I guess you select the First option to boot into the XP on C: drive and second option to boot into XP on D: drive.

Simply locate the boot.ini file and open it.
If option 1 in boot menu leads to booting in Xp from C: drive then delete the first line under [operating systems]
If option 2 in boot menu leads to booting in Xp from C: drive then delete the second line under [operating systems]

After doing this simply restart once. After a successful restart delete other files and folders in C: drive manually taking care not to delete any system files.
 
^^ Yes i do get the menu as you said but first option is pointing to the one in D: and i use that.

I want to entirely wipe off the C: contents.
 
Can you check if you have a file called boot.ini in your D: drive?

In folder options select show system files and show hidden files.

Also, you are saying that when you select option 1 at start you are able to log onto windows XP that is located on D: drive, Right?
 
Although i am not able to locate boot.ini using windows search i went to my computer -> right click -> advanced -> settings (under startup and recovery) and found this...

Code: 
[boot loader]

timeout=30

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS

[operating systems]

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect /usepmtimer

prabs said:
Also, you are saying that when you select option 1 at start you are able to log onto windows XP that is located on D: drive, Right?
Click to expand...

Yes...that is correct.
 
There could be umpteen number of problems with what you are trying to do.

Even though you installed 2nd instance on D:, it might still install a few things on your C drive. Check where is your pagefile going and even after that many of your system files might be residing on C. Also, your MBR would be lost if you format C, so you will have to restore it after formatting. Is you D drive a primary partition or logical? Anyways, easiest way to force-format would be to boot from your XP cd and format from there...
 
Simply delete the last line.

Do keep a copy - paste the original content in a text file before you delete the last line.

Doing this will remove the selection screen and your system will directly boot into D: drives's XP.

After that is done simply delete the files from C: drive.

@shantanugoel: If you are installing windows on F: drive then windows installs only on F: drive and doesn't bother with any other partition. I am worried about the MBR as well hence suggesting him to delete files manually from C: drive after editing boot.ini.
 
shantanugoel said:
There could be umpteen number of problems with what you are trying to do.
Even though you installed 2nd instance on D:, it might still install a few things on your C drive. Check where is your pagefile going and even after that many of your system files might be residing on C. Also, your MBR would be lost if you format C, so you will have to restore it after formatting. Is you D drive a primary partition or logical? Anyways, easiest way to force-format would be to boot from your XP cd and format from there...
Click to expand...

Yup that happened to me too . I have my xp installed in D but some of the system files are located in C . I just cleared the dummy entry from the boot menu . but C can and should never be formatted .
 
Just boot with cd again and formal the C drive if you are okay with losing the data on it. Else back the data up and then format the C drive.

Or the best option, go to disk management, delete the partition whole, then reformat the partition :D that should happen
 
ultimabasher said:
Just boot with cd again and formal the C drive if you are okay with losing the data on it. Else back the data up and then format the C drive.

Or the best option, go to disk management, delete the partition whole, then reformat the partition :D that should happen
Click to expand...

and XP will never boot again

unhide all system files in C . You will notice files like boot.ini ,Config.sys and AutoExec.BAT . Delete them and XP will refuse to boot giving you a "Config.SYS is missing or corrupted error" .
 
GrimReaper said:
and XP will never boot again

unhide all system files in C . You will notice files like boot.ini ,Config.sys and AutoExec.BAT . Delete them and XP will refuse to boot giving you a "Config.SYS is missing or corrupted error" .
Click to expand...

It will. he just needs to make sure that the bootsec.dos is present in this D drive.

First thing that he can do this in this is install the recovery console.

Go there

do this commands

fixmbr - Change the mbr with link to the D instead of C

fixboot - Change the boot.ini file to reflect only 1 OS which is in D

This should do it.

This commands should be done before deleting C.
 
Ok so i have edited the boot.ini and removed the entry that shows up the link to boot from C: and now XP loads directly from D: which is what i want.

But now i have to delete all the contents of my C: which can be done either by formatting or just doing a plain delete. Now plain delete is possible and formatting i am not able to do as i get the error "Windows was unable to format the drive"
 
raksrules said:
Ok so i have edited the boot.ini and removed the entry that shows up the link to boot from C: and now XP loads directly from D: which is what i want.
But now i have to delete all the contents of my C: which can be done either by formatting or just doing a plain delete. Now plain delete is possible and formatting i am not able to do as i get the error "Windows was unable to format the drive"
Click to expand...

Reason :

There is a file bootsec.dos that is present in the C and D drives and windows accesses the one on C drive cause it was installed first and the MBR has the entry to that file. So you will need to fix the mbr first and then format the HDD
 
ultimabasher said:
Reason :

There is a file bootsec.dos that is present in the C and D drives and windows accesses the one on C drive cause it was installed first and the MBR has the entry to that file. So you will need to fix the mbr first and then format the HDD
Click to expand...

So how exactly should i fix this MBR and is it a risky affair ???
 
I don't get it?
Why risk messing with the mbr when the output will be the same - a clean drive- if you delete the files manually?
 
prabs said:
I don't get it?
Why risk messing with the mbr when the output will be the same - a clean drive- if you delete the files manually?
Click to expand...

Thing is, you cant.

Windows locks the files that are in use and 1 of those files is bootsec.dos. Ofcourse it wont let you delete the windows folder of the other drive cause it thinks its in use. Best way is the recovery console i told you, or format both the drives and start over again.

Remember the way he has installed windows is like

C : 1st windows C : 2nd windows D: 3rd windows.

Consider that as a building with C drive being the support and D being the building.

You cant kill supports without killing the building :no:

You will have do it in such a way that you safely remove the support from all references so that the building comes on its own.

Just a metaphor :P Dont take me on a ride for that.

Anyways, he cant remove the windows from C drive unless he removes the one from D too and thats that

And do you know MBR is?

MBR is nothing but a small sector which has the MBT (Master Boot Table) and the reference to the primary boot device.

There are actually no chances of messing it up unless you try something to access it manually

Fixmbr doesnt delete it, its to fix the mbr to correspond the changes made to the system cause it doesnt automatically update.
 
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