help with dual OS 2000 & XP

OK...I am an idiot.
I stupidly tried to upgrade to XP from Windows 2000 Professional. I did not create a new partition, thinking that it would overwrite my exixting OS. Anyway, I now have a dual OS and regret it as I have virtually no memory left and my computer is crawling. I just want to get rid of the XP OR get rid of 2000--whichever is easier. Can't add/remove the programs. Have tried looking up advice on-line but am confused. Please help!

 

If anyone could lead me in the right direction, i.e. another site that can answer my question, that would be great too.

 

Start -> Run

Edit C:\Boot.ini

Please post a copy of your boot.ini. I can then tell you what changes need to be made and which directory you can safely delete after you reboot.

Also can you please post your system specifications, it will make it easier to decide which OS should be removed.

See this POST for how to on System specifications.

 

Or you can do a Halo suggests.

 

here is the report

 

not sure how to post a copy of the boot.ini but posted the system specs

 

Do this instead

Start -> Run

notepad c:\boot.ini

OK

Edit -> Select All

CTRL+C


Then CTRL+V in your reply

 

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

 

Based on your system specifications, I recommend that you keep Win 2000 Pro and remove Win XP. Windows XP won't run very well on a PII with 128Mb of System RAM.

 

Although deleting the reference to the unwanted operating system in your boot.ini will work, I would still suggest what Halo recommended.

If you want to continue, do a search on your drive for your boot.ini file.

Make a copy and post as an attachment.


EDIT Sorry Shadow, not trying to step on your toes.

 

I really appreciate your help...now how do i fix the problem? keep in mind, i am clueless.

 

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect

Save this file to floppy as boot.ini. Do you have the Windows 2000 CD available?

 

No worries, been bouncing back and forth anyway. Still trying to chase down those drivers bazza is looking for.

 

don't have the windows 2000 cd available. save what you wrote on a floppy? in what format?

 

Open notepad, copy and paste what I posted; then save to floppy as boot.ini. Open the floppy disk and if notepad appended the file with .txt change the filename to reflect boot.ini.

Next see this POST on how to create startup disks for Win2000; IGNORE LINE 2 in the instructions. The instructions also tell you how to boot into the recovery console.

Insert the floppy into the drive and at the recovery console command prompt type the following commands, hitting enter after each command.

copy a:\boot.ini c:\

exit

Your system will now reboot into windows 2000 Professional. Open Windows Explorer and Delete the C:\WINDOWS directory in its entirety.

 

I AM SOOO FRUSTRATED. Now the computer is saying that my floppy disks are not formatted, but I get an error message saying they could not be formatted when I try. This computer is a piece of garbage...i can't do any of what u said without a usable floppy.

 

can i burn it on a disk instead?

I MEANT BURN IT ON A CD

 

Either format your floppy and start again, or yes, you can use a CD.

Just replace the a: in the command Shadow supplied with your CD drive letter.

For example, if the drive is labelled d then the command would be:

copy d:\boot.ini c:\

exit

 

Make sure the disk isn't write protected. Turn the floppy over, if the little black slide is in the up position slide it to the down postion. If that is not the problem your floppies could be no good, or your floppy drive is no good.

Another thing to do is:

Start -> Run

CMD

OK

In the Command Console

attrib -r -h -s c:\boot.ini

from notepad save as c:\boot.ini

In the Command Console

atrrib +r +h +s c:\boot.ini

exit


Reboot your computer

 

i'm going to try your last suggestion...

 

It seems hopeless...It didn't work. I am retarded and I ruined this antiquated computer.

 

YEAH! I tried again and it work--restarted into 2000 BUT is there any way to recover that memory I lost by installing XP? My computer is really crawling now?

 

When I go to add/remove programs, i get an unexpected error:
Class not registered
res: //appwiz.cpl/listbox.htc
line 225

And then there is a huge portion of blank space that says no programs installed. Then it lists my installed programs

 

Sorry, I was offline for awhile.

Open Windows Explorer and navigate to this Directory:

C:\WINDOWS <----- Delete the entire directory

Just so you know hard drive space and memory are two different things, you don't lose memory by installing a program; however, you do lose hard drive space when you install programs.

 

To correct this error do the following:

Start -> Run

CMD

OK
​

In the Command Console issue the following and press ENTER:

REGSVR32 APPWIZ.CPL

EXIT
​

 

Thanks all your help. Did what you said--computer said it was successful, but I am still getting that error in add/remove.

Computer is also not letting me add or remove ANY of my programs.

 

I can't help the Add/Remove problem, but I will make the suggestion to defrag. I expect after installing windows and deleting it your partition is pretty fragmented, and would contribute to slowing the machine down.

 

Copy the contents of the quoate box into notepad, and then save as fix.reg to your DESKTOP

Double-click on fix.reg and click-on yes. Reboot.

Follow the steps in one of the following procedures, as it applies to your computer, and then test to determine if this issue is resolved.

•To resolve this issue with Internet Explorer 6.0 installed, repair Internet Explorer 6.0: a. Click Start, and then click Run.b. Paste the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE6Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINNT\IE Uninstall Log.Txt

Because this command is case sensitive, copy the command, and then paste the command in the Open box.

•To resolve this issue with Internet Explorer 5.0 or 5.5 installed, repair Internet Explorer 5.0 or 5.5:

a. Click Start, and then click Run.b. Paste the following command in the Open box, and then click OK:

rundll32 setupwbv.dll,IE5Maintenance "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\Setup\SETUP.EXE" /g "C:\WINNT\IE Uninstall Log.Txt

Because this command is case sensitive, copy the command, and then paste the command in the Open box.