Formatting on XP

TerrorFirmer

Okay, annoying problem, I know I solved it before but now I can't solve it again.

I reinstalled XP but now I have 2 start up options of OS (both XP) on startup. One doesn't work, as I reinstalled over it, but why when I chose to reinstall over old install does it still include the old install?

Added to that I have an old folder, which is 50gb, that was password protected and now its still there and cannot be either deleted OR accessed at all. Just a folder taking up 50gigs that I can't do anything with.

Help please?

Capt'n Midnight

The choices are in a text file c:\boot.ini
make a backup disk by copying it , ntldr and ntdetect.com on to a floppy formatted on your system

TerrorFirmer

No floppy drive

How an earth, more importantly, do i get rid or access this 50gig folder?

astrofool

you could try run the hd as a slave in another machine and delete the folder.

In XP, you may be able to 'take ownership' of the folder.

To get rid of the other OS options, right click my computer->properties->Advanced tab->settings under startup and recovery->click edit, and remove the non-existant OS'->BE CAREFUL WHEN DOING THIS, DO NOT DELETE THE CURRENT OS

Enter

hm i reinstall my winxp very often i just chooce the option to format c:\ before installing new xp

aaf

You need to log in as administrator and "take ownership" of the folder. Google it. For your boot options, do as Capt'n Midnight said and make a copy of your boot.ini and then delete the XP option in the original file.

Jeez, ya type a response taking 2 mins and when you submit, you're left looking like a dope as somebody else has just given the same advice

Capt'n Midnight

folder - right click - security - take ownership - permissions - or something like that

irlrobins

start->run->msconfig

click on boot.ini then on check boot path. It should detect the invalid install and remove it

TerrorFirmer

Thanks guys.

Irlrobins thats great, cleared up one of my two problems.

Still cant do anything with the 50gig folder. Its coming up as 0mb size, but I know its there, as theres 50gig missing from my space and this HAS happened before....unfortunately

irlrobins

Try booting up with a linux live CD and seeing if that will allow you to modify permissions on folder/delete it etc?

Something like knoppix?

Oh and welcome back. ;-)

SouperComputer

yea, let knoppix have a crack at the folder. Be sure to right click the mounted volume and under device properties disable read only BEFORE you try to access the drive.