Uhh huge problem

I just reinstalled the OS and installed all the drivers...seems to be ok so far.

But, when i turn on the computer, it asks me which os to boot from. both of the choices are Xp media center...how do i delete one of them?

help?
ALso, i did the media direct repair and thank God it works...whew.. thanks SG.

 

It is probable that you have two partitions and an OS is installed on each one. If you want to delete it, use the Windows CD and go to the screen where you would install Windows to a partition. There should be directions for deleting partitions.

You say it does this at the bootup screen before you are given the option go into BIOS and Bootup screen?

 

I just checked my compuer, and I have 2 discs by accident...local disc C and local disc D.

So just go into windows cd and delete one of them? Do i go to repair or where? I am able to press f12 and f8 and stuff.

I went to my desktop and clicked on the cd drive, and then what should i do. Do i upgrade windows, or install new windows or perform additional tasks...

 

Don't do repair. When you get to the repair screen, go to the place where you would install Windows in the first place. Select the parition you want to delete and press D. Then you go through a couple screens of comfirmation, asking you if you really want to delete this partition. Once the partition is deleted, you will need to create a new partition for remaining gigabytes of harddrive.

 

So go to the install windows xp, then new installation? Thanks for helping me out kguo7. Do i go so far where i need to enter my authenticity 25-letter code? And if i delete the smaller hard drive (D)..it has folders DEll , Docs and settings, Program files, Windows...would i have problems?
The C drive has folders Dll, Docs and settings, drivers, i386, my mmusic, program files, windwos.

 

Not a problem at all ,

Its just a left over from your old install and can be cleared by editing boot.ini , you can also simply mange it from my computer > prop > startup and recovery .

 

o whew...so just go to my computer, i do not see properties...do i right click where?


But, I would have "2" hard drives then?

I would rather clear it..but how do i edit boot.ini?

I see that my C: drive has all the dell installed crap on it, like it already has wildtangent, mcafee, learn 2 and stuff that ihave already installed but wanted to get rid of. But my D drive is pretty clean, only has 27 folders in program files while the C drive has about 50 folders in program files. Hmm help?

Thanks for all the help.

 

Go to control panel>system>advanced>startup and recovery>Edit> and delete the one you don't want. It will show which partition (1) or (2) etc.

 

I have found out that if i boot from the first xp media, than all the crap is out of the dekstop. But if i boot from the second xp media choice, I am back to where I was before I reinstalled the operating system!


So should I just delete the C drive (i the second boot), which has all the junk? And how do i go about doing that, and then combining the C and the D together?

 

You should probably reinstall again. When you do, make sure you start the install by booting off the XP CD, not just putting it in the drive and choosing install when the system is already booted. Then make sure you delete all the partitions except for the Diagnostics one (the first one, ~50 megs). Then reinstall using all the remaining space as a single partition.

 

So i need to reinstall again? There is no way just to delete drive C and then combine drive C and D together?

So anyway I went ahead and booted from the cd this time, deleted all the partitiones except 1, and then installed xp on the unpartitioned space....so basically I am reinsatlling the OS again. Should ihave any problems this time?

 

are you following SG's guide?

from your questions, it doens't sound like you have much experience doing this.

read the guide.

 

True, i do not have much experience. I did read the guide pretty thouroguhly.

I think my only mistake was that I did not boot up from the cd.

It is all working now, including the media direct. THanks everyone Just one more quesiton..

And how do i know if i have the blutooth 2.0 +edr or just regular bluetooth?

 

Sorry Ry. I was driving back home, so that is why I missed your PM. This is a common problem with formatting. If you don't completely reboot and press F12, but instead do the reformat option that pops up when you are in XP, it loads temporary files on to your harddrive. This is why you couldn't delete partition 2 - XP format was using those temporary files.

BT 2.0 is for the Dell 355 card. You should see it listed on your packaging slip, but I think all of the laptops purchased in the past few weeks have the 355 card.

 

no worrys at all SG. Thanks for the guide. I reinstalled windows, and installed avg and a few other programs. So far i have 47 proceses running as opposed to the 65 that I had when my dell came. Even my media direct works! Thanks a bunch