Didn't complete XP install, but computer still asks which OS to boot with. How do I fix?

[Dave Mazza]

I was going to install XP as a dual boot sdtup along w/98SE. I got as far
as having Setup copy files to my HDD, but didn't begin actual installation.
XP Setup kept giving reports of HDD errors, or some other problem. After
learning of similar problems from someone else, I decided to abandon XP.

ANYWAY...my machine now asks which OS to boot to, with Whistler Setup as the
default. I know a boot.ini has been created, and I've opened it, but I
don't know how to modify it to either eliminate the Whistler option, or to
make 98 the default.

OR, can I make it so the computer doesn't even look for this boot file,
allowing me to remove it altogether?
--

-Dave

[Stefan T]

Hi,

In order to make win98 the first boot option, edit boot.ini and move the
second line under [operating systems] on the first position (of course,
under [operating systems] too). Than change the timeout to 0.
Or, to completely remove any trace of XP, create a boot disk in win98, boot
from it, than, from a command prompt type sys c: . Now you can safely delete
boot.ini, ntldr and any other XP files that you might have.

"Dave Mazza" <dav...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message
news:T7J_6.13437$C81.1...@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

[Dave Mazza]

Thanks for the reply, but....

> In order to make win98 the first boot option, edit boot.ini and move the
> second line under [operating systems] on the first position

Here's what I've got in the boot.ini

[Boot Loader]
Timeout=5
Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT
[Operating Systems]
C:\="Microsoft Windows"
C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Whistler Professional Setup"

Seems I can't just rearrange the lines under [operating systems]. Don't I
need to do something about the "Default=C:" line?

> Or, to completely remove any trace of XP, create a boot disk in win98,
boot
> from it, than, from a command prompt type sys c: . Now you can safely
delete
> boot.ini, ntldr and any other XP files that you might have.

This part I'm unclear about, too. If, after booting from a floppy, at the
C:\ prompt, I type "sys c:" (no commas) I receive "cannot specify default
drive" message. What am I doing wrong? Also, what's "ntldr"?
--

-Dave

[Stefan T]

Dave,

Type sys c: from a: prompt, not from c: (where a: is the floppy disk). This
will overwrite the nt boot sector on c drive with the win98 one from the
floppy.
As far as the boot.ini, if you want to go this way, create an emergency
repair disk first in Whistler (this will back up the boot.ini ) then remove
the entry Default=C:\$WIN_NT$.~BT\BOOTSECT.DAT.
But if you want to get rid of whistler completely, go with the first
solution.
ntldr is the nt kernel loader, you can delete it after you run a:\sys c: and
boot in win98.

Hope this helps.

"Dave Mazza" <dav...@bigfoot.com> wrote in message

news:kTM_6.8$Hl1...@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...

[Dave Mazza]

> Type sys c: from a: prompt, not from c: (where a: is the floppy disk).

Ahh, OK. That did it. It's similar to including the /s switch when
formatting a boot disk. Except that in this case it overwrites the existing
system on the C drive. Got it. Thanks a lot.
--

-Dave