2 systems installed

Start>run

type in: msconfig

click OK

Click  BOOT.INI tab

Click  "Check All Boot Paths" button

It should offer you the option to delete the invalid/corrupt path.

Click OK back to desktop and reboot.

Ron 

Ron,

Thank you for the information. There is no option for deleting in BOOT.INI, but was able to move "home edition" as the default system rather than current "XP" so I no longer need to choose.

Thanks again,

PlZ2B

But all you've done is remove the need to choose.

Somewhere on your hard drive (a new partition?) you have a second installed copy of XP, eating up your available drive space.

Ron 

I realize that what I did was not solving the problem by not being able to remove the "XP" system but at least I no longer had to make the choice. Any other suggestions? They would be greatly appreciated.

PlZ2B

First you need to figure out where the second version is installed. Run msconfig and look at the boot.ini tab to see if it tells you where the 2nd install is located.

I'll ask some of the experts to see if they have a favorite way to remove the parallel install.

Ron

Piz2B,

A Simple way to tell what directory your operating system is using is as follows:

Click Start|Run.  Type CMD.  Press Enter.  Type CD\ and press Enter at the command prompt.  Now, type SET at the command prompt and press Enter.  Near the end of the list you will see windir=C:\WINDOWS if you are using the original operating system installation.  If you see windir=C:\WINNT, then you are most likely in the parallel installation.  Likewise, the original operating system installation will be designated as SystemRoot=C:\WINDOWS.

Also, at the command prompt, you can type TYPE BOOT.INI to list the contents of the boot.ini file.  This will tell you if both operating systems are on the same partition and what directory each system is in.

While you can simply delete the parallel installation that you do not wish to boot, keep in mind that there are corresponding users for that installation in the C:\Documents and Settings folder.  Also keep in mind that both systems share the Program Files subdirectory.

Personally, I would just leave the parallel installation installed.  That way you can use it to boot into Windows and make repairs to the primary operating system if the need should arise. 

Interesting to note that some manufacturers basically do an in-place backup/rename of an existing system and then do a parallel installation as a means of reinstalling Windows without losing existing data files.

Of course, you could just back up your data and do a clean install of Windows or use the PC Restore option to put your system back to its "as-shipped" condition. 

Hope this information helps.

Tony  

Tony,

Your information was very helpful and pleased to report that the original OS installation is being used . Also relieved to know that you would just leave the parallel installation installed.

Again, thank you for your help.

PlZ2B

Dear Ron,

Thank you again for your help. I appreciated your consideration of asking the "experts" for their additional help and now the problem is solved.

PlZ2B

Just blame it all on Tony. ;)

Ron