Now I have 2 XP Pro installed on laptop. What to do next

[tmh]

OK, I really screwed this up. I tried to re-install over an already working XP Pro to fix change a setting. The install started an unending loop of stalling with 13 min. left then when i reboot, it goes right back to the install no matter what options i used. no SAFE, no quit, no new install.

Finally, to get running again, I did a new install on my "D" partition (old one is on C). This went fine and now I have a second XP Pro to select on boot and this one works. Unfortunately, most of my programs don't run because they were install thru the XP Pro on the C drive. Also, all my desktop and quicklaunch etc is gone. I tried "restore" but it only took me back to the installation loop again when i tried to boot from my original XP.

Anyone know how I can get back and "fix" the C drive XP Pro install now that I can at least access the files? Is there a group of files/folders I could copy from the D install to C and get it booting on the C again?

Or, shoould I back up my files and format the C drive and start over?

[guns1inger]

You might be able to get it working, but given how far you have strayed from normal, the safest bet is to back up what you can, then blow it all away and start from scratch. Trying to bring the two installations together will probably get you a lot of nagging, unexplained errors and problems down the track.

[tmh]

given how far you have strayed from normal

Well put! I'm sure far from normal. looks like it's a weekend format C: party for this dude.

Thanks.

[reboot]

Nah, this is simple to fix.
Put in the CD. Go to Start > Run > and browse to the CD, select Install (or setup).
Let it run, keep going through the options until you get to "Hit F8 to accept the TOS".
Hit F8, and on the next screen you should be given the option to "Repair a current installation".
Select the one that's on Drive C that doesn't work.
Hit "R" and let it go.
Once it's finished, and you've put in your serial number, and it's restarted, simply delete whatever's on D drive.
Open Notepad.
Browse to the root C folder.
Open boot.ini
(You may have to go to Explorer, Tools, Folder options, and on the View tab, set "view all" and take the mark out of "hide system and os..."
Take the second line out of the boot.ini so it looks like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Micro soft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

Save and restart.

[tmh]

I'll give that a try reboot. it seems very similar to what I've tried though but i tried so many thing I can't remember them all. I'll have a go at it tonight after work. Such fun.

What is it I'm taking out of boot.ini ? Should I take that out BEFORE I do the Repair step? I do have access to the files so i can do it either way. Thanks.

[reboot]

No, do your total repair before you touch the boot.ini (although it shouldn't matter).
If you do it before, you won't have access to Windows on your D drive, and they both could get hosed.

The whole key is hitting "R" in the correct place.
If you don't do that, you end up where you are now, with 2 installs.

[tmh]

Well, i gave it a try. After a few BSODs I just did a clean XP Pro install. All my data was backed up already so it's just a matter of getting the programs re-installed.

Thanks for the help, all.

btw, XP sp2 sure take a long time to install! I figured I'd do the upgrade before installing my programs. I've heard some not-so-nice compatability issues with sp2 but I'll work thru those issues if it means my system is better protected.

[ChrisX]

btw, XP sp2 sure take a long time to install! I figured I'd do the upgrade before installing my programs. I've heard some not-so-nice compatability issues with sp2 but I'll work thru those issues if it means my system is better protected.

Didn't take me that long to install WinXP Sp2 on a huge downloaded standalone file and only one or two of Windows Update.

I re-installed all the programs after that and no more problems ever since.

ChrisX