Why two Windows Folders in Local Disc?

Anonymous
2013-01-24T13:16:36+00:00

I have just had to reinstall Windows XP Home. In Explorer under Local Disc, there used to be just one Windows folder. I now have two. One is titled Windows. the other Windows 0.  Why? Some of the files within them are different.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Performance and system failures

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  1. Anonymous
    2013-01-27T04:37:25+00:00

    The Boot.ini file is read-only, if you want to edit it manually right click on in then click on Properties and remove the read-only attribute.

    You can find out which Windows is booted by issuing one of the following commands at a Command Prompt:

    set windir

    set system

    set systemroot

    As mentioned by Elizabeth23 removing the entry from the boot.ini file will just remove it from the boot menu, it's merely cosmetic, you will still have a mess on your hands.

    You can boot your computer with another Windows XP cd to format & prepare the drive and then boot with the OEM cd that you have for the installation.  But, as mentioned earlier, the OEM licensing agreement stipulates that the OEM MUST provide a method to return the PC to factory condition, the restoration CD MUST be able to format the drive in order to return the PC to factory condition.

    John

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  2. Anonymous
    2013-01-27T04:21:11+00:00

    when you select the button to check all boot paths, then a message window should pop up as to which if any paths are incorrect, and if you want them removed.

    you can edit your boot.ini file manually, but that will not delete any of the installations, it will just limit the boot to one windows, and you do not know which windows is the one you want.

    there are differences between a recovery cd and an installation cd.

    can you get into your bios? F2, or delete ?

    if you can get into your bios is there any thing in your menu for setup?

    look and see if there is a recovery partition that you can enter through certain keys, that might bring pc back to factory settings.

    besides being Evesham, what is the model and model number, I will do some more searching to find instructions for your situation.

    below is what a normal boot.ini should look like:

    A typical simple example [boot loader] <br><br>timeout=30 <br><br>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS <br><br>[operating systems] <br><br>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
    Example with Recovery Console as an option [boot loader] <br><br>timeout=30 <br><br>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS <br><br>[operating systems] <br><br>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect <br><br>C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons
    Example with Safe Mode as an option and "timeout" =10 seconds [boot loader] <br><br>timeout=10 <br><br>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS <br><br>[operating systems] <br><br>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect <br><br>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Safe Mode" /safeboot:minimal /sos /bootlog
    Simple boot.ini for a Windows XP SP2 system
    [boot loader] <br><br>timeout=30 <br><br>default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS <br><br>[operating systems] <br><br>multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn

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  3. Anonymous
    2013-01-26T21:27:58+00:00

    I can highlight both Windows 0 &1 in Boot.ini but I can't delete them. There is no option and the delete key on my keyboard wont do t either.

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-01-26T21:03:22+00:00

    go to start, run, type in msconfig, look at the boot.ini tab, click on the button  Check all boot paths, if any paths are not correct you can delete them.

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-01-26T20:44:46+00:00

    Thanks Elizabeth. I didn't find the link very helpful although I have managed to download a manual which still doesn't help my problem.

    John I have tried another re-install and I most definately have not got the information you say I should see (format disc). I clicked on the option to reinstall rather than repair and I have now finished up with a Windows 0 and Windows 1 as well as the original Windows file. Should I not just be able to delete 0 and 1?

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