Why two Windows Folders in Local Disc?

when the windows setup window opens, you should have the option to install windows by hitting enter

then it asks if you want to install on selected partition

what you should do first is delete all partitions, follow the instructions it will tell you how.

and you should make sure that before you start, that the bios is set to boot from cd

if you do not see a black screen with the instructions to press any key to boot from cd, then you do not have the bios set up to boot from cd and you will have another parallel installation.

I will look further for a user guide for you, but if we are going to delete all the partitions, then you will lose what ever partition that was on there for recovery,

which should show when you see the page with all the partitions listed.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-xp/help/setup/install-windows-xp

http://www.windowsxphome.windowsreinstall.com/sp2installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

http://aumha.net/viewtopic.php?f=62&t=44636

Clean installs of XP sites

you might want to read the instructions on the sites above to know the steps to a clean install.

another note, go to the Microsoft download center and download sp3 and sp2 if your cd is sp1, because windows updates will not work with other than sp3.

Thank you Elizabeth. My three boot.ini files look similar but end at the "fast detect". I have checked my BIOS and there does not appear to be anything like a means to return to factory condition as mentioned by John in the next post. Just one onservation though, I remember before reinstallation, I was given two options where to install which didn't make much sense to me. The first looked like it might have been the hard disk itself and the other a C partition but I remember previously, when looking in My Computer/Manage/Disc Management, there was no partition on the disc. Apart from that, I am sure I tried both options.

However, my model number is Axis 64 MKR (Aug04). Eveshams product code is AX1182001243-KIT-STK. I should be very grateful if you would do some research for me. Incidentally, although there is a 64 in the model number, mine is a 32bit computer. Regards, Brian

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

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:

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.