Booting problem
 

My laptop had a French installation of Windows XP, I formated the hard disk and installed an English version. It now offers me the option to boot either the French XP (which does not longer exist) or the English one. How can I get rid of the French version at booting?

Re: Booting problem
 

boot into english version
go into msconfig and boot ini check boot paths and allow to delete whats not there

Re: Booting problem
 

Quick way is to edit the file c:\boot.ini and remove the option from there also set the timeout to something like 5 also

Re: Booting problem
 

quicker way is my way lol lol timeout is irrelevent as there will only be one entry ;)

Re: Booting problem
 

If you are feeling brave -

Control Panel/System/Advanced/Startup and Recovery gives you the option to edit the startup options file manually. You should see both versions in the [Operating Systems] section. Delete the one you don't want.

Must learn to type faster!

Re: Booting problem
 

Done it. There is no option to delete it. The delete button does not work. (thanks)

Re: Booting problem
 

Sounds like you got a Dell or another manufacturer Laptop built in France.

These companies have an extra partition for their "recovery disks". U will need to format (Normal) that partition as well as the main partition. Unless you want to use the recovery disk for the future.

Did you buy it new or used?

Re: Booting problem
 

but when you checked boot paths if the french version is not on the machine and only the boot record it wont find it and say so
Did you actually click check all boot paths? it will either say all is correct or one is missing

BTW there isnt a delete button there

Re: Booting problem
 

Thanks. I will try to edit the file, yes the timeout is set to 3 (mimimum), I tried 0 but it did not like it. !will let you know in a mo.

Re: Booting problem
 

Stop before you start messing finish what you were doing where I sent you. That way will assertain if you actually deleted the French install.

Re: Booting problem
 

When you remove the operating systems and just leave your main default in with the /fastboot option the windows bootloader ignores the timeout value and just fast boots ;)

Re: Booting problem
 

Would have thought if you formatted the hard disk the French version would have gone? Did you have a look at it to make sure there weren't any "hidden" partitions on it?

Re: Booting problem
 

ZIng is right *this* is kinda the proper MSCE way of doing it by the book :o

but I've never trusted windows to do anything right so heh

Re: Booting problem
 

I dont think the op pressed check all boot paths

Re: Booting problem
 

Thanks everybody!

I formatted the disk, there is no French version on the disk.

I could edit boot.ini, I did remove the French XP booting line, albeit I cannot save the file, it's ready only !!. Can you give me a helping hand with changing the attributes? Ta!

BTW It's a Toshiba for the UK market, got it new here. But I lent it to a French friend of mine for few months....

Re: Booting problem
 

click start then run type msconfig
click boot,ini
then click check all boot paths.
It will either say both are there or one isnt try this first.

failing that change it from read only
Unless you have a system disk that isnt C/ or 0 / 0 then you didnt format it properly as a proper format would delete the boot record

Re: Booting problem
 

Bula try ZIngs method first if that fails then change the permissions of boot.ini manually then edit then reboot oh yeh make sure u check the bootpaths should all be the same if you have just the one disk

Re: Booting problem
 

Both paths are there
How do I do that? In *nix is chmod but in Windows???

I do not know what C/ or 0/0 means. But I did a low format.

Thanks guys.

Re: Booting problem
 

pmsl ! Wiindows aint that complicated !
RIght click on the file change permissions uncheck read only.

or if your happy with a cmd prompt then attrib /? may be your friend

Re: Booting problem
 

Theres something fishy here then. Right click my computer and click manage then disk management. See what partitions are about.
0, 0 is simply drive 0 partition 0
If you cant see boot.ini in root of C click tools folder options and show hidden files and untick hide protected operating system files and simply right click and untick hidden

Re: Booting problem
 

I did

attrib -s -h \boot.ini (command prompt)

I edited boot.ini, getting rid the "Microsoft Professioniel" line.

attib +s +h \boot.ini (command prompt)

It no longer wants to boot in French!!! Many thanks.

I went to disk management. There is only one disk (0) and only one partition.

I was surprised as you were that after formating, it wanted to still boot in French.

Thanks again!