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....