Uninstalling 98 from Duel Boot Sys with W2K

[MowermanED]

Hello all,

Specifics: 20G drive, duel boot with 3 partitions F: W2K C: 98se D: Data. According to Partition Magic F is first, then C, then D, with C listed as the active partition.

Problem: I installed W2K intending to gradually migrate all apps to it and only keep 98 for whatever wouldn't run on W2K. As it turns out I'm soooooooo happy with W2K and only have 1 program that won't run in it. I'm willing to dump that program and want to eliminate 98 altogether.

My questions are: How do I get rid of 98? Can I just delete it's partition? If I delete C (98) can I then rename F(W2K) to "C". Or, (and I know this will be the best answer but the one I don't want to hear) just backup, reformat and do a clean install of W2K. Thanks to all who reply in advance!

 

[tlcscousin]

The one you dont want to hear is definately the best.W2k puts some needed files on c: that a format of C would wipe out.This would cause a no os found message on start. You could probably get away with it if you formatted and then did a repair of w2k which would rebuild the boot stuff.

 

[butchrecon]

In Win2K (first create an ERD) Edit the boot.ini file (First remove the attributes by going to START>RUN and type attrib boot.ini -r -h -s). Once you have done that open note pad and go to C:\ and open boot.ini. Remove the line for Microsoft Windows 98. Reenable the attributes by typeing in the run command attrib boot.ini +r +h +s

Once that is done DELETE the Windows folder on the C: drive. When that is done reboot. You really should not have any problems doing this. If you need help ask. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[MowermanED]

Butchrecon,

Assuming I can do the tasks you've laid out for me sucsessfully, will I then be able to rename my F partition to C? And if so, how can that be done? I'm going to "ghost" my HD first and then apply the changes you've outlined tonight. I'll let you know what happens tomorrow. Thank you!

 

[butchrecon]

Yes you can change the Partition letters. Right click on My Computer and go to Manage. Next go to the Disk Management folder and there you can chnge the drive letters. James Collins
Systems Support Engineer
A+, MCP

email: butchrecon@skyenet.net

Please let us (Tek-tips members) know if the solutions we provide are helpful to you. Not only do they help you but they may help others.

 

[MowermanED]

Butchrecon,
Did as instructed with a couple of variations.
First, the boot.ini file is not located in C but on F. So I could not go to C to open it as told. I removed the attributes from it(on F, W2K), removed reference to W98, then reenabled the attributes and then deleted C using Partition Magic. Partition Magic asked me to choose an active partition since I was going to delete the one I had on C so I chose to make F active. Applied changes and upon reboot after Part Mag did its thing I could not go further than this message "NTLDR" is missing. Thank God for Norton Ghost. Now I'm back where I began. What did I do wrong?