Windows XP Installation Problem

[Narcisse2]

Hi all and thanks in advance for your help !

I have a hard drive that is divided into two partitions, C: and E:

I typically use C: to install Windows XP. E: is for games.

D: is for multimedia, but it is another hard drive.

I often re-install Windows XP, always on C: in order to have a fresh running fast OS all the time.

So I did the same routine, as always, but with a new version of XP, which I launched directly while using the then-current OS. I got the CD in, followed the steps, but unfortunately, I have selected D: !!

So now, when I boot, I have a dual boot menu asking me to choose between Windows XP and Windows XP

The first one is the installation on D:, which is working completely
The second one is the installation on C:, which is also working perfectly (I am currently writing using this installation).

Now the installation on D: is taking unecessary disk space and I would like to delete it.

My question is, can I simply delete the files D:\Documents and settings, D:\Program Files and D:\Windows like I would delete any word document, mp3, or whatever file, using right click delete and then emptying the recycle bin ? Or do I have to take extra steps to remove Windows XP completely from hard drive D: ?

Thanks in advance!

I use Windows XP Professional SP 2

Basically, what I would like to do is remove Windows XP from D: and delete ALL files, including hidden files, without reformatting D:

 

[linney]

Basically yes, to your main question, but watch out for the booting files such as NtDetect.com, Boot.ini, Ntldr, these are hidden and system files (probably on the C: drive [root], but do make sure). To check their whereabouts, make sure such files are visible, see Folder Options/ View.

How to remove a second installation of a Windows operating system from a partition

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;888023&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

2 copies of windows XP installed on my system
thread779-846333

 

[Narcisse2]

I have edited the boot.ini file and now i dont have the dual boot

then, i have simply deleted the program files, documents and settings and Program Files directories from D:

However, I cannot delete Recycler (which contains 1,28 gig, thats a lot !) and System Volume Information

I cannot access System Volume Information directory at all

any help ?

thanks !

 

[BadBigBen]

You have to have ADMIN rights to continue...

1.) right click on the said folders and take over OWNERSHIP...

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421

2.) now you should be able to delete the said folders...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[linney]

If you are deleting a Windows system from another Windows system, and have System Restore running in the Windows that you are using to do the deleting, then a lot of files will end up in restore points.

You can create a new restore point after all the deleting is done, and then run Disk Cleanup, using the "More Options" tab to delete all but the last created restore point. Alternatively you could turn System Restore off and back on which will also delete all the current restore points. You can also do nothing and over the course of time the restore points will get purged by themselves.


How to gain access to the System Volume Information folder

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;309531&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

 

[Narcisse2]

My D: drive is used to store media and I want all of it to be available for media. Should I delete the autoexec, boot.ini, config.sys, io, msdos, ntdetect, ntldr and pagefile files from that drive, seeing I already deleted the Windows, Program Files and Documents and Settings folders ?

 

[Narcisse2]

folders ? Also, should I delete Recycler and System Volume Information and Msocache ?

 

[BadBigBen]

Hi, before you delete them, rename the boot.ini (on D of course) to BOOT.OLD the same with ntldr (ie. NTOLD), keeping in mind how they where named before (ie. write them down on a piece of paper)... then reboot, if your PC starts without any problems, then you can delete them completely...

as to the RECYCLER and the SVI, these probably are used by the OS presently in use...



Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[Narcisse2]

Well now Windows XP is installed on C:, not on D, which I use for media. So I want to free up D of large files, or unnecessary files.

Pagefile, can I delete ?
Hiberfil, can I delete ?
Ntldr ?
MSDOS ?
NTDETECT ?
RECYCLER ?
System Volume Information ?
IO ?
CONFIG ?
boot ?
AUTOEXEC ?
MSOCache

Thank you !

 

[Freestone]

Before deleting the MSOCache you may want to review this:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/ork2003/HA011402361033.aspx

 

[linney]

If any of the above files are being used by you current system, then you will not be able to easily delete them. The booting files NtDetect.com, Ntldr, and Boot.ini are only used, obviously, during booting, do you have these files on your C:drive as well? If so, then they are probably safe to delete, but check in Disk Management and make sure that C: is listed as both being a System and Boot drive. If D: is mentioned as being the System drive, then do not delete the booting files.

Things like System Volume Information and Recycler are drive specific for each operating system installed, that is XP in C: will have a Recycler folder and a S.V.I. folder on all your installed drives, so forget about them.

Read what this says about the Paging file, and make sure you have one left if you consider any deletion.

308417 - HOW TO: Set Performance Options in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308417

Hiberfil can safely be deleted from D:if you don't use hibernation, or if you do, but have a copy of the file on C:

If the other files you talk about are smallish, I personally would worry too much about deleting them.