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We have a problem where, upon every boot, the computer asks us to select an operating system. We want to delete one so our laptop will boot normally once more. Help?

Windows XP Boot Sequence

In order to understand the message that your computer is presenting it might be useful to understand the boot up sequence generally. When you turn your XP system on, the computer follows a pre-determined start up process as follows:

• POST - power on self test
• Initial start up
• Boot loader
• Hardware detection and configuration
• Kernel loading
• User logon

Boot Order Configuration

The boot order configuration, the issue that you are experiencing, occurs during the second phase, the initial start up, when the computer is looking for and initializing settings from the CMOS memory - the computer’s internal power and memory source. When your computer reaches this stage, it finds information that there are two operating systems available to start up, and so asks you which you would like to use.

Edit the BOOT.INI File

In order to remove this prompt and allow Windows to boot with only one XP installation you can edit the BOOT.INI file without too much trouble.

1.  
   1. Click Start, then Control Panel
   2. Choose System, then Advanced
   3. Under Startup and Recovery, choose Settings, then Edit
   4. The boot.ini text file will open - do not be alarmed, it looks a bit intimidating but isn’t actually
   5. You should see two similar entries for XP - delete the bottom line that looks similar to this: multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS=”Microsoft Windows XP Professional” /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
   6. Save the boot.ini file
   7. Close and exit Settings
   8. Now you should visit Windows Updates to make sure that the operating system has the latest releases. Also, update your virus definitions and software, in case there are changes that were inadvertently saved to the other system installation. The odds aren’t high, especially if this situation only recently presented, but you should err on the side of caution.

Removing Operating System Installations from Other Windows Version

I hope this was helpful. The steps for removing operating system installations are similar in other Windows versions that use the boot.ini file system. However, when removing entries from the boot order in Windows Vista things change. Here is a link to a related post about the process for Vista. Good luck!

Related articles:

• Missing system32hal file
• Dual boot computer has too many choices

I’m dual booting Vista and Windows 7. How do I get Windows 7 to see my Vista programs?

File and Program Access on a Dual Boot Computer - Vista and Windows 7

The short answer - I’m afraid you can’t. When you are running a dual boot operating system the two are on different partitions and are unaware of each other. What this means is that when you boot up your Windows 7 installation, it has no idea that the Windows Vista operating system and environment is even there. Your data files will be accessible, as they share the same access, but programs and applications will need to be installed on Windows 7. There are some applications that you can try to load on a third partition and switch back and forth between operating system, setting the program up predominantly on one or the other, but you will encounter conflicts between the different operating systems.

Upgrade to Import Programs

If you decide to keep Windows 7, in the future you can use the operating system installation upgrade to get the latest operating system version on your computer and transfer all your programs along with it. In this case, the jump to Windows 7 doesn’t allow for the upgrade option.

Install Programs on Windows 7

To get back to your original question, you are going to have to load the programs you want to use onto the same partition as the Windows 7 operating system. To do this, you can load your software in a third partition in the hard disk, and then allow both operating system platforms to access them. There is a tutorial and a download here for an ownership tool that allows users to move quickly between operating systems and programs, which you will likely be interested in. With this tool you can click and take ownership of programs in Windows 7, the downside is that you will have to repeat the process if you want to access the same programs in Windows Vista.

Single Installation Software Programs

Unfortunately, many software program installation packages are limited to one installation per product code, meaning that - even though you are loading the same program on the same computer - you can only use the product licensing code once. Instead of buying all your software twice, you might opt to designate certain programs to each operating system, or take some time to sample Windows 7 and decide if you want to upgrade before installing a lot of software. I hope this helps, good luck!