Any way to remove a failed Windows install?
 

So I had Windows XP home. No problems. I tried to install Windows XP Pro (different hard drive, was empty at the time), but the install failed repeatedly. I gave up on it. However, now every time I boot the computer it asks me what OS I want to boot with... like so:

Windows XP Home
Windows XP Pro Setup

It chooses Pro Setup by default... even though I set C (where XP Home is) as the default startup device. If I don't select XP Home within about 15 seconds, it loads the Pro Setup... which fails every time.

Is there a way to get rid of this failed installation so it just goes back to XP Home? Without a format, that is...

Thanks

I would just reformat....

If you want a way around it the only thing that I can think of is this:
Control panel-->System-->Advanced Tab-->Startup and Recovery Settings

You should be able to set your old operating system in the dropdown menu. Reboot to see if it works.
Also, uncheck the box for the option that says Time to display list of operating systems or you'll still be prompted for an OS selection.

It sounds like the xp pro setup just modified the boot.ini file.

Sixate's advice will surely solve the problem.

However, if you want to get rid of the option all together type in 'msconfig' at the command prompt and under the boot.ini tab you should be able to get rid of the offender.

There's the option to check all boot paths and that should clear it out.

If not, you'll have to edit the file manually.

Control panel-->System-->Advanced Tab-->Startup and Recovery Settings-->Edit
will open up the boot.ini file in notepad and there you can just remove the line that leads to the xp pro setup.

That will take the option off the table. So, when your system starts up the other choice will be gone and it will load xp home without you having to choose it.

The boot.ini file should look something like this...
I highlighted it because it's important that the 'default' line = the windows install you want to run.

Now, it's important to note you can screw up some stuff here, but as long as you use a bit of common sense and have the xp home cd ready to repair the installation, I don't see you having any problems. If you're worried about it, you can always do the 'check all boot paths' from the msconfig dialogue after you edit the boot.ini to nip any problems in the bud.

That may be more information than you want, but I added it for you consideration.

I'd format. Two Windows installations is never good even if one of them doesn't work.

Guthmund has it. Go into msconfig by typing msconfig into the Run box. Then click on the BOOT.INI tab. Click the "Check All Boot Paths" button. There ya go!

PS: If this feature isn't in XP Home then you'll have to do it manually like the others suggested. Good luck!

-Lasereth

You have to re-format, or you'll have all kinds of problems

Not reformatting now. Seriously guys. You can stop suggesting it. I do it every couple of years, and now is not the time.

As for having "all kinds of problems," the failed install has been on two months or so, and I've had no issues. So... you're wrong. Sorry. If you're wondering why it's been there so long... I just kept forgetting to ask.

And to those of you who answered the question, thanks. I forgot about boot.ini... I was looking at startup for some reason, wondering why I couldn't change it. I'm not on my machine right now, or I'd go try it. It should work, though, as I solved a similar problem using the same method. Thanks again.

I might be wrong about this, but I do believe you enter 'fdisk /mbr' to fix this. That command rewrite the MBR.

It's on a separate hard drive, right? So reformat that, but not your good install. Or get any number of partition managers and just delete the partition. Partition Magic will get the job done from Windows with a nice GUI, but it costs. Hiren's Boot CD will give you a few command-line apps to work with.