Removing C drive from Dual Boot scenario - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

spindles · 05-04-2005, 03:48 PM

I have a machine with Win98 on the C drive and Win XP Pro (the version I use) on F. I would like to take out the C drive, so I can use it in another machine.

It can see I would need to:
1. make the F drive bootable (I guess it becomes C)
2. patch winxp registry to make the programs on the new C drive work.

Am I just kidding myself? (as I type this, it sounds more and more implausible).

RAGEAngel9 · 05-04-2005, 04:04 PM

One possibilty is just installing windows inplace again on your "F" drive. I think that it would pretty much just overwrite in place and add a new MBR somewhere. But don't take my word for it.

spived2 · 05-05-2005, 07:13 AM

Have you tried just taking that hard drive out? It should just boot from the other hard drive. Not sure if it changes the drive letter, but I doubt it. It should stay F, and work just fine.

RAGEAngel9 · 05-05-2005, 08:14 AM

Give what spived2 said a try, but I think it won't work since the MBR is most likely on the 1st (removed ) drive.

liquidlight · 05-05-2005, 09:32 AM

What you're asking is theoretically possible, however it would be a complete bitch.

Like RageAngel said, you'd need to redirect the MBR (master boot record) and move the function of the ntldr file onto the other drive. By the time that you got done fiddling with it, assuming that it ever worked right because of the changes you've made to all of your paths, it probably would've been better to have started out reformatting the machine and saving yourself the trouble.

cyrnel · 05-05-2005, 11:06 AM

At $30-50 for a new 80GB drive, it's hard to justify the work required to make your F drive into your C drive. Getting it to boot is relatively simple but making Windows function, along with your apps, will be painful. Better to accost friends and find a spare drive from their cast-off pile.

hrandani · 05-05-2005, 06:25 PM

I'm with spived..

If windows is installed on it, which it sounds like it is, and you don't need anything on the old drive...

I don't know what the hell you other guys are talking about, maybe you don't use windows or something, but it sounds like 'version I use' means the version it boots off of, and even if that isn't the case all you would have to do is get into the BIOS and change the 1st boot drive.

So it sounds to me like all you have to do is physically remove the old drive, and I bet you cash money the computer will figure out it's gone and boot from the sole remaining drive (sure it may try to boot off cd but I doubt you will randomly have a bootable cd in the drive)

spindles · 05-05-2005, 09:40 PM

Thanks guys - I will try and remove the C drive and see if it still boots
- plan B is to see if the thing I want working in the old machine will function in a new machine (only have software for Win95, and really not sure it will function in XP)
- plan C is beg/borrow/steal a small old drive from friends as cyrnel said.

spindles · 05-08-2005, 01:43 AM

Just to finish this off - I tried the old card I wanted to use in my current XP machine, so I don't need the small hard drive anymore, so I think I've saved myself some headaches

05-04-2005, 03:48 PM	#1 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	Removing C drive from Dual Boot scenario I have a machine with Win98 on the C drive and Win XP Pro (the version I use) on F. I would like to take out the C drive, so I can use it in another machine. It can see I would need to: 1. make the F drive bootable (I guess it becomes C) 2. patch winxp registry to make the programs on the new C drive work. Am I just kidding myself? (as I type this, it sounds more and more implausible). __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

05-05-2005, 07:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
spived2 Desert Rat Location: Arizona	Have you tried just taking that hard drive out? It should just boot from the other hard drive. Not sure if it changes the drive letter, but I doubt it. It should stay F, and work just fine. __________________ "This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - V

05-05-2005, 09:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
liquidlight AHH! Custom Title!! Location: The twisted warpings of my brain.	What you're asking is theoretically possible, however it would be a complete bitch. Like RageAngel said, you'd need to redirect the MBR (master boot record) and move the function of the ntldr file onto the other drive. By the time that you got done fiddling with it, assuming that it ever worked right because of the changes you've made to all of your paths, it probably would've been better to have started out reformatting the machine and saving yourself the trouble. __________________ Halfway to hell and picking up speed.

05-05-2005, 11:06 AM	#6 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	At $30-50 for a new 80GB drive, it's hard to justify the work required to make your F drive into your C drive. Getting it to boot is relatively simple but making Windows function, along with your apps, will be painful. Better to accost friends and find a spare drive from their cast-off pile. __________________ There are a vast number of people who are uninformed and heavily propagandized, but fundamentally decent. The propaganda that inundates them is effective when unchallenged, but much of it goes only skin deep. If they can be brought to raise questions and apply their decent instincts and basic intelligence, many people quickly escape the confines of the doctrinal system and are willing to do something to help others who are really suffering and oppressed." -Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media, p. 195

05-05-2005, 09:40 PM	#8 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	Thanks guys - I will try and remove the C drive and see if it still boots - plan B is to see if the thing I want working in the old machine will function in a new machine (only have software for Win95, and really not sure it will function in XP) - plan C is beg/borrow/steal a small old drive from friends as cyrnel said. __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?

05-04-2005, 04:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
RAGEAngel9 Insane Location: Vermont	One possibilty is just installing windows inplace again on your "F" drive. I think that it would pretty much just overwrite in place and add a new MBR somewhere. But don't take my word for it.

05-05-2005, 08:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
RAGEAngel9 Insane Location: Vermont	Give what spived2 said a try, but I think it won't work since the MBR is most likely on the 1st (removed ) drive.

05-05-2005, 06:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
hrandani Insane	I'm with spived.. If windows is installed on it, which it sounds like it is, and you don't need anything on the old drive... I don't know what the hell you other guys are talking about, maybe you don't use windows or something, but it sounds like 'version I use' means the version it boots off of, and even if that isn't the case all you would have to do is get into the BIOS and change the 1st boot drive. So it sounds to me like all you have to do is physically remove the old drive, and I bet you cash money the computer will figure out it's gone and boot from the sole remaining drive (sure it may try to boot off cd but I doubt you will randomly have a bootable cd in the drive)

05-08-2005, 01:43 AM	#9 (permalink)
spindles Mine is an evil laugh Location: Sydney, Australia	Just to finish this off - I tried the old card I wanted to use in my current XP machine, so I don't need the small hard drive anymore, so I think I've saved myself some headaches __________________ who hid my keyboard's PANIC button?