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Two drives with windows xp installed
- Thread starter kkp
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It sounds like there was a second storage partition originally created on the drive. This is where the second copy of Windows was installed onto. Since this was a second installation the boot.ini autoloads this newer copy as the default where you are seeing it as the C drive. The primary partition with the original installation is seen as D there.
It would simple to boot up with the XP installation disk and delete the two partitions and create a new one for XP to install onto. But you would lose everything not backed up on removable media. Deleting the second partition and installing XP onto the original will see that first copy deleted while not removing that partition. Later you would have the option to either create a new second partition or expand the primary with a drive partitioning tool like GParted live for cd(free Linux tool).
It sounds like there was a second storage partition originally created on the drive. This is where the second copy of Windows was installed onto. Since this was a second installation the boot.ini autoloads this newer copy as the default where you are seeing it as the C drive. The primary partition with the original installation is seen as D there.
It would simple to boot up with the XP installation disk and delete the two partitions and create a new one for XP to install onto. But you would lose everything not backed up on removable media. Deleting the second partition and installing XP onto the original will see that first copy deleted while not removing that partition. Later you would have the option to either create a new second partition or expand the primary with a drive partitioning tool like GParted live for cd(free Linux tool).
When booting with the XP installation disk or even with GParted you can remove one or both partitions entirely or just one to see other expanded. That will provide the room needed. GParted would be the best for knowing which partition was which since you apparently mistook the second for the first when install the second copy of XP.
With GParted the two partitions will be seen as HDa1 for the primary and HDa2 for the second one where this copy of XP was installed onto. You can also see how the removal of the second and expanding the primary will then see plenty of space for a new copy of Windows.
If you have a cd writer the download of the iso disk image for GParted is found at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=173828 You would want the 0.3.3.0 version and not any newer due to changes seen.
The XP installer is quite capable or removing one or both partitions on the drive there. GParted simply makes it easier to increase the size of the single partition you reinstall XP onto later.
With GParted the two partitions will be seen as HDa1 for the primary and HDa2 for the second one where this copy of XP was installed onto. You can also see how the removal of the second and expanding the primary will then see plenty of space for a new copy of Windows.
If you have a cd writer the download of the iso disk image for GParted is found at http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=115843&package_id=173828 You would want the 0.3.3.0 version and not any newer due to changes seen.
The XP installer is quite capable or removing one or both partitions on the drive there. GParted simply makes it easier to increase the size of the single partition you reinstall XP onto later.
It's an effective tool once you get familiar with it. You can even use GParted for creating, deleting, resizing, and even moving partitions to allow extra space at one end for extending another partition or to the rear of the drive in order to create a new primary. Moving partitions is a time consuming process to add in here while the other processes go faster.