Author Topic: Remove "duplicate" OS? (Read 1378 times)

Simon · « **on:** October 24, 2005, 19:19 »

I have been yet again given a friend's PC to try to repair. Somehow, she seems to have managed to install 2 versions of W2K on her C drive. I have gone into the Startup and Recovery console, and set the default OS, and also unticked the box, to disable the OS menu on startup, but is there any way to remove the second OS, without re-formatting the drive and starting again?

sam · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2005, 20:55 »

umm interesting, probably much easier to just go format c: !! but then again I might advise that with lots of windows computers. my main pc at home is currently windows - since I dont do work on it any more just play games (I still have a kickass fedora system...never crashes!) and it is just not worth it!

Anyway back to the point, I'm not sure what you can do about that, you could probably just remove all the system files though the master boot record of the harddrive is probably well confused. Do you get more than one option on boot up?

Simon · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2005, 21:08 »

Quote from: "sam"

Do you get more than one option on boot up?

I did, but not now I have set the default OS and removed the option to display the list of operating systems, in the Statup and Recovery console. I don't want to have to format it, because there's loads of stuff on it which will have to be reinstalled, which I don't have the time for, and if I leave it to the owner, I will be paving the way for more hassle!

sam · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2005, 21:21 »

so it works? why dont you just leave it! :-)

you could probably remove the files manually, though you are then running the risk of having to reinstall.

How the heck did a second operating system get installed?

Simon · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2005, 21:27 »

Christ knows! :roll: What do you expect from an old blonde? :grin: I think she was trying to do a repair lol!

Yes, it all seems to work, so I am going to just leave it. I just wondered if the second installation might be wasting disc space, but if it is, tough tits!

sam · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2005, 22:55 »

cant be wasting too much and i bet she has stack loads that she dont use...might be worth getting her to do a backup of all critical stuff just in case though.

Simon · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2005, 01:08 »

Funnily enough, there's hardly anything on it! About 20% disc space used, if that.
What she did have, was well over 400 instances of spyware, which Ad Aware found, once I had installed it! I also installed Spyware Blaster to stop any more getting through, but I doubt she'll bother to update it. :roll:

sam · « **Reply #7 on:** October 25, 2005, 08:16 »

if you put spybot on there I think it can be set to automatically update.

Simon · « **Reply #8 on:** October 25, 2005, 10:20 »

Spybot automatically updates each time it starts, and you can schedule it, so that might not be a bad idea, but I've disconnected it all and put it away now. It's Spyware Blaster which is the important thing to update, as that prevents the spyware from getting in in the first place, but you have to pay for auto updates, and you know what people are like about parting with money!

sam · « **Reply #9 on:** October 25, 2005, 19:24 »

oh right....well i dont spyblaster....guess it depends on how careful you are in the first place eh! :-)

Simon · « **Reply #10 on:** October 25, 2005, 19:33 »

I would recommend you give Spyware Blaster a try, Sam. Since I have been using it, probably for about 3 years now, my Ad Aware and Spybot rarely find a thing.

sam · « **Reply #11 on:** October 25, 2005, 21:04 »

but my spybot rarely finds anything anyway..you have to remember that I have a linux router inbetween me and the internet - and rather tight security on this windows piece of...