Remove Original OS from Dual Boot Machine

[zymurgy]

The original OS was Win98 on a FAT32 partition.
Using Partition Magic 8 I created an NTFS partition, installed Windows XP, and configured Boot Magic for dual booting.

I am now ready to foresake Win98 forever.

I know that I can make WinXP the default, and disable Boot Magic, but what steps should I take blow away the Win98 partition so that I can reclaim the space?

Thanks,

[DocWatson]

I'd say that your best bet is to format the Win 98 partition using Partition Magic and convert the partition to NTFS and then add it to the XP partition.

[kaplinb]

Your hard drive(s) has three partitions: Win98 partition, formatted in FAT32, WinXP partition, formatted in NTFS and BootMagic partition, formatted in FAT (hidden).

To remove unwanted partitions, you have to have (i) partition formatting program, as Partition Magic - as Doc. Watson said - and (ii) Windows XP Installation CD (bootable).

Depending of what you want, two scenarios are possible:
1. Remove both FAT partitions, move NTFS partition to the beginning of the drive, set it active and create a new partition on the empty space, or
2. Remove both FAT partitions, resize NTFS partition to the all available space and set it active.
You can achieve it using partition formatting program (you cannot do it using Windows partiton management utility). If you use Partition Magic, boot from PartitionMagic CD or floppy and execute your scenario.

Then, boot from Windows XP Installation CD, on the first prompt choose "Install" (not "Repair"!!), and then, when Setup recognizes your Windows installation, choose "Repair". Without this procedure your Windows installation will be unusable!

And then if you choose to create a new partition, boot to Windows (Normal boot) and from My Computer or Windows Explorer format new partition.

[DocWatson]

Wouldn't making XP the default and disabling BootMagic make the XP installation the partition that the computer boots too ?? If BootMagic is disabled, it shouldn't enter into the boot process and the system would then recognize and boot to the XP partition by default. It then follows that you should be able to run Partition Magic from XP and reclaim the rest of the drive and be left with a working XP installation on a single NTFS partition. Or am I missing something ?? <img src=/S/confused.gif border=0 alt=confused width=15 height=20>

[dianne18]

My son would like to remove Me from a dual boot system (with XP Pro).
Would using Partition Magic to format the drive with Me and including the freed up drive space in XP work, as suggested for removing W98?
Many thanks
Dianne

[DocWatson]

I believe that it can be done that way, but it seems kaplanb knows something I don't and his opinion appears to be based on technical expertise while mine is based on common sense and practical knowledge of the program and what it can do. I'm not familiar with BootMagic and so would tend to be cautious if I didn't understand how a program that involved in the boot process of my machine behaved when disabled. If your son knows how to use Partition Magic and is certain that his XP installation will boot when ME is removed then I'd give it a try, AFTER doing a complete backup or at least saving any important data off disk. I'd do some poking around on Google to see if there is information particular to his situation if he doesn't understand the software and how it works or does what it does, so to speak. HTH.

[dianne18]

I do agree that it seems a bit like a blunderbuss method.
Would appreciate advice on how best to remove Me from its partition with the least pain, as I can bet it will be my job to undertake the process! My son taught me to use a computer not too many years ago, and now I get all the technical jobs- scary with a computer that is not mine!

[DocWatson]

I did a little looking and came up with some good information that should help you remove ME from your system and leave the XP install intact and bootable. This site does a step-by-step of almost exactly what you want to accomplish. There is more useful information that I would print out here and here. I would suggest that you print out the information from all these sites and have it next to you when you attempt the exorcism of ME. If you have questions, post back and we'll see if we can get you through this.

[dianne18]

Thank you ,Doc. Had found the first two of these since I posted, but not the MCSE site, and appreciate the effort you put into searching for the best advice. Expert support on selecting the method is more than reassuring. And the offer of some hand-holding during the process may well be taken up!