[Jay@Dub-00]

I did an install of XP Pro and left the existing file system (XP Home) intact. Now I don't need the old file system (on drive C as WINDOWS folder - same partition),
My main issue is, During boot up I have to choose the O/S. If I delete the 'WINDOWS' folder what do I do to remove it from the O/S menu at boot so that the machine boots straight to Pro?
During install I renamed the new install folder WINDOWS2 (XP Pro), Would renaming it cause any boot problems?... and does all this make sense to anyone?

[TheOutcaste]

You need to remove the entry for the XP Home version from the boot.ini file.
Right click My Computer, click Properties
Click the Advanced tab
Click Settings button under Startup and Recovery

Does the system automatically boot into Pro if you don't make a choice?
If not, choose The XP Professional entry in the Default operating system drop down box, OK back to the desktop, then come back to this point.

Click the Edit button. This will open the boot.ini file in Notepad.
It should look something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS2
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Windows XP Home Edition" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS2="Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect

Remove only the line that mentions XP Home.
Close Notepad, saving changes, and OK back to the Desktop.

Another option is to delete the Windows folder (make sure you delete the correct one -- might be best to rename first, just in case), then run msconfig and have it check boot paths. It will flag the missing one and remove it for you.
Start | Run, type msconfig, Press Enter
Click the BOOT.INI tab
Click the Check All Boot Paths button.

If you have the Recovery Console installed on the hard drive, msconfig will flag it as invalid. Don't remove it.
It's entry looks like this:
C:\CMDCONS\BOOTSECT.DAT="Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" /cmdcons

HTH

Jerry

[Jay@Dub-00]

Job done, I used the first option and edited the boot.ini. It doesn't really matter but would renaming the remaining folder cause any issues? -i.e. WINDOWS2 TO WINDOWS.

[bbearren]

If you rename the folder your machine may boot, but it won't do much of anything else.

[Jay@Dub-00]

Won't be a problem to leave it as is. - I was just being picky
Thanks for your assistance both of you.

[TheOutcaste]

Windows sets up the SystemRoot and windir variables at boot to point to the actual Windows folder. So theoretically you can rename it and change boot.ini to match, and it should work.

However, most companies, even Microsoft, use the variable only to get the correct path and name for the Windows folder, then hard code the path and name in the registry, instead of using the variable.
Just search the registry for C:\Windows2. And the search in Regedit won't find them all; it does a plain text search, and some entries are in Unicode.

So as bbearren says

Originally Posted by bbearren

If you rename the folder your machine may boot, but it won't do much of anything else.

Jerry