WindowsXP problem.

[aryan57]

Help! I am stuck. While using the Repair facility on the XP disk, I accidently put a new copy of XP on my PC so now it boots to the new copy. I now have 2 copies of XP on my machine and it will only boot to the new copy. I cant use the Restore function because I am on the new XP copy, so there is nothing older than yesterday. Fortunately I have an old Compaq that I am now using.

How can I delete the new XP copy and get back to usingthe old copy of XP? Do I need to get everything off of the hard disk and format everything again?

[deano]

Try going to the `Control Panel`
Click on `Programs`
Then click on `View Updates`

If there is an update for windows xp(it should be dated the day u installed it)
then delete it and it will go back to the old version

I have done this several times with IE9 and 10, cos i prefer the old IE8
But sometimes i get problems and have to update, so then i go to updates and delete the IE9 and it goes back to IE8

Hope this helps

[Richard Moss]

Alternatively it may be possible to change the BIOS settings if you catch it on the boot up (I have to press ESC on my HP but different PCs use different buttons). You may then be able to select which version of XP it boots up

[aryan57]

Thank you gents, advice was appreciated. I am a bit further forward this morning. Got rid of the Dual Boot feature, (it was the Boot.ini file) and am now back where I was before putting the extra copy of XP on.Cant boot in Safe mode, it just goes around in a loop until it stops with a Blue screen and an error message. Seems I have a corrupted or missing file, an MS bulletin referrs to this common windows problem. My backup hard drive has failed to work also. Just when I needed it most.

Still, with all this, I cant complain, this is my first major Windows problem in 8 years so I have been very lucky. I now know more about how Win XP works than I ever wanted to know. I will get there. Thanks again.

[Bert3]

Good you got it going again..... gives you a fighting chance ...

First problem in 8 years ... that'll be XP ... that's why MS stopping supporting it in the hope you'll switch to a newer machine locked to W8 and it's wonderful UEFI Boot compatability ("No you can't boot up YOUR machine from YOUR recovery discs. The machine says NO") ..... a system designed to need tech support from the off

I always keep linux on a pendrive handy these days

[aryan57]

("No you can't boot up YOUR machine from YOUR recovery discs. The machine says NO") ..... a system designed to need tech support from the off)

You mean that people would actually do this sort of thing as a business practice? I am shocked (not)

(I always keep linux on a pendrive handy these days)

Been looking into things and came across an article on using Linux to solve my problem using that exact tequnique, keeping a Pen drive handy. Will rememberthat.