XP Partition and OS Questions

External Since: Feb 01, 2006 Posts: 15

I posted this on XP General, but thought it might be more appropriate here,
so please bear with me.

While using an XP Reinstallation Disk (OEM) for my Dell Dimension 4600 I
found two partitions on my 40 GB drive, one large NTFS and one small FAT32,
plus 8 MB of unallocated space. I deleted the two partitions and created one
new NTFS. When I finished I still had the 8 MB of unllocated space. Bios said
the new partition was maximum size. I only want a single partition.

I reinstalled Windows XP Pro and SP2 (from a disk), and downloaded Norton
Anti-Virus 2004, plus all Norton updates (kept repeating until it found
none). I then tried to download Microsoft updates for XP but couldn’t do it –
can’t download Active X either.

Questions:

1. On bootup, XP shows two OS's (identical). When I highlight the second it
says it can't access it, but why is it still showing?

2. Windows never asked for an activation number. Why not?

2. Why the 8 MB of free space? (I have a 40 GB hard drive.)

3. Why can’t I download Microsoft updates? (I disabled Norton and
Earthlink’s Pop-up Blocker.

External Since: Mar 12, 2005 Posts: 482

71A6729B-9AE8-42EB-85C2-43F9A740E570.TakeThisOut@microsoft.com,
Greatoutdoors <noname.TakeThisOut@net.com> wrote:
> I posted this on XP General, but thought it might be more
> appropriate here,
> so please bear with me.
>
> While using an XP Reinstallation Disk (OEM) for my Dell
> Dimension 4600 I
> found two partitions on my 40 GB drive, one large NTFS and
> one small FAT32,
> plus 8 MB of unallocated space. I deleted the two partitions
> and created one
> new NTFS. When I finished I still had the 8 MB of unllocated
> space. Bios said the new partition was maximum size. I only
> want a single partition.
>
> I reinstalled Windows XP Pro and SP2 (from a disk), and
> downloaded Norton Anti-Virus 2004, plus all Norton updates
> (kept repeating until it found
> none). I then tried to download Microsoft updates for XP but
> couldn’t do it – can’t download Active X either.
>
> Questions:
>
> 1. On bootup, XP shows two OS's (identical). When I
> highlight the second it
> says it can't access it, but why is it still showing?
>
> 2. Windows never asked for an activation number. Why not?
>
> 2. Why the 8 MB of free space? (I have a 40 GB hard drive.)
>
> 3. Why can’t I download Microsoft updates? (I disabled
> Norton and Earthlink’s Pop-up Blocker.

1. Check C:\Boot.ini and see what it shows for entries. Since
you formatted your hard drive there should only be one
operating system listed.

If you just want to fix the problem, do the following:
Go to Start -> Run and enter msconfig in the Open box. Click
OK.
Click on the Boot.ini tab.
Hit the "Check all boot paths" button.
You should be asked if you wish to delete the invalid entry.

If you're looking for a second opinion on this issue, open your
boot.ini file and copy and paste the contents into a response
to this message. I'll take a look at it and get back to you.

2. You didn't have to activate because you used an OEM XP
installation CD that's been customized by Dell to include a
volume license key in this file, X:\I386\winnt.sif (where X is
the drive letter associated with your CD Drive). When you use
this CD on a Dell computer you don't have to enter a CD key or
activate. Use the CD on another companies PC and you need to
enter a CD key which can't be the key on the sticker that's on
your computer. Use a non-Dell issued OEM CD on your computer
and you'd have to enter the key from the sticker. I may be
mistaken but I think this would mean you'd have to activate
over the phone. Bottom line, don't lose that CD. Better yet,
make a copy and put the original in a safe place.

3. First off, the small FAT32 partition probably held Dell
diagnostic files. Removing this partition simply means you now
have to insert a CD that came with your system if you want to
run the Dell diagnostic programs.

As for the 8MB of unallocated space, I believe that when you
format a drive NTFS Windows sets aside a small amount of space
to be used if the drive is ever converted from a basic disk to
a dynamic disk.

4. Go to Control Panel -> Internet Options and check what your
settings for the Internet Zone are on the Security page. Look
to see what the restrictions are for downloading and installing
ActiveX controls by hitting the "Custom Level" button. You can
reset to Medium level and see if you can access Windows Update.

If you're still unable to access updates, you might want to ask
for assistance here:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windowsupdate

Good luck

Nepatsfan