# I have 2 operating systems on one pc...only I dont **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 26, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453 "2005-09-26T05:59:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/1 "2005-09-26T05:59:06Z")
whenever I boot up I get asked which system it wants me to run, xp of microsoft windows, last time I checked there was no os called ms windows. yes i just reinstalled xp, yes I searched but no luck with the hamster flail how do I get rid of the second os or just bump the 30 second timer down to a couple secs instead? ---
**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/2 "2005-09-26T07:05:10Z")
If you can successfully boot into XP, go to Start/Settings/Control Panel/System/Advanced/Startup and Recovery/Settings There you will see a drop down for default operating system. Select the one you want to default to. You can also change the time-out value in the “Time to display” option. Deselect it if you don’t want to be prompted. Alternatively, you could edit the boot.ini file. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/3 "2005-09-26T07:06:57Z")
Edit your c:\boot.ini (assuming c: is your boot drive…change drive letter appropriately). You may have to “attrib -s -h -r c:\boot.ini” in order to do so (you should probably “attrib +s +h +r c:\boot.ini” afterwards to put it back to readonly, hidden, and system). You want to remove the extra lines you don’t want from the “[operating systems]” section, plus change the “timeout=30” line to whatever you want it to be. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 7:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/4 "2005-09-26T07:08:00Z")
Optionally, do what **xash** said before I said what I said. ---
**Author:** ![Nanoda](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Nanoda](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nanoda)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/5 "2005-09-26T15:33:46Z")
In XP, you can edit the boot.ini file _without_ all the usual mucking with attrib if you go to System -\> Advanced -\> Startup&Recover/Settings -\> Edit. (Probably better directions [here](http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;289022).) ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/6 "2005-09-26T17:13:19Z")
Optionally, do what **Nanoda** said after **Xash** said what **Nanoda** said. ---
**Author:** ![Critical1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Critical1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical1)\ **Post date:** [September 26, 2005, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/7 "2005-09-26T17:52:05Z")
thanks Guys, I knew it could be done but couldnt for the life of me remember how. ---
**Author:** ![czygabe77](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e495f1/32.png) [@czygabe77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/czygabe77)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-2-operating-systems-on-one-pc-only-i-dont/323453/8 "2005-09-27T07:51:02Z")
save all essential files on cd or ghost them to a new hard drive, then erase the drive. reinstall windows xp with your password code. you will save many many many problems from happening in the future. use norton.