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Beginners Guides: Dual OS Installation of WindowsXP 32-bit/64-bit
Beginners Guides: Dual OS Installation of WindowsXP 32-bit/64-bit - PCSTATS
The availability of 64-bit CPUs has made it possible to run a fully 64-bit operating system and processor, but it's not always so convenient when it comes to software applications or games.
Filed under: Beginners Guides Published:  Author: 
External Mfg. Website: Microsoft Dec 17 2005   M. Dowler  
Home > Reviews > Beginners Guides > Microsoft WindowsXP x64 Edition

Editing the Boot.ini file

First, delete the entire line with 'Microsoft Windows x64' in it.

Now go to the line which starts with 'DEFAULT='

default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WIN64

The 'multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)' section of this line indicates where on your system's physical drive controllers and hard drives Windows XP should look to find this particular operating system. Currently it is set to look in partition(2), which is the D: drive where Windows XP x64 Edition resides. Since we want to delete the operating system, this is going to have to change.

Take note of the 'multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)' statement in the line containing 'Microsoft Windows XP'; you want to change the values in the 'DEFAULT=' line to these.

Your fixed BOOT.INI file should read like this:

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

Now you can safely format the partition containing Windows XP x64 Edition for reuse. If you have data on the partition that you do not wish to lose, delete the D:\windows folder instead, remove any essential data from the d:\program files directory and then delete it too. This will remove the bulk of the XP x64 files from your system. The next time you reboot, you should automatically be loaded into Windows XP 32-bit.

If you'd like to keep Windows XP x64 Edition installed, but want the 32-bit version of XP to be the default operating system selected at bootup, open the BOOT.INI file as described above and replace the multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1) settings of the 'default=' line with those of the 'Microsoft Windows x64' line. Your BOOT.INI file should now look something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\Windows="Microsoft Windows x64 " /fastdetect

Microsoft Windows XP 32-bit will now load by default.

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Contents of Article: Microsoft WindowsXP x64 Edition
 Pg 1.  Beginners Guides: Dual OS Installation of WindowsXP 32-bit/64-bit
 Pg 2.  Why do I need a second partition?
 Pg 3.  Installing Windows XP x64 Edition as a dual-boot
 Pg 4.  Dual OS Installation 101
 Pg 5.  Enjoy your dual 32-bit/64-bit system!
 Pg 6.  Un-doing a 32/64-bit dual-boot
 Pg 7.  — Editing the Boot.ini file

 
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