Hi,

a while back i installed another copy of windows to my machine thinking it would replace the current one but it didn't work. I have deleted the files but when i sart up my pc each time i have to select which XP i want to start up. Is there anyway i can get rid of this message and automatically start my current windows.

I Would think if you went back to the date you installed and do a system restore this is only a thought check first

Flatten it and start again.

surely theres another way like going into the registry and deleting it from there.

only the experienced should mess with the regstrity

Right click on 'my computer' icon on desktop
Choose properties
Choose the 'advanced tab'
Choose 'Startup & Recovery'
Click on edit button in the system startup section
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOW S
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP " /noexecute=OptIn /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP " /noexecute=OptIn /fastdetect
Look at the lines in [operating systems]
Keep the one thats equal to default= under boot loader .
In this example default is multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)
So I would delete this line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP " /noexecute=OptIn /fastdetect

ohh i'm not sure, which should i delete outof these two?

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

The second, shorter one.

Thank you, i will give that a try when i get home!