Managing OS names in OSS main window

[Kritker]

Can OSS be configured to automatically hide any visible OS partitions when I make a hidden partition visible? (I now, I'm dreaming.)

Is there any way of managing more effectively the OS names shown in the main OSS window?

I have fourteen OS entries, most labeled "Windows XP Professional (x)" where "x" is a number. Only three are current. Some I have relabeled but I don't want to relabel these manually. Some icons are displayed with a red X through them. Others, also obsolete (there are no files or folders associated with them) do not have red Xs on them. I'd like these OS names to disappear automatically (OK, I'm dreaming again.) when the underlying partition disappears.

At the very lest I'd like these partitions to display a more useful name. Idealling I'd like them to display their disk number and partition number so I can tell which partition I am selecting to boot from. Failing that I'd like them to display the Volume name I have given to the partition. Is there any way to configure OSS to do things this way?

In a boot.ini file, in line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\windows="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
is "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" a keyword or comment which I could replace with my own text and have this replacement text show up ifor this partition n the OSS main screen?

Thanks for any info.

[MudCrab]

-{ Quote: "Can OSS be configured to automatically hide any visible OS partitions when I make a hidden partition visible? (I now, I'm dreaming.)" }-
OSS won't automatically hide partitions. Each OS entry would have to have its properties set to hide the correct partitions and have the correct partition set Active.

-{ Quote: "Is there any way of managing more effectively the OS names shown in the main OSS window? " }-
You can rename the OSS menu entries to whatever you want. Just right-click on the entry in the menu and select Rename. That's all the control you have over the menu names.

-{ Quote: "I have fourteen OS entries, most labeled "Windows XP Professional (x)" where "x" is a number. <snip> I'd like these OS names to disappear automatically (OK, I'm dreaming again.) when the underlying partition disappears. " }-
You had a lot of CD entries in your BOOTWIZ.OSS file. You can only rename them, hide them or delete them. If hide them, they won't display in the menu unless you select Show Hidden from the View Menu.

OSS won't automatically remove or hide them from the list when they become inactive or unavailable.

-{ Quote: "At the very lest I'd like these partitions to display a more useful name. Idealling I'd like them to display their disk number and partition number so I can tell which partition I am selecting to boot from." }-
Are you talking about the OSS Menu Entry Name or the names of the partitions in the OS Properties->Partitions box? In the Partitions box, the partition labels should be displayed. You can't link the Menu Name to a Partition Label.

-{ Quote: "In a boot.ini file, in line:
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\windows="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
is "Microsoft Windows XP Professional" a keyword or comment which I could replace with my own text and have this replacement text show up ifor this partition n the OSS main screen?" }-
It's probably what OSS picks up on an autodetect, but changing it after OSS has setup the menu entry won't change the name in the menu. It's much easier to just rename the entry.

[Kritker]

-{ Quote: "OSS won't automatically remove or hide them from the list when they become inactive or unavailable." }-I realize that asking why is pointless but, once a partition is gone and has a red X on its icon in the main OSS window, what can be gained by leaving it there? So why not expect OSS to remove it? I have also noticed that some icons, for OS partitions that are no longer active, don't have red Xs. ANy idea why this might be? When do they get red Xs and when don't they?

-{ Quote: "Are you talking about the OSS Menu Entry Name or the names of the partitions in the OS Properties->Partitions box? In the Partitions box, the partition labels should be displayed. You can't link the Menu Name to a Partition Label." }-Actually, I find neither entirely satisfying. The menu Entry Names in the Main window are too similarly named to allow me to tell, easily, which is which. It is sometimes difficult to tell to which partition, in the OS Properties->Partitions box a particular name belongs. And I often have trouble telling to which physical partition a partion name in the list belongs. If they are hidden they are labelled with a disk #, partition # (whic is great) but if they are not then they have a drive letter instead which isn't always helpful.

I could delete, rename these partitions every time I copy one partition to another, oops, to the free space I had to create by first deleting another, or restore a backe up image, but I feel that I shouldn't have to. It's too much extra work. I don't like being forced, by my utilites, to do unnecessary bookeeping which they could easily do for me.

Instead I have taken to making each of my physical OS partitions a slightly different size just so I can readily determine which is which in the Properties listing. Otherwise it just takes too much hunting around through the OS properties listings to be sure which one I am enabling for booting. If I had a static dual or triple boot system it might be one thing, but I have one production OS partition I like to use and a couple for development and testing that are frequently replaced.

Anyway, MudCrab, I want to thank you for all your help in the past few days. You have really helped me to understand what is happening with OSS and Disk Director and I greatly appreciate it.:)