How do I remove Windows Vista?

Scottie P · 06-20-2006, 04:13 PM

Hello,

I've tried to install Windows Vista dual boot on my current system on a spare drive. The install programme hung for over a day before I had to press the reset button as it had well and truly hung.

Now when I boot it pops up a window allowing me to choose to load a previous version of windows (XP) - which works fine or to do a Windows Install roll back which also crashes back to dos or reboots the system completely. If I run the Vista disc and boot from it - it goes into setup then reboots without doing anything.

I've tried XP recovery with Fixmbr and fixboot but neither have removed the startup menu to allow XP to boot normally.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should try next? The vista install has put in a couple of temp directories and and a few other files on my boot disk - I'm thinking about trying to delete them all.

Suggestions welcomed - thanks!

Scottie P

darkwish · 06-20-2006, 04:58 PM

In XP, go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced ->Start up and Recovery Settings

In the "Default operating system" selection box, chose Windows XP. Click on "OK". From now on, it should boot XP by default.

If you want to be thorough, in that same screen, you can click on "Edit" to edit your boot.ini manually and delete the Vista entry.

Good luck.

sorrow · 06-20-2006, 05:05 PM

I'm not sure that will do it, i could be wrong and i haven't tried, but if vista is managing the bootloader then xp, won't be able to change anything, and or vista won't even show in the window your talking about.

I may be trying this when i get home soon, but i'm thinking you need to start up xp from the cd go into the repair console and use bootcfg /rebuild

then you should be able to reboot into xp, and delete the vista partition.

This might be a round about way, but i haven't tried yet either.

*polonyc2* · 06-20-2006, 05:08 PM

extreme method---reformat your hard drive completely and re-install XP...that way you'll ensure the complete removal of Vista

http://dban.sourceforge.net/

BKA · 06-20-2006, 05:10 PM

This is usually how I do it. I boot into XP and either format or delete the partition of the unwanted OS(in your case Vista), through computer management>disk management. Then I open up msconfig, go to the boot.ini tab and click check boot path. It will recognize that Vista is no longer there and make the corrections to the boot.ini file so you don't have to edit it and screw something up. (Like I have done in the past). Hope this helps.

Scottie P · 06-20-2006, 05:22 PM

Unfortunately since it didn't finish installing it didn't load files onto the partition I told it to (a different disk to the boot drive, which SATA) - I selected a PATA drive to use. Before of this there is no partition to delete.

The suggest to select XP as the operating system didn't work either because XP only sees itself.

The is a backup boot sector file in my boot directory: bootsect.bak - can I rename this to something else?

Worst Case I will have to reformat my C: and reinstall but I'd really rather not .... it's such a pain in the .....

Thanks for the ideas so far - please keep them coming!

Cheers
Scottie P

BKA · 06-20-2006, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scottie P

Unfortunately since it didn't finish installing it didn't load files onto the partition I told it to (a different disk to the boot drive, which SATA) - I selected a PATA drive to use. Before of this there is no partition to delete.

The suggest to select XP as the operating system didn't work either because XP only sees itself.

The is a backup boot sector file in my boot directory: bootsect.bak - can I rename this to something else?

Worst Case I will have to reformat my C: and reinstall but I'd really rather not .... it's such a pain in the .....

Thanks for the ideas so far - please keep them coming!

Cheers
Scottie P

So if there is no partition, does it show unallocated space for that drive in disk management? When you click check boot paths in msconfig, what happens?

Scottie P · 06-20-2006, 05:53 PM

Well there is no unallocated space - it looks like the set up files have gone into a sub directory in my windows directory which is not ideal. In Msconfig it says to manage windows vista boots you need to run BCDEDIT.EXE but I can't find that on my pc or on the install disk. this isn't looking good - I'm starting to back up my c drive

Scottie P

06-20-2006, 04:13 PM	#1
Scottie P I'm no expert Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 407	How do I remove Windows Vista? Hello, I've tried to install Windows Vista dual boot on my current system on a spare drive. The install programme hung for over a day before I had to press the reset button as it had well and truly hung. Now when I boot it pops up a window allowing me to choose to load a previous version of windows (XP) - which works fine or to do a Windows Install roll back which also crashes back to dos or reboots the system completely. If I run the Vista disc and boot from it - it goes into setup then reboots without doing anything. I've tried XP recovery with Fixmbr and fixboot but neither have removed the startup menu to allow XP to boot normally. Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I should try next? The vista install has put in a couple of temp directories and and a few other files on my boot disk - I'm thinking about trying to delete them all. Suggestions welcomed - thanks! Scottie P
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06-20-2006, 04:58 PM	#2
darkwish I need a job. Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 677	In XP, go to Control Panel -> System -> Advanced ->Start up and Recovery Settings In the "Default operating system" selection box, chose Windows XP. Click on "OK". From now on, it should boot XP by default. If you want to be thorough, in that same screen, you can click on "Edit" to edit your boot.ini manually and delete the Vista entry. Good luck.
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06-20-2006, 05:05 PM	#3
sorrow 010011100100100101001110 Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,243	I'm not sure that will do it, i could be wrong and i haven't tried, but if vista is managing the bootloader then xp, won't be able to change anything, and or vista won't even show in the window your talking about. I may be trying this when i get home soon, but i'm thinking you need to start up xp from the cd go into the repair console and use bootcfg /rebuild then you should be able to reboot into xp, and delete the vista partition. This might be a round about way, but i haven't tried yet either. __________________ A64 X2 4800+ (Toledo) A8N32-SLI-Deluxe PQI 2x1gb (2.5/4/4/8/1T) WD 150gb 10,000rpm Raptor eVGA 8800GTX Asus Xonar DX Thermaltake PurePower 560w Gigabyte Aurora Case Dell UltraSharp 2405FPW 24" LCD My site in progress: http://www.average-geek.com
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06-20-2006, 05:08 PM	#4
polonyc2 Helter Skelter Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: New York City Posts: 7,439	extreme method---reformat your hard drive completely and re-install XP...that way you'll ensure the complete removal of Vista http://dban.sourceforge.net/ __________________ ASUS Maximus Formula (X38) *** EVGA 8800GT Superclocked 512MB Intel E8400 * Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro G.Skill 4 GB (2 X 2 GB) DDR2 800 4-4-4-12 * Western Digital RE2 500 GB WD5001ABYS Lian Li PC-A70B (black) * Corsair HX620 AuzenTech Auzen X-Fi Prelude 7.1 * Creative Inspire P5800 5.1 speakers Lite-On DVD-RW w/LightScribe LH-20A1L-06 * Sony GDM-F520 21' CRT monitor (19.8' viewable) Vista Business 64-bit w/SP1 * standard 3.5" floppy drive Microsoft Laser Mouse 6000 *** Microsoft Wired Keyboard 500 (Black)
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06-20-2006, 05:10 PM	#5
BKA Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 2,093	This is usually how I do it. I boot into XP and either format or delete the partition of the unwanted OS(in your case Vista), through computer management>disk management. Then I open up msconfig, go to the boot.ini tab and click check boot path. It will recognize that Vista is no longer there and make the corrections to the boot.ini file so you don't have to edit it and screw something up. (Like I have done in the past). Hope this helps. __________________ DFI LT X48-T2R Q9450@3.2 2-3870(CF) 4GB Patriot Viper Vista x64 ULT
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06-20-2006, 05:22 PM	#6
Scottie P I'm no expert Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 407	Unfortunately since it didn't finish installing it didn't load files onto the partition I told it to (a different disk to the boot drive, which SATA) - I selected a PATA drive to use. Before of this there is no partition to delete. The suggest to select XP as the operating system didn't work either because XP only sees itself. The is a backup boot sector file in my boot directory: bootsect.bak - can I rename this to something else? Worst Case I will have to reformat my C: and reinstall but I'd really rather not .... it's such a pain in the ..... Thanks for the ideas so far - please keep them coming! Cheers Scottie P
(Offline)

06-20-2006, 05:53 PM	#8
Scottie P I'm no expert Join Date: May 2003 Location: UK Posts: 407	Well there is no unallocated space - it looks like the set up files have gone into a sub directory in my windows directory which is not ideal. In Msconfig it says to manage windows vista boots you need to run BCDEDIT.EXE but I can't find that on my pc or on the install disk. this isn't looking good - I'm starting to back up my c drive Scottie P
(Offline)

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