Vista - Uninstalling Windows Vista by formatting?

I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it and I
know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I thought to
burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the requirements,
it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

To backup... you can use a jump drive to backup your files, or a cd or other
method that you already mentioned.

As to formating your hard drive, windows xp setup will format your hard
drive for you. Just put the xp cd in and follow the on screen instructions.
--
Robert Firth






"Bulletproof" wrote:

> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it and I
> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I thought to
> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the requirements,
> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

Bulletproff--

1) It would help to have a bit more info. Is your HD divided into
partitions, or just one C:\ where you upgraded XP to Vista? Exactly what
Nero CD do you have?

2) Do you have a Windows XP CD? Because if you do it will do three things
you would like to do. 1) It will format. 2) It's self bootable--all these
people that type you have to set the boot order to do a
reinstall I see all the time on these MSFT groups are wrong about
that--that's a repair install not a reinstall--2 diff things. 3) When you
reinstall XP you will have the chance to divide it into drives, and I
recommend you divide into 3-4 drives. That way you can install Vista on
one, easily dual boot, and then access the files and folders on your XP
desktop from the Vista desktop when you like by typing C:\Documents and
Settings\Bulletproof Profile Name\Desktop into the run box or a combo
taskbar address bar run box (right click taskbar>toolbars>address>unlock
taskbar>slide it out.

When you dual boot, you have the convenience of formatting from your XP
drive as more Vista builds release by typing diskmgmt.msc into run and right
clicking the Drive you target to use for Vista. You can also save files and
folders you created in the existing Vista build by dragging them into a
folder and putting it safely on your XP or another drive you won't be
formatting to install your next Vista build onto.

*Tip* to save time and space on dual boot: You can drag a shortcut from the
XP desktop or even the XP cmd prompt from XP to use from the Vista desktop.

2) Do you have Nero some version on a CD? Is your CD only Nero Express
which you can use, but doesn't it have Nero Burning Rom as well? Nero
Express is fine though because you'll get to the same place which is to burn
that Windows.old folder or whatever you like. If you do you have burning
software--so you can back up to some media or another HD if you had one that
is external. You can use the Backup feature to backup Vista if you want,
but apparently you are not happy with it as an upgrade but might be on a
clean install. Make sure that you install all of the Nero burning apps--the
others are not that important that are thrown into versions of Nero. You
apparently want to back up the Windows.old folder contents which contain
some of your XP material, so that should not be difficult. I have no idea
if you plan on backing up with Nero and a DVD writer or a CD writer.

3) If you can't find Nero, install the Windows Installer Cleanup Utility to
get rid of orphaned files and reg entries that might be in the way of your
uninstall or install and select any Nero or Ahead entries and then reinstall
whatever it is Nero you have on that CD that you didn't specify that has to
do with burning in Nero.

Windows Installer Cleanup Utility:

Description of the Windows Installer CleanUp Utility
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290301

Nero also has an uninstall tool that you can run to help get a clean
uninstall on their site. It's called mysteriously, exotically, and by the
MSFTietechinista sophisticated name the Nero Clean tool.
http://ww2.nero.com/nero6/eng/General_Clean_Tool.html

I would hope that will get you Nero Express and/or Burning Rom, and InCD,
the convenient packet writer Nero has that allows you to drag and drop as if
your CD or DVD were a floppy, but if not you can google and there are a
number of CD/DVD free software.

Good luck,

CH








"Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:62185FC1-C07B-401F-80CF-55647ABF6C2A@microsoft.com...
>I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it and
>I
> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I thought
> to
> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
> requirements,
> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

I cant install windows xp. Whenever i click it, it says that my windows are
newer than xp. If i format, my xp cd is going to work for me. That's why i
wanna know how to format my hard drive.

"firth" wrote:

> To backup... you can use a jump drive to backup your files, or a cd or other
> method that you already mentioned.
>
> As to formating your hard drive, windows xp setup will format your hard
> drive for you. Just put the xp cd in and follow the on screen instructions.
> --
> Robert Firth
>
>
>
>
>
>
> "Bulletproof" wrote:
>
> > I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it and I
> > know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> > reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> > format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> > files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I thought to
> > burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the requirements,
> > it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> > So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

i have my xp and vista installed only on 1 drive which is c:/ and i also have
my h:/ drive which i dont use since theres a recovery folder in and 90% space
is used by it but i cant view the hidden files on the recovery folder. When i
launch my xp cd a message comes which says ' this program is blocked due to
compatibilty issues' and if i click details it says that the version of the
windows on my computer is newer than the version on the cd. I tried doing a
system recovery by pressing f10 when the computer restarts. No action is done
by it. i have nero 7 ultra edition btw and i dont think its necessary since i
want to install a clean xp on my computer.


"Bulletproof" wrote:

> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it and I
> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I thought to
> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the requirements,
> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

You must boot with the XP cd.

"Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:035BB917-3887-4B75-AB2F-29178B056ABE@microsoft.com...
>I cant install windows xp. Whenever i click it, it says that my windows are
> newer than xp. If i format, my xp cd is going to work for me. That's why i
> wanna know how to format my hard drive.
>
> "firth" wrote:
>
>> To backup... you can use a jump drive to backup your files, or a cd or
>> other
>> method that you already mentioned.
>>
>> As to formating your hard drive, windows xp setup will format your hard
>> drive for you. Just put the xp cd in and follow the on screen
>> instructions.
>> --
>> Robert Firth
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Bulletproof" wrote:
>>
>> > I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it
>> > and I
>> > know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
>> > reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
>> > format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for
>> > my
>> > files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I
>> > thought to
>> > burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
>> > requirements,
>> > it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
>> > So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

Just boot with the XP cd and do a clean installation.

"Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3AFED7A9-23E4-4697-A124-3272776C8DCE@microsoft.com...
>i have my xp and vista installed only on 1 drive which is c:/ and i also
>have
> my h:/ drive which i dont use since theres a recovery folder in and 90%
> space
> is used by it but i cant view the hidden files on the recovery folder.
> When i
> launch my xp cd a message comes which says ' this program is blocked due
> to
> compatibilty issues' and if i click details it says that the version of
> the
> windows on my computer is newer than the version on the cd. I tried doing
> a
> system recovery by pressing f10 when the computer restarts. No action is
> done
> by it. i have nero 7 ultra edition btw and i dont think its necessary
> since i
> want to install a clean xp on my computer.
>
>
> "Bulletproof" wrote:
>
>> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it
>> and I
>> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
>> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
>> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
>> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I
>> thought to
>> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
>> requirements,
>> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
>> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

1) Interesting tidbit of information for late release "I have my x and vista
installed only on 1 drive which is C:/"--You just installed both Operating
Systems on one drive and are surprised that you have problems? Don't do
that. Don't ever install two operating systems on one drive and while a
parellel install is used to a different folder to retrieve data as someone
has pointed out in this group a little earlier, don't use that on the same
drive. Give the other operating system another drive.

I would think you would have overwritten XP, and would have had conflicts
with the bootloaders by parking them both on the same drive. I would also
think when you put Vista and XP on the same drive you would have entered
yourself into Dante's Circles of Total Quintissential Hell and have all
kinds of permissions hassles, because of the way UAC permissions are
architected in Vista and problems with access on XP from Vista to certain
folders like My Documents in XP.

To quote Rick aka Nutcase Rodgers on the earlier thread Vista and XP on C:\

"Not recommended, at the least they should be on separate volumes/partitions
on the same physical drive."

To quote Colin Barnhost since I got into quoting mode:

"You may see C: when you are in each OS, but they will not be referring to
the same physical partition. Each may see its own partition as the C: drive
when running."

2) As to the recovery folder, you can probably see the contents by typing
"control folders" into the run box on Vista>View> and uncheck "hide
protected OS files" and put a button in "show hidden folders."

3) In my experience doing recovery from a recovery partition or the junk
recovery disk OEM's give you because MSFT and OEMs play a game with you when
you buy OEM and deny you a retail CD or soon a DVD, isn't going to be
successful the vast majority of times you try to use either the OEM media or
the recovery partition.

4) When you said you were clicking something, I wondered what???

5) I do not understand why it won't let you install Windows XP (which is
why so many of us have said to boot using the XP CD and do a clean install
and I advised dividing your HD into four drives.
Try hitting <Shift>+<F10> to open a "DOS" window and ran the Format command
from there.

http://www.computerhope.com/formathl.htm

CH


"Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:3AFED7A9-23E4-4697-A124-3272776C8DCE@microsoft.com...
>i have my xp and vista installed only on 1 drive which is c:/ and i also
>have
> my h:/ drive which i dont use since theres a recovery folder in and 90%
> space
> is used by it but i cant view the hidden files on the recovery folder.
> When i
> launch my xp cd a message comes which says ' this program is blocked due
> to
> compatibilty issues' and if i click details it says that the version of
> the
> windows on my computer is newer than the version on the cd. I tried doing
> a
> system recovery by pressing f10 when the computer restarts. No action is
> done
> by it. i have nero 7 ultra edition btw and i dont think its necessary
> since i
> want to install a clean xp on my computer.
>
>
> "Bulletproof" wrote:
>
>> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it
>> and I
>> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
>> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
>> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
>> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I
>> thought to
>> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
>> requirements,
>> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
>> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.

i get your point which is not to install 2 os in 1 drive but i had no choice
since i had only 1 available drive. What should i write on command prompt to
launch xp setup?

"Chad Harris" wrote:

> 1) Interesting tidbit of information for late release "I have my x and vista
> installed only on 1 drive which is C:/"--You just installed both Operating
> Systems on one drive and are surprised that you have problems? Don't do
> that. Don't ever install two operating systems on one drive and while a
> parellel install is used to a different folder to retrieve data as someone
> has pointed out in this group a little earlier, don't use that on the same
> drive. Give the other operating system another drive.
>
> I would think you would have overwritten XP, and would have had conflicts
> with the bootloaders by parking them both on the same drive. I would also
> think when you put Vista and XP on the same drive you would have entered
> yourself into Dante's Circles of Total Quintissential Hell and have all
> kinds of permissions hassles, because of the way UAC permissions are
> architected in Vista and problems with access on XP from Vista to certain
> folders like My Documents in XP.
>
> To quote Rick aka Nutcase Rodgers on the earlier thread Vista and XP on C:\
>
> "Not recommended, at the least they should be on separate volumes/partitions
> on the same physical drive."
>
> To quote Colin Barnhost since I got into quoting mode:
>
> "You may see C: when you are in each OS, but they will not be referring to
> the same physical partition. Each may see its own partition as the C: drive
> when running."
>
> 2) As to the recovery folder, you can probably see the contents by typing
> "control folders" into the run box on Vista>View> and uncheck "hide
> protected OS files" and put a button in "show hidden folders."
>
> 3) In my experience doing recovery from a recovery partition or the junk
> recovery disk OEM's give you because MSFT and OEMs play a game with you when
> you buy OEM and deny you a retail CD or soon a DVD, isn't going to be
> successful the vast majority of times you try to use either the OEM media or
> the recovery partition.
>
> 4) When you said you were clicking something, I wondered what???
>
> 5) I do not understand why it won't let you install Windows XP (which is
> why so many of us have said to boot using the XP CD and do a clean install
> and I advised dividing your HD into four drives.
> Try hitting <Shift>+<F10> to open a "DOS" window and ran the Format command
> from there.
>
> http://www.computerhope.com/formathl.htm
>
> CH
>
>
> "Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:3AFED7A9-23E4-4697-A124-3272776C8DCE@microsoft.com...
> >i have my xp and vista installed only on 1 drive which is c:/ and i also
> >have
> > my h:/ drive which i dont use since theres a recovery folder in and 90%
> > space
> > is used by it but i cant view the hidden files on the recovery folder.
> > When i
> > launch my xp cd a message comes which says ' this program is blocked due
> > to
> > compatibilty issues' and if i click details it says that the version of
> > the
> > windows on my computer is newer than the version on the cd. I tried doing
> > a
> > system recovery by pressing f10 when the computer restarts. No action is
> > done
> > by it. i have nero 7 ultra edition btw and i dont think its necessary
> > since i
> > want to install a clean xp on my computer.
> >
> >
> > "Bulletproof" wrote:
> >
> >> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it
> >> and I
> >> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> >> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> >> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> >> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I
> >> thought to
> >> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
> >> requirements,
> >> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> >> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.
>
>
>

I typed in format in command promt but it says 'required parameter missing'
What is that suppose to mean?.

"Bulletproof" wrote:

> i get your point which is not to install 2 os in 1 drive but i had no choice
> since i had only 1 available drive. What should i write on command prompt to
> launch xp setup?
>
> "Chad Harris" wrote:
>
> > 1) Interesting tidbit of information for late release "I have my x and vista
> > installed only on 1 drive which is C:/"--You just installed both Operating
> > Systems on one drive and are surprised that you have problems? Don't do
> > that. Don't ever install two operating systems on one drive and while a
> > parellel install is used to a different folder to retrieve data as someone
> > has pointed out in this group a little earlier, don't use that on the same
> > drive. Give the other operating system another drive.
> >
> > I would think you would have overwritten XP, and would have had conflicts
> > with the bootloaders by parking them both on the same drive. I would also
> > think when you put Vista and XP on the same drive you would have entered
> > yourself into Dante's Circles of Total Quintissential Hell and have all
> > kinds of permissions hassles, because of the way UAC permissions are
> > architected in Vista and problems with access on XP from Vista to certain
> > folders like My Documents in XP.
> >
> > To quote Rick aka Nutcase Rodgers on the earlier thread Vista and XP on C:\
> >
> > "Not recommended, at the least they should be on separate volumes/partitions
> > on the same physical drive."
> >
> > To quote Colin Barnhost since I got into quoting mode:
> >
> > "You may see C: when you are in each OS, but they will not be referring to
> > the same physical partition. Each may see its own partition as the C: drive
> > when running."
> >
> > 2) As to the recovery folder, you can probably see the contents by typing
> > "control folders" into the run box on Vista>View> and uncheck "hide
> > protected OS files" and put a button in "show hidden folders."
> >
> > 3) In my experience doing recovery from a recovery partition or the junk
> > recovery disk OEM's give you because MSFT and OEMs play a game with you when
> > you buy OEM and deny you a retail CD or soon a DVD, isn't going to be
> > successful the vast majority of times you try to use either the OEM media or
> > the recovery partition.
> >
> > 4) When you said you were clicking something, I wondered what???
> >
> > 5) I do not understand why it won't let you install Windows XP (which is
> > why so many of us have said to boot using the XP CD and do a clean install
> > and I advised dividing your HD into four drives.
> > Try hitting <Shift>+<F10> to open a "DOS" window and ran the Format command
> > from there.
> >
> > http://www.computerhope.com/formathl.htm
> >
> > CH
> >
> >
> > "Bulletproof" <Bulletproof@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:3AFED7A9-23E4-4697-A124-3272776C8DCE@microsoft.com...
> > >i have my xp and vista installed only on 1 drive which is c:/ and i also
> > >have
> > > my h:/ drive which i dont use since theres a recovery folder in and 90%
> > > space
> > > is used by it but i cant view the hidden files on the recovery folder.
> > > When i
> > > launch my xp cd a message comes which says ' this program is blocked due
> > > to
> > > compatibilty issues' and if i click details it says that the version of
> > > the
> > > windows on my computer is newer than the version on the cd. I tried doing
> > > a
> > > system recovery by pressing f10 when the computer restarts. No action is
> > > done
> > > by it. i have nero 7 ultra edition btw and i dont think its necessary
> > > since i
> > > want to install a clean xp on my computer.
> > >
> > >
> > > "Bulletproof" wrote:
> > >
> > >> I have upgraded my windows XP to Windows Vista. I want to uninstall it
> > >> and I
> > >> know it that the only way to do it is to format the hard drive and then
> > >> reinstalling the Windows XP. The only thing is that I don't know how to
> > >> format the hard drive. And is there any way I can create a back up for my
> > >> files which are in Windows.old folder. I have Nero Express cd so I
> > >> thought to
> > >> burn my files on cd but when I install Nero and accept all the
> > >> requirements,
> > >> it vanishes and I don't know what to do?
> > >> So how can I format the drive and how to create a back up for my files.
> >
> >
> >