Solved Going back to XP from Vista

[sueandian]

G'day,

I have got lots of junk on my computor and so want to wipe my system clean by either putting XP back on or putting Vista Basic back on.

XP Problem: When trying to reboot with XP it does not see my hard drives. I have shrunk and re-partitioned my current hard drive, but still no luck. (My hard drive is not a SATA)

Vista Problem: I have no back up disk (hence trying to put XP on). I have created a new back up disc but it still has all the junk on, even when I uncheck My Pictures, My Documents, etc. from the list of what I want to back up.

I have been to many web pages and am going round in circles and it seems impossible to wipe Vista off and put a new OS on.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Sue P

 

[americancritic]

G'day,

I have got lots of junk on my computor and so want to wipe my system clean by either putting XP back on or putting Vista Basic back on.

XP Problem: When trying to reboot with XP it does not see my hard drives. I have shrunk and re-partitioned my current hard drive, but still no luck. (My hard drive is not a SATA)

Vista Problem: I have no back up disk (hence trying to put XP on). I have created a new back up disc but it still has all the junk on, even when I uncheck My Pictures, My Documents, etc. from the list of what I want to back up.

I have been to many web pages and am going round in circles and it seems impossible to wipe Vista off and put a new OS on.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

Sue P

Hello Sue and welcome to the forum.

I used to have XP now my wife enjoys it and I have fallen in love with Vista, here at the forum you can get just about everything you need to know.

Before you go back to XP lets see if there is anyway to fix your system and keep Vista I think in the long run you will be happier.

Lets start here do you have a friend or a family member that lives somewhere close to you that have the same Vista you do if so please do this.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/141820-create-recovery-disc.html

If we can find a way for you to make a set of recovery disk's, then you will be able to restore.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/194765-system-recovery-options.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/66971-system-restore.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76905-system-restore-how.html

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/76227-system-restore-disk-space.html

You can start with this and if you have any questions just post us back on this thread and we will help you, and you will see there are many experts here at the forum that will be more then happy to assit you with any of your computer problems. So while you read these we will be checking for more answers. Thanks hang in there...


Americancritic

 

[sueandian]

Thanks first of all for helping me, but still no luck:

To cut a long story short, I have downloaded the ISO file to create a recovery disk using Imgburn as per instructions. This did not work as the only option it gave me was to restore to a previous date which was only March.

I then followed the other instructions from Vista Forums and downloaded the recdisc.exe and put it in my System 32, etc. This did not work because it would not run which I need to do to enable me to save it to a disc. (PS I did not replace the recdisc in System 32 folder as there was not one in there, so I just pasted the new one in - would this make a difference)/ Could you let me know in this regard whether this is just creating another recovery disc as a recovering disc does not seem to help me get my system back to the state it was when it was new, etc.

Any ideas that I could try or am I doing something wrong.

Thanks

Sue

 

[ilikefree]

Send me a private message with your postal address and I will post you a copy of my Vista Install disc.

 

[sueandian]

Hi Ilikefree,

Thank you so much for your great offer, excuse my ignorance, but how do I send you a private email as I cannot find your email address (I could probably find it eventually but it would be quicker to ask!)

Also with regard to the vista disc you are sending - is it a recovery disc as this, I think, only allows me to go back in time a little while (system restore) and not totaly wipe my hard drive clean as the recovery disc are missing the sources/instal.wim filewhen I choose Windows Complete PC Restore

Thanks for your help and your reply.

Sue P

 

[americancritic]

Hello

Look at the very top of the page your are on. Then click the Quick link, then Private message.

Type: ilikefree
Note:
Message

then sumit reply

Hope this helps

 

[ilikefree]

No it is not a recovery disc it is a full retail disc. If you use it any software that came with your computer will be gone and you will only have Vista.
You can only reinstall the same version you had ie. Home Premium,Basic or whatever as that is the only version that your activation key will work on.Click on my name and it will give you the option to send me a private message. I just need an address to post to. Last time I did this it was to U.S.A. and cost was not worth worrying about,I think it cost me $2 but I am happy to help a fellow forum member. I am unable to send you a private message at this time as I think you need more posts to get that option. I have an e-mail address I use just for forums and if you need that I can give it to you. All I need is an address to post to, all I know is you are in Australia and I am in New Zealand.

 

[ilikefree]

Done, disc sent

 

[americancritic]

Hello ilikefree how do you send someone a full copy of a program through the net, something like that would be very useful...

 

[ilikefree]

I don't, They sent me their postal address by e-mail and I post it to them by snail mail.(New Zealand Post)

 

[richc46]

I don't, They sent me their postal address by e-mail and I post it to them by snail mail.(New Zealand Post)

That is really a nice gesture. Good going Rog.

 

[ilikefree]

It's not the first time I have done it. I would help a fellow forum member anyway I could if they asked. Isn't that the spirit of the forum? I notice you Richard go beyond the norm when helping with BSOD reports. I am unable to help with those so I do what I can in my own Kiwi way.

 

[sueandian]

Sorry for the delay in replying to posts. Internet has been intermittent. (just out of interest does anyone know whether the shutting down of the Playstation Network/hackers would be interferriing with my wireless - it seems to correspond when my sons go on their playstation)

Anyway thanks everyone for all your help so far, will keep you posted as soon as I get the disc, which I am very grateful for.

Speak soon.

I wish I knew enough about computors so that I could help others . How do you pick up on a thread, do you just peruse all threads for any new ones and doesn't that take a long time?

What is BSOD by the way.

Thanks again.

Sue P

 

[ilikefree]

Should start a new thread for this problem as people may think the new entry is about the old post and not look at it as it is marked as solved.

BSOD is blue screen of death

 

[sueandian]

No worries, will do.

 

[sueandian]

Hi everyone that helped in this issues. Thanks to ilikefree especially as I have restored my system to factory state which I could not have done without you. Absolutely brilliant, computor running alot quicker and not full with junk. Thanks so much.

What do I do now with regard to completing this thread and giving marks to your status, etc.