[correctly] uninstalling WinXP

[aza]

I have installed couple a monthes ago WinXP Pro on my computer, changed file system on C: disk to NTFS and so on ... And now after long rethought I've decided to turn back to Win98 SE. How should I correctly remove WinXP and install Win98 without losing any important information besides operating system (not much need in saving Favourites, My Documents, Outlook Express archives and son - I need to save all othe files on the disk except those related directly to Win).

I will appreciate your advices or points to sites where I can read this info.

TIA.

[(jj)]

You are going to have to backup all files that you want to save to another form of media, either to CDR / CDRW, Zip Disk or to another computer via a network.

You can save your Favorites and Outlook Express files if you want them. I know that Favorites will work and I'm pretty sure that if you update Outlook Express to ver 6 after you reinstall Win98se that you could use your existing OE database files again.

I've never done a reverse from XP NTFS back to Win98se FAT32 so I can't be 100% on this... but I believe you will have to start from the Win98se boot disk, and do an Fdisk to reset back to FAT32. In doing this, you will lose any information that you have on the drive.


Just my "For What It's Worth"

[cmschool]

Nod, jj is right. If you use a boot disk you can use the command fdisk and delete all the partitions that are there. Since you changed the partition to NTFS, it will be a non-dos partition so watch that when you are deleting it. After you have deleted the partitions, you can create new ones and even split up your hard drive in to different drives. Make sure you set your C: partition as the active partition. (Just easier to remember where your stuff is). I work in a computer help desk and rebuild at least one computer a week and have to fdisk the computer before I can start. Just ask if you have any further questions. :)

[aza]

Could you possibly give me the exact instructions on how to all this?..

So, I have 3 discs: C:, D: and E: ... C: is NTFS and D: and E: disks are still FAT32. WinXP 'sits' on C: disk.

I should copy all important information from all disks or from disk C: will be enough?

What should I do next after coping all important information? Launch FDISK and delete all volumes? or deleting volume C: and then recreating it back will be enough (with further formatting it and installing Win98)?

[paulselhi]

partition magic:

partition magic site (http://www.powerquest.com/partitionmagic/)

[satis]

D: and e: are fat32 partitions, yes?

Just copy anything you want to save off of your C: drive to d: or e: (assuming you have space), then run fdisk and kill the c: partition (primary partition, primary hard drive I'm sure). You'll probably need to do this from a dos boot disk for win98.

Once you deleted and recreated the partition, reboot again (off the floppy) and then format c:\.

[aza]

Aren't you supposed to delete all secondary volumes before terminating the primary one?

[Barry]

AZA is correct. FDISK will want to remove the logical partitions in order to redo the primary. You will lose all the data. Copy everything off to secondary disks - CDR / CD-RW / floppy, Zip Disk, or network to another computer and move it all over. Then use FDISK to setup your partitions again. You will need the boot floppy Win98 to do this. Partition Magic is great for setting up and moving partition sizes. Once you have the partitions set and formatted 'c' and put the boot files on it, reboot to ensure you can. Put a copy your Win98 cd's Win98 folder to one of your logical partitions i.e. 'd' and run setup from there. This will enable your system to always look for setup information in the source Win98 folder, so you won't have to keep swapping out the cd when you are loading drivers. I usually make a folder called Options, creating sub folders for Win98, Video, Sound, Network, etc. so all the drivers I need for the particular system are on the hard drive for later use if needed. Additionally, if 'c' gets screwy, it can be reformatted and setup again using everything from 'd'. Cuts resetup time significantly.