Hello.

Can anyone tell me how I can uninstall a new (i.e. not an update from previous version) copy of Windows XP? If I just need to format the disk Windows is on, how can I do this? I cant get to command prompt that will let me format.

Thanks for any help,

Jonathan.

- If its a borked install put the winxp cd in let it run, clicky (this works well)



Or if you just wanna format:

- Put the disk in another pc and format & partition with disk manager (admin tools).

/

- Use a bootcd/floppy (google) http://www.ubcd4win.com/

hth

There is a problem that can develop where even though you computer boots and starts installing the install can repeatedly fail to finish installing. I have just sorted this out for a friend after it tried three times while I was there and each time failed at the same point. What you need is something like the Ultimate CD boot disk, a CD that will allow you to format your hard disk but includes a lot of other utilities. I have used a copy of hirens boot disk but it does contain a *lot* of warez and is thus not legal

I want to format the disk so its empty. I havent got another PC to put the drive in. And I dont understand that ultimate cd link.

/me waves at Faulky

Try this:http://www.computerhope.com/boot.htm#71

Quote from: FaulkyI want to format the disk so its empty. I havent got another PC to put the drive in. And I dont understand that ultimate cd link.

It boots from the CD/DVD drive and you can format the hard disk using one of the utilities on it  

You used to be be to do the same from a floppy drive boot disk with format.com copied onto it

Okay, I tried making a XP boot disk (well, 6) but that just gets me into the setup program. I dont want to re-install XP; just get rid of it.

Any walk-through help?

iirc you have to add stuff to the xp disk.. really tired so its all vague.

The XP floppy is only really designed for when your pc wont boot from the XP cdrom - itll load the cdrom drivers and then the cd takes over afaik.

What you need really is a win98 floppy.

http://www.freepctech.net/files/WIN98SE.exe

Make sure you got the floppy set as first book device in the bios, reboot then format


edit: if youre selling the pc or sommink and aint got a floppy d just do a clean install of xp and stop where it asks for the license key.

Quote from: FaulkyOkay, I tried making a XP boot disk (well, 6) but that just gets me into the setup program. I dont want to re-install XP; just get rid of it.

Any walk-through help?

IF you have a burner download this http://downloads.littlbuger.info/index.php?dlid=165

burn it to a CD, boot from it and have a look through the menus  for something that will format your drive

boot from the windows cd and act like you want to re-install....

before it starts re-installing itll give you the option to format

format

then turn the computer off

job done

I tried that with one CD and it didnt allow it, got no idea why though

I dont want to turn the machine off mid-installation; it might wreck the drive.

sdp, I downloaded the Win 98 boot disk, made a floppy, but when I got to a prompt, I could get to drive c: but not drive e: (there are two drives: e: is the main one with windows installation on). And when I got to drive c: and tried to format e: from that (i.e.: format e:) I got a Invalid drive specification message.

Any ideas? Thanks.

If the drive your trying to format is NTFS then you wont be able to see it from dos.  I would try using the fdisk command from your win 98 disk to wipe the partition and start again using FAT32 (which you can see from dos) and then formating it.

If you are planning to install WinXP again then you can convert from FAT32 to NTFS if you like during the installation

Hirens would do it if you find it and so does ultimate boot cd if it has NTFS support but u could also try
http://bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

Thanks, Chuck. My drive is NTFS, so it makes sense that I cant format it from dos prompt.

I can get into fdisk easily enough. Ive got 1 partition of all the drive.

Should I create another partition? Or should I delete the existing partition?

Also, what is Set active partition? Do I need to set the active partition as a FAT32 one in order for format to work?

Thanks.