Removing XP and Multi Boot

[Guest]

I was running Windows ME on my system and decided to upgrade it to Windows
XP. After installing Windows XP I noticed that non of my programs or files
were transfered to Windows XP. After rebooting I recieved a multi-boot Menu
asking what OS I would like to boot to. I have multiple drives on this
system C through H and when booting to XP the system only shows 2 drives, C
and D but when booting to ME it shows C through G. The only problem is that
When booting to Windows XP it states that the programs within Windows XP are
located on Drive D. Drive C being (D1-P1) and Drive D (Maxtor9). When
Booting to Windows ME the following drives are visible, C (D1-P1), D
(Max160), E ( Drv3_vol1), F (Music), G (Disk4_vol1). As you can see the
Maxtor9 drive is only seen when booting to XP. The question is... How can I
remove Windows XP and restore my system back to Windows ME with all drives so
I can upgrade it to Windows XP WITHOUT having a multiple boot system?

I have attempted to run the OSUNINST.EXE with out any success due to missing
registration information. Could someone please talk me through the process
of retoring my system and upgrading it properly to Windows XP (Home Edition)?
Any and all information that you can provide me with is greatly appreciated.

Thank You, R. Brown - Geneva, OH - USA

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

You may have a bit of a problem. First, it sounds like you did a clean
install to a new folder rather than an upgrade. There is no "uninstall" for
this, the method of removal is to either a) format the installation
partition or b) delete the WinXP installation folder and run SYS C: from a
WinME boot floppy to restore the old boot loader. Second, as you cannot see
the XP volume from the WinME installation, my guess is that you chose NTFS
as the file system, something WinME cannot read on a local system. This
means you cannot delete the WinXP installation from the WinME one.

What can you do to correct this? Well first off understand that if the XP
installation formatted the maxtor9 drive (this was H in the WinME
installation?) then anything you previously had on it is gone - permanently.
You could easily boot the WinME installation and insert the XP Home disk,
then follow the steps for an in place upgrade. This should give you the
desired results of bringing your programs and files into the upgrade (but
backing up data first is still a good idea in case of catastrophe). Once
completed, you should be able to see the first attempt's installation folder
and be able to remove the system folders from the maxtor9 drive and then we
can correct the boot loader.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Try going to back to Windows ME, if you can. Do a back-up of your doucuments
onto a hard drive or USB drive, or floopy/ zip disk(s). Then, go back to
Windows XP and download the files to "My Documents"! HOPE THIS WORKS!!!