Uninstall Windows XP Home Edition from one of two Partitions

[Fistral13]

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE from one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

 

[Malke]

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE from one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its files or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but remove the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View tab in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK" to the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[philo]

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its files or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but remove the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View tab in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK" to the
dialog box.

Malke

That's right

then the entry can be removed from boot.ini

 

[Fistral13]

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a way to
delete those two files?

 

[Fistral13]

I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be deleted
due to access denied.

 

[Fistral13]

philo, can't find boot.ini in Drive D:

 

[Malke]

philo, can't find boot.ini in Drive D:

Boot.ini won't be on Drive D. It will be on C:. Edit it in Notepad or use
msconfig to Check Boot Paths.

As for not being able to delete any files on D:, reboot into Safe Mode.

Malke

 

[philo]

Boot.ini won't be on Drive D. It will be on C:. Edit it in Notepad or use
msconfig to Check Boot Paths.

As for not being able to delete any files on D:, reboot into Safe Mode.

Malke

Using msconfig is a very safe way of doing things,
once the old installation is deleted

 

[Ronaldo]

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------

 

[Fistral13]

Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019

 

[Ronaldo]

You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked... and if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may also have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could copy it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------

Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------

I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK" to
the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[Ronaldo]

I meant to say; "You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... AND
after delete it after.."

------------------------------------

You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked... and
if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may also
have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or
folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the
following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could copy
it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------

Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE
from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its
files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK"
to
the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[Fistral13]

Sorted the OS option list by copying your script to my boot.ini file. Now
restart goes straight to starting windows (with no options list).

Will come back on the "Flash" directory issue.

You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked... and if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may also have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could copy it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------

Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK" to
the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[Fistral13]

Followup on D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
Got rid of all except D:\Windows (which still has the . and.. directories
but no files).

I meant to say; "You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... AND
after delete it after.."

------------------------------------

You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked... and
if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may also
have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or
folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the
following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could copy
it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------

Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

:

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE
from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its
files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK"
to
the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[Fistral13]

Finally got rid of d:\Windows using d:rd /s d:\windows

Followup on D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
Got rid of all except D:\Windows (which still has the . and.. directories
but no files).

I meant to say; "You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... AND
after delete it after.."

------------------------------------

You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked... and
if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may also
have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or
folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the
following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could copy
it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

:

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and \FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP HE
from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its
files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions (View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click "OK"
to
the
dialog box.

Malke

 

[Ronaldo]

Glad you solved it...

---------------------------------------

Finally got rid of d:\Windows using d:rd /s d:\windows

Followup on D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and
\FlashUtil9f.exe
Got rid of all except D:\Windows (which still has the . and.. directories
but no files).

I meant to say; "You should be hable to take ownership of any
folder... AND
after delete it after.."

------------------------------------
"Ronaldo" <[email protected]> escribió en el mensaje
You should be hable to take ownership of any folder... try it in safe
mode
and/or configure the permission settings for the administrators group
and
make sure you assign full control with all the check boxes marked...
and
if
necessary, remove any other group fron the security tab. You may
also
have
to configure the permissions in the Advanced Options, and make sure
the
permissions apply to the flash folder and all contanied files and/or
folders
checking the box where it says more or less: "Inherit from the main
object
all permision entries relative to secundary objects..... "

You should not have an OS option list on the restart... you must
have
missed something in the Boot.ini file... could you open the file and
copy
the text here so we can ID the cause? Or check the boot.ini text for
a
tipical single OS installation, and edit your file according the
following,
your only differences could be "Home" and timeout, and possibly some
unimportant difference in.. " /noexecute=optin /fastdetect "


This is the text from a perfectly working boot.ini file. You could
copy
it
if necessary to edit your Bootini file.

[boot loader]
timeout=10
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect


------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el
mensaje
Took ownership of the System32 folder and got rid of the 27 files.
Unable to take ownership of ..\Flash folder because access denied.
Deleted partition(2) from the boot.ini file but still get a Windows
(default) as the preferred option on restart.

:

You may have to take ownership of the System32 folder or use a
delete
application like "Unlocker"...

You can also edit the boot.ini file from Control
Panel\System\Advanced
Options\Startu & Recovery\Settings\Edit... delete the line that
includes
"partition(2)" [drive D].

A simpler and quicker way would have been to make sure you have the
BOOT.INI, NTDETECT and NTLDR files on drive C:\, and format the D
drive
(after rescuing your files).

How to take ownership of a file or folder in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/268019


------------------------------------------------------
"Fistral13" <[email protected]> escribió en el
mensaje
I found another 27 files in D:\Windows\system32 which could not be
deleted
due to access denied.
--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Deleted all files in D:\Windows except two in
D:\Windows\system32\Macromed\Flash\Flash9f.ocx and
\FlashUtil9f.exe
where
access was denied.
Tried to delete them in DOS mode, but access still denied. Is
there a
way
to
delete those two files?

--
Call me Old Surfer - Wet or Dry


:

Fistral13 wrote:

I have XP HE on each of two partitions. Can I uninstall XP
HE
from
one
partition without having to reformat that partition?

You can't uninstall an operating system. You either delete its
files
or
format the drive. If you want to keep the data on that drive
but
remove
the
Windows operating system, simply show all hidden files and
delete
everything except your data.

Make sure you are able to see all hidden files and extensions
(View
tab
in
Folder Options). In XP, there are four checkboxes to deal
with:

a. Check "Display the contents of system folders".
b. Check "Show hidden files and folders".
c. Uncheck "Hide extensions for known file types".
d. Uncheck "Hide protected operating system files" and click
"OK"
to
the
dialog box.

Malke