How do I uninstall Windows XP?

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Guest

My computer is constantly crashing and I have tried everything but nothing
has worked, so I am ready to restore the computer to its original software.
I have followed the "Help and Support" instructions, which tell me to go to
"change or remove programs" and select Windows XP. However, Windows XP is
not listed in the list of programs. Does anyone know what I need to do to
restore my computer to its original settings/software from when I bought it?
Thank you in advance!
 
dm said:
My computer is constantly crashing and I have tried everything but nothing
has worked, so I am ready to restore the computer to its original software.
I have followed the "Help and Support" instructions, which tell me to go to
"change or remove programs" and select Windows XP. However, Windows XP is
not listed in the list of programs. Does anyone know what I need to do to
restore my computer to its original settings/software from when I bought it?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...

1. Make of computer?

2. Do you have a restore CD or a copy of XP on CD?

Alias
 
Thanks for your response. The computer is a Dell Dimension 2400. Yes, I have
all of the original software (including Windows XP) on CDs that came with the
computer. I have tried system restores, I have purchased Norton anti-virus
software, I have uninstalled other programs, etc. but the computer still
constantly crashes. I have saved all of my music, photos, word processing and
data files onto CDs and am ready to uninstall/reinstall the entire system.
Your help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
dm said:
Thanks for your response. The computer is a Dell Dimension 2400. Yes, I have
all of the original software (including Windows XP) on CDs that came with the
computer. I have tried system restores, I have purchased Norton anti-virus
software, I have uninstalled other programs, etc. but the computer still
constantly crashes. I have saved all of my music, photos, word processing and
data files onto CDs and am ready to uninstall/reinstall the entire system.
Your help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Click to expand...

Assuming your XP CD is really a restore disk, reboot the computer and
hit Del until you get into the BIOS. Then set your CDROM to boot first.
Stick the restore disk in your CDROM and exit the BIOS, saving changes
and the CD will take it from there and just follow the instructions.
This will completely wipe your hard disk, reninstall your computer to
the way it was when you bought it and you will lose all your data and
installed programs.

Once you get it up and running do NOT install Norton. Avast is a very
good free anti virus and you can get it at http://www.avast.com/ You can
get a good, free firewall from Zone Alarm:

http://www.zonelabs.com/store/conte...st_za.jsp?dc=12bms&ctry=US&lang=en&lid=nav_za

Go back into the BIOS and set your boot order the way it was and remove
the CD from the CDROM.

Alias
 
You will not be able to 'uninstall' Windows from the add/remove programs.
You will need to use the disk provided by Dell - presumably this is a
recovery disk. Check your PC user manual on how to use this recovery disk.

Looking at Alias's post i agree that you shouldn't install Norton. While
Avast is a good freeware anti virus another one to throw into the pot is AVG
anti virus (www.free.grisoft.com) I've used this one for years and find it
very good.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..
 
| Thanks for your response. The computer is a Dell Dimension 2400. Yes, I
have
| all of the original software (including Windows XP) on CDs that came with
the
| computer. I have tried system restores, I have purchased Norton anti-virus
| software, I have uninstalled other programs, etc. but the computer still
| constantly crashes. I have saved all of my music, photos, word processing
and
| data files onto CDs and am ready to uninstall/reinstall the entire system.
| Your help/advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
| --
| dm
|



Dell PC Restore by Symantec is available on Dimension and Inspiron systems
that shipped on or after 7/16/2004 in the Americas and 8/30/2004 in Europe.

See, How Do I Use the DellT PC Restore by Symantec Utility? @
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1090151

If your system is older than that Use the Microsoft® Windows® XP Reinstall
Guide @
http://support.dell.com/support/top...t?c=us&cs=19&DN=1092050&type=SRG&l=en&s=dhs#0


*same link smaller*

http://tinyurl.com/o2ljs


Note: The XP disc that came with your 2400 is an actual XP disc (OEM) not a
restore disc. for a fresh start You must reinstall Windows then chipset
drivers, device drivers etc. Dell provides step by step instructions.

--
Doug

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details. :)

Remove shoes to E-mail.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/hillbillybuddhist/
 
dm said:
My computer is constantly crashing and I have tried everything but nothing
has worked,
Click to expand...


What does "... tried everything ..." really mean? What specific
troubleshooting steps have you taken, and what were the results of each?
What specific hardware diagnostic tools did you use?

so I am ready to restore the computer to its original software.
Click to expand...


It's your decision, of course, but so drastic a step probably isn't
necessary, and may not help. "Constantly crashing," while more than a
little vague, would tend to indicate a hardware problem, which
reinstalling the OS cannot possible fix.

I have followed the "Help and Support" instructions, which tell me to go to
"change or remove programs" and select Windows XP. However, Windows XP is
not listed in the list of programs. Does anyone know what I need to do to
restore my computer to its original settings/software from when I bought it?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...


The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

Only if you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to backup
the old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, can
you then boot into Safe Mode and click Start > Control Panel
Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions must be met for the
Click to expand...
uninstall option to be available.

Simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be offered the
opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part of the
installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of boot
devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=KB;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
Bruce said:
What does "... tried everything ..." really mean? What specific
troubleshooting steps have you taken, and what were the results of
each? What specific hardware diagnostic tools did you use?




It's your decision, of course, but so drastic a step probably isn't
necessary, and may not help. "Constantly crashing," while more than a
little vague, would tend to indicate a hardware problem, which
reinstalling the OS cannot possible fix.
Click to expand...


And if it's not a hardware problem, it probably results from the way he's
using the computer or what safeguards he takes against malware. If he
reinstalls without finding out what was wrong, the chances of his quickly
recreating the problem situation are high.
 
And if it's not a hardware problem, it probably results from the way he's
using the computer or what safeguards he takes against malware. If he
reinstalls without finding out what was wrong, the chances of his quickly
recreating the problem situation are high.
Click to expand...


Very true.

--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
 
Thanks very much for your reply. My system shipped on 1/1/04, and I tried
the link set out in your e-mail below, but when going through the steps I was
asked to select when the system shipped, which I did, and then I got a screen
that said Symantec restore is only available for systems that shipped after
August 2004. I.e., there were no instructions for what to do in my
situation. The Dell CDs I have include one called Operating System
Reinstallation CD. Any advice/help you can provide would be greatly
appreciated. Thank you.
 
| Thanks very much for your reply. My system shipped on 1/1/04, and I tried
| the link set out in your e-mail below, but when going through the steps I
was
| asked to select when the system shipped, which I did, and then I got a
screen
| that said Symantec restore is only available for systems that shipped
after
| August 2004. I.e., there were no instructions for what to do in my
| situation. The Dell CDs I have include one called Operating System
| Reinstallation CD. Any advice/help you can provide would be greatly
| appreciated. Thank you.
| --
| dm
|

That's why I provided the second. "if your system is older than that" link.
;)

--
Doug

I'm not an MVP a VIP nor do I have ESP.
I was just trying to help.
Please use your own best judgment before implementing any suggestions or
advice herein.
No warranty is expressed or implied.
Your mileage may vary.
See store for details. :)

Remove shoes to E-mail.
http://spaces.msn.com/members/hillbillybuddhist/
 
Thanks, but the "system is older than that" link is the one I referred to in
my message. It eventually takes you to a step that simply tells you that you
can't use the Symantec restore unless you have a newer system, and it does
not appear to give you any other options. Any help you can provide would be
greatly appreciated. Thanks.
 
It's there. You may not have followed the links far enough.

You'll come to a page where there are two choices at the bottom: "PC
Restore was unable to restore the operating system" and "PC Restore
successfully restored the operating system". Check the first ("was unable")
box, and proceed. (It's a bit misleading: PC Restore didn't work because it
cannot run at all on your system.)

It's not the most brilliantly written set of web pages I've seen, but
persevere and you will be rewarded. (I'd provide a link further down the
chain, but I appear to be not competent to do that, due to the use of
JavaScript.)

Incidentally, the "F2" function key is the one that you press to get into
the BIOS set up on recent Dell machines.


Address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.

dm said:
Thanks, but the "system is older than that" link is the one I referred to
in
my message. It eventually takes you to a step that simply tells you that
you
can't use the Symantec restore unless you have a newer system, and it does
not appear to give you any other options. Any help you can provide would
be
greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
(snip)
 
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