Uninstalling XP in DOS?

[Nate]

I just got a desktop PC with no OS. A friend of mine
tried to install XP Pro and it will not finish the install
process. I get an error message saying that I need to
clean the disc and re-insert it, but when I do, nothing
happens. I have a Windows 98 disc that I would rather put
on there first, but it seems like I need to delete XP
first. When I start the PC, it goes to the XP
installation screen, then displays the error message. The
only setup screen I can get to is the one for the BIOS
utility or something like that. I was told that if I can
get into DOS I can type in a command that will delete any
XP files that were stored during the failed installation.
Does anyone know how I go about this so I can just install
98 and try to upgrade later? Thanks.

 

[Andrew Faust]

I just got a desktop PC with no OS. A friend of mine
tried to install XP Pro and it will not finish the install
process. I get an error message saying that I need to
clean the disc and re-insert it, but when I do, nothing
happens. I have a Windows 98 disc that I would rather put
on there first, but it seems like I need to delete XP
first. When I start the PC, it goes to the XP
installation screen, then displays the error message. The
only setup screen I can get to is the one for the BIOS
utility or something like that. I was told that if I can
get into DOS I can type in a command that will delete any
XP files that were stored during the failed installation.
Does anyone know how I go about this so I can just install
98 and try to upgrade later? Thanks.

Is it 98 SE? It should be a bootable CD, so you will need
to set your bios to boot from the CD, then you can format
from there. The other option is to get someone to create
you a boot floppy disc with format on it, and boot from
it then format.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I just got a desktop PC with no OS. A friend of mine
tried to install XP Pro and it will not finish the install
process. I get an error message saying that I need to
clean the disc and re-insert it, but when I do, nothing
happens. I have a Windows 98 disc that I would rather put
on there first, but it seems like I need to delete XP
first. When I start the PC, it goes to the XP
installation screen, then displays the error message. The
only setup screen I can get to is the one for the BIOS
utility or something like that. I was told that if I can
get into DOS I can type in a command that will delete any
XP files that were stored during the failed installation.
Does anyone know how I go about this so I can just install
98 and try to upgrade later? Thanks.

It sounds like you might want to replace the CD drive in that machine.

For cleanup, the simplest, fastest thing is to re-partition the drive. If
you have a W98 boot CD with fdisk on it, you can boot with that and run
fdisk.

However, I have found that the XP CD tools can be very helpful. Boot with
the CD, and step into the setup process. When you get to the point where
you can choose partitions, pay attention and you'll find tools to delete and
re-create partitions. Once you've done this, exit from Setup and reboot
with diskette and do your Win98 install. It will format the drive and
create the correct boot record.

HTH
-pk

 

[Mike Brannigan [MSFT]]

Nate,

As one last point added to the advice you already have been given.
Your friend may not install his copy of Windows XP to your machine - if you
want Windows XP you need to go an buy a copy.

--
Regards,

Mike
--
Mike Brannigan [Microsoft]

This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no
rights

Please note I cannot respond to e-mailed questions, please use these
newsgroups

 

[Richard Keirle]

To clear the hard disk completely of previous xp install attempts, you need
to download the utility software for your make and model of hd, form the hd
manufacturers web site, and run the "zero-fill" procedure, (soemtimes called
a low-level format in that utility software!).

If you want to revert to W98se at a future date, why not configure the hd
for dual boot, so that W98se and xp is on the hd on differrent drives?

Example:-
Procedure, zero fill hd
partition into 2 or more drives
format all drives with FAT32
install w98se on c:\
install xp on d:\ on fat32
that way most older disk utilities will still work on both platforms as
well.

you might want to think about a common OE message store for a dual boot hd
:-
http://insideoe.tomsterdam.com/backup/clone.htm

regards, Richard

 

[Alex Nichol]

I just got a desktop PC with no OS. A friend of mine
tried to install XP Pro and it will not finish the install
process. I get an error message saying that I need to
clean the disc and re-insert it, but when I do, nothing
happens. I have a Windows 98 disc that I would rather put
on there first, but it seems like I need to delete XP
first.

Boot the 98 startup floppy. Run
FDISK
say Y to 'Large disk support?'
and in it
Delete non-DOS partition (the NTFS one where XP is probably being
installed)
MAke a new DOS Primary one
Reboot
FORMAT C:
go to the Win98 CD and
SETUP