Unistalling XP

[Guest]

I know microsoft made it really hard to get rid of windows XP, but I need to
fully uninstall it. Part of the suggested trouble shooting for my problem
wass putting in a bootable disk, so I did. The problem with this is I used
my brother's version of XP sold specifically for his Dell laptop. So on and
so forth, I need XP off of my system so I can install a different OS.
Normally, a new OS would install over an old OS, but not these days. So,
being the wiz that I am, I used the same recovery disk to format my
harddrive, unfortunately, I still cannot load the new OS to RAM, so if anyone
has any good ideas on a solution for me, I'm all ears. Also, when trying to
load the new OS I get an error, EMM386: Warning: Address line A20 already
enabled. More or less, something is preventing the new OS from booting to
memory. I assume that it is residuals of XP.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

To remove XP, you will need to boot the PC with the operating system yoy
want use and delete the XP partition. Then, just install the operating
system as normal.

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

How to Use the Fdisk Tool and the Format Tool to Partition o­r Repartition a Hard
Disk
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;255867

1. Delete the Windows XP partition.
2. Create a new partition.
3. Format the new partition FAT32.
4. Install your desired Operating System.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Be Smart! Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/protect/default.mspx

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:

| I know microsoft made it really hard to get rid of windows XP, but I need to
| fully uninstall it. Part of the suggested trouble shooting for my problem
| wass putting in a bootable disk, so I did. The problem with this is I used
| my brother's version of XP sold specifically for his Dell laptop. So on and
| so forth, I need XP off of my system so I can install a different OS.
| Normally, a new OS would install over an old OS, but not these days. So,
| being the wiz that I am, I used the same recovery disk to format my
| harddrive, unfortunately, I still cannot load the new OS to RAM, so if anyone
| has any good ideas on a solution for me, I'm all ears. Also, when trying to
| load the new OS I get an error, EMM386: Warning: Address line A20 already
| enabled. More or less, something is preventing the new OS from booting to
| memory. I assume that it is residuals of XP.

 

[wayfarrer]

Sounds like you're working with the aborted results of a previous installation
try.

You didn't state whether there was any system or data remaining on the HDD to be
concerned about, so I'd suggest simply using delpart.exe to delete all
partitions then start your new installation again.

Get delpart.exe here:

Going nuts because you can't fdisk a Windows 2000, NT, or XP drive?....
http://www.russelltexas.com/delpart.htm

 

[Guest]

Well, Fdisk worked well, but I am still getting the same error. Address line
A20 already enabled. Any other ideas? I deleted the partition and created a
FAT32 partition for a primary dos, and as large as possible. If I did
something incorrect please let me know. Thank you all.

 

[James Hahn]

It's only a warning - an attempt to enable A20 when it is already enabled
will be ignored. Perhaps your machine is configured to enable A20 when it
starts, so the command isn't required. If it causes a problem look for an
option not to start with A20 enabled, and allow the startup procedure to
enable it. Or perhaps you need to enable/disable fast A20 switching.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I know microsoft made it really hard to get rid of windows XP, but I need to
fully uninstall it.

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

Normally, a new OS would install over an old OS, but not these days.

This has been true only in those circumstances where the new OS is
actually newer than the Old OS, and one elects to perform an upgrade.
What "new" OS are you trying to install in place of WinXP? I only ask
because there are none newer, other than Linux distros, which obviously
cannot upgrade WinXP, that will run on the Wintel platform.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH

 

[Guest]

Well, just to be super sure, I loaded my fail safe defaults into bios. I
couldn't find an option to disable A20 all together. A20 is on normal, Boot
OS/2 > 64m is off. It still throws the error and just hangs. Maybe this
time I'll let it sit for about an hour. But thanks. At this point in time
I'm almost ready to use the sledge hammer installation technique.

 

[James Hahn]

You could try a different keyboard (although I think that will only have an
effect if fast switching is not enabled).
--

 

[Guest]

Wow, if it's that simple... although the keyboard I use now is a USB, I
wonder if something as simple as an old ps/2 would do the trick. I'll try
it. And thanks for all the wonderful know how by the way.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, I didn't read your entire post the first time, or I missed your
question somehow. I would like to install a Beta tester of Windows
Professional x64. This way I can decide whether or not to go with a Unix or
a Windows based program. I like the comfortable situation of windows, and I
like the control and simplicity of Unix systems. Long story short, I was
trying to figure out what to do to rid myself entirely of XP, in the hopes
that I would then be able to install this Beta tester. Unfortunately, the
only OS that will successfully install is windows XP. So much for getting
the most out of that fancy 64-bit processor huh? Anyways, I did find a post
that re-directed me to the proper news group for beta testers.

 

[Guest]

I am having a similar problem and none of the links has provided any help for
my case. I built my computer with XP x64 Beta, then when the official
software was released, I upgraded. But since there are few software drivers
out there that work with x64, I decided to "downgrade" to XP Home. Problem
is, with the CD for XP Home, the "install XP" selection is grayed out. I
cannot find Remove XP from Add/Remove programs (even in Safe Mode as
Administrator). Booting only from the CD results in Windows x64 loading,
even if I changed the OS in boot.ini to XP Home.

Anyone had any luck???