Want to downgrade from WinXP back to Win98 SE...how?

[Karen]

I have been running Win XP on this computer for about a
year, but have recently bought a new computer and would
like to install Windows98 back onto my old one as the XP
slows it down too much (it's a P450). I don't really want
to reinstall everything though...can I install Win98 SE
and not lose everything?

 

[Ken Blake]

In

I have been running Win XP on this computer for about a
year, but have recently bought a new computer and would
like to install Windows98 back onto my old one as the XP
slows it down too much (it's a P450). I don't really want
to reinstall everything though...can I install Win98 SE
and not lose everything?

There is no way to install 98 and keep anything. However, if

1. You installed Windows XP as an upgrade,
2. You took the option to save the old operating system,
3. You didn't convert your drive to NTFS,

you can uninstall XP from Add/Remove Programs, and revert to 98.
Otherwise, you're out of luck.

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have been running Win XP on this computer for about a
year, but have recently bought a new computer and would
like to install Windows98 back onto my old one as the XP
slows it down too much (it's a P450). I don't really want
to reinstall everything though...can I install Win98 SE
and not lose everything?

IF
You installed by upgrading the 98 and
Took the option to save old system files and
Have Not converted to NTFS

Then Add / Remove Programs will have an Uninstall Windows that will put
thins back as they were on the day you upgraded (you will have to
reinstall any software that you installed later)

Otherwise you will have to format the C: (and if converted to NTFS
delete the non-DOS partition with FDISK and make a new one) and start
over from scratch