how do i uninstall vista?

snow patrol · 7 Jan 2007 at 11:25

I'm running XP, and had a trial copy of vista installed on another disk. I now want to completely delete it, but i'm unsure as to how best to go about that.

I tried deleting the windows / users / program files folders from within XP (the vista ones, obviously!) but got a load of 'access denied' type messages.

Any ideas? Formatting the disk really isn't an option as i have about 100gigs of stuff on there...

wesley · 7 Jan 2007 at 11:29

go to disk management and delete the vista partition.

then go to drive C, rename the "bootmgr" to anything to get rid of bootloader

that it

snow patrol · 7 Jan 2007 at 11:43

wesley said:
go to disk management and delete the vista partition.

then go to drive C, rename the "bootmgr" to anything to get rid of bootloader

that it

hmmn, but if i delete the vista partition, won't i also delete the ~100gigs worth of media i have on the same partition??? :confused:

I know i should have put vista on a fresh partition, but i couldn't be bothered to create one so i stuck vista onto one of my media partitions...

Dureth · 7 Jan 2007 at 12:06

I can't really see anyway of gettting rid of it without a format of the partition. Isn't there space on another driver for you to copy the media to first?

snow patrol · 7 Jan 2007 at 12:24

Dureth said:
I can't really see anyway of gettting rid of it without a format of the partition. Isn't there space on another driver for you to copy the media to first?

eek, i suppose i MIGHT be able to find the space here or there...

what about if i used a special deleting program, which deletes stuff regardless of access rights etc?

OzyOly · 7 Jan 2007 at 13:24

Here you go. Load up your XP disc from start up and go into the recovery console.

Type 'fix boot' and type 'fix mbr' after you select the drive with xp on it.

Now as for those vista files;

Start in safe mode > Right click > properties > security > advance > owner > take owner ship and of that of all subfolders.
Advance> add > advance > find > user > ok > select rights for user, admin, system > replace permision on child objects > ok. Delete.

Those where my notes to remove a file that you get access problems for.

There is no need to reformat.

snow patrol · 7 Jan 2007 at 13:30

Thanks

OzyOly · 7 Jan 2007 at 13:34

snow patrol said:
Thanks

That does work. Hope you can work it out with my notes. You can't delete the file because you don't own it. All you are doing if making it your own to destroy it via security options only available to an admin in safe mode.

It is also very handy in reverse to make a file undeleable by other users even if they are admins.

PhilthyPhil · 7 Jan 2007 at 13:48

I sometimes have to take ownership of my old files after reinstalling Windows as I get 'Access denied'... I've never had to do it from safe mode though.

OzyOly · 7 Jan 2007 at 13:59

PhilthyPhil said:
I sometimes have to take ownership of my old files after reinstalling Windows as I get 'Access denied'... I've never had to do it from safe mode though.

I'm running XP media centre which is basically XP pro. I can't get into security sections wihtout safe mode on. How do you access it? If you know a shortcut I'd like to know.

PhilthyPhil · 7 Jan 2007 at 14:03

Go to properties, click on the security tab and click on the advanced button at the bottom. This is on XP Pro, I've never used MCE.

OzyOly · 7 Jan 2007 at 14:16

PhilthyPhil said:
Go to properties, click on the security tab and click on the advanced button at the bottom. This is on XP Pro, I've never used MCE.

Ah, the security tab is missing on mine. Never mind.

PhilthyPhil · 7 Jan 2007 at 14:21

Do you have simple file sharing disabled? (Folder options, view tab, right at the bottom)

OzyOly · 7 Jan 2007 at 14:44

PhilthyPhil said:
Do you have simple file sharing disabled? (Folder options, view tab, right at the bottom)

Thanks mate that sorted it.

b.cummins · 7 Jan 2007 at 16:01

i would just reformat and start out fresh.