1. Access Computer Tools; Disk Management by selecting it from Start; All Programs; Administrative Tools or by right clicking on My Computer and selecting Manage from the menu.

2. Select Disk Management.

3. From Disk Management select the non-system drive to format by placing the mouse pointer over the drive and right clicking to bring up the menu.

4.  Choose format from the list of option.

5. All data will be lost on the drive, so make sure any information that is not replaceable from other media is backed up.

Remove NTFS file system and Reformat with Win 98/Me Boot Disk

Check for specialized boot disks.

Look for boot disk essentials

1. Format with a Win98/Me Startup disk.

2. Use a Windows 98/Me startup disk to delete the non-dos partition.

3. Boot from Startup Disk.

4. Load FDISK by typing "fdisk.exe" at the "A" prompt without the quotes.

5. Say yes to large disk support  <Y-N>...........? [Y]  ENTER

6. Enter choice #3 to "Delete partition or Logical Dos Drive"   Press ESC to return to FDISK options

7. Enter #4 to "Delete Non-DOS Partition". Select the Non-DOS partition by typing the number and then ENTER. Press ESC to return to FDISK options. Note you cannot delete a NON-DOS partition located inside an Extended partition. You can use the DOS utility called delpart from a DOS boot up.

8. Reboot with startup disk and load FDISK.

9. Say yes to Large disk support as above.

10. Enter choice #1 Press ESC to return to FDISK options

11. When asked if you want to use the maximum size for the partition and make it active, type Y if you want to use the whole drive or N if you want to set a maximum sized for the partition.

12. After setting the size, reboot.

13. If you want to install another OS; after reboot:  Type format X:  at the A: prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter designation.

14. If you want to reinstall XP clean. After setting the size, reboot, remove the disk from the floppy drive and insert the XP CD in the CD drive.

15. Boot from the XP CD and do a clean install to the new partition.

Format XP by booting from the XP CD

BIOS must be set to boot from CD before hard drive.

1. Formatting an XP System Disk by booting from the XP CD is accomplished by loading the Recovery Console by typing R at the first window.

2. After selecting the Windows installation you want to access and typing in the Admin password [leave blank if no password was created] you will see a command prompt.

3. Type Map & press ENTER

4. Note the letter designation of the drive you want to format. [write it down]

5. type format x:<space>/fs:fat32 then press ENTER, where x is the drive letter you want to format. Substitute NTFS or FAT if  desired.

6. Type Y to confirm your selection and then type exit & press ENTER to restart computer.

7. To view other format commands, type format<space>/? &  press ENTER at the RC command prompt.

Format XP by booting from XP CD using an aborted setup

Note: I find this method to format a NTFS partition more time consuming than the use of FDISK from  MS-DOS, but if a boot disk is not available use this method.

1. Formatting an XP System Disk by booting from the XP CD and using the setup routine is initiated by selecting ENTER at the first window. Example follows in step #2

2. When you see the "Welcome To Setup" screen, you will see the options below   This portion of the Setup program prepares Microsoft
      Windows XP to run on your computer:
   
      To setup Windows XP now, press ENTER.
   
      To repair a Windows XP installation using Recovery Console, press R.
   
      To quit Setup without installing Windows XP, press F3.

    

3. After selecting ENTER you will be prompted to accept the EULA and then be  given the option to choose the location to install XP. You choices will include deleting partitions. Choose to delete the XP partition and any other partition you want to remove and then press ENTER.

4. Choose F3 to end setup.

5. You will need to use a boot disk or boot from the OS you want to install to format the unallocated space.

Format XP installed on a Fat/Fat32 file system using a Windows 98/Me Boot Disk

1. Boot from a Windows 98/Me Startup disk or a boot disk with specialized content.

2. Type format X:  at the A: prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter designation.

If your computer was purchased with XP preinstalled

If your computer was purchased with XP preinstalled, you should consult your OEM for information on support when changing the OS. This will also apply to any extended service or support contracts purchased with the computer.

If you upgraded and saved the uninstall files

 If you upgraded and saved the uninstall files and did not change any hard drive partitions, [ i.e. convert to NTFS from fat 32, add hard drive or partition ] you should have the option to uninstall XP from the Control Panel; Add/Remove utility.
How to Uninstall Windows XP and Revert to a Previous Operating System
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q303661
If the option is not available.
How to Manually Start the Uninstall Process to Remove Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=312569

• Identify the file system that you are using. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer on the desktop or Explorer.
2. Right-click the disk that you want and then click Properties.
3. Look for the File System entry.

• If the disk is formatted in NTFS, your options for returning to Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me are limited. Those operating systems do not read or recognize NTFS and you cannot convert the disk to use the FAT or FAT32 file system. The bootable disk that you use and the drive on which you want to install Windows 95, Windows 98 or Windows Me cannot use NTFS. Microsoft does not support any third-party solutions for converting NTFS to FAT or FAT32.

• If the drive is using the FAT file system, you can install any operating system. If the drive is using the FAT32 file system, you can install Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2) or later.

The above was copied from: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;q31405

Remove XP and Install Win 98/Me when

XP is installed using NTFS file system

Use a Windows 98/Me startup disk to delete the non-dos partition.

Check for specialized boot disks.

1. Boot from Startup Disk.

2. Load FDISK by typing "fdisk.exe" at the "A" prompt without the quotes.

3. Say yes to large disk support  <Y-N>...........? [Y]  ENTER

4. Enter choice #3 to "Delete partition or Logical Dos Drive"   Press ESC to return to FDISK options

5. Enter #4 to "Delete Non-DOS Partition". Select the Non-DOS partition by typing the number and then ENTER. Press ESC to return to FDISK options. Note you cannot delete a NON-DOS partition located inside an Extended partition. You can use the DOS utility called delpart from a DOS boot up.

6. Reboot with startup disk and load FDISK.

7. Say yes to Large disk support as above.

8. Enter choice #1 Press ESC to return to FDISK options

9. When asked if you want to use the maximum size for the partition and make it active, type Y if you want to use the whole drive or N if you want to set a maximum size for the partition.

10. After accepting the max size or setting the size, reboot.

11. To install another OS; reboot:  Type format X:  at the A: prompt; where Xis the drive/partition letter designation.

12. Insert your Win 98/Me CD.

13.  Reboot from boot disk with CD-Rom support.

14. Type sys c:

15. Type X: for CD drive location where X is the CD drive location.

16. Type setup.exe

17. Follow setup prompts

Remove XP and Install Win 98/Me when

XP is installed using Fat/Fat32 file system

1. Boot from a Windows 98/Me Startup disk or a boot disk with specialized content.

2. Type format X:  at the A: prompt; where X is the drive/partition letter designation.

3.  Insert your Win 98/Me CD.

4. Reboot from boot disk with CD-Rom support.

5. Type sys c:

6. Type X: for CD drive location where X is the CD drive location.

7. Type setup.exe

8. Follow setup prompts

Remove XP and Install Win 98/Me when

XP is installed using Fat/Fat32 file system without formatting

1. This assumes Windows98/Me is presently installed to the C: drive

2. Boot from Windows 98/Me Startup disk or a boot disk with specialized content. Make sure you have support for CD-ROM.

3. Type: sys C: You will no longer have access to XP after this command.

4. Rename the Windows and Program Files.

5. Type: attrib c:\windows -r -s -h then ENTER

6. Type: ren c:\windows c:\windows.old then ENTER

7. Type: attrib c:\progra~1 -r -s -h then ENTER

8. Type: ren c:\progra~1 c:\prog.old then ENTER

9. To free up space, the windows folder can be deleted.

10. Type: deltree windows then ENTER

11. The following root files can also be deleted by
    Typing: del <file name> then ENTER
    • Boot.ini
    • Ntbootdd.sys
    • Ntdetect.com
    • NTLDR
    • Hiberfil.sys
    • Pagefile.sys

12. Insert your Win 98/Me CD.

13. Reboot using a  boot disk with CD-Rom support.

14. Type X: for CD drive location where X is the CD drive location. then Enter

15. Type: setup.exe then Enter

16. Follow setup prompts

Copying the Win98/9x  folder to the hard and running setup from the Win98/9xfolder is an alternate method of installing.

 "This application automates the task of changing to a valid Windows XP product key. Doing this manually is quite a nuisance, so I wrote this little application to do it for you!"

Authored by Ryan Matthew Lederman

Download  xppid.zip

With source code included xppid+src.zip

Disclaimer: I did not write this utility or do I know anything about updating the source code.

The source code is supplied at the request of Mr. Lederman. The author has decided not to continue development on any  future updates.

The results from feedback have been  positive in regards to changing the key using the modifier.

www.michaelstevenstech.com will host  updates submitted to me after an evaluation.

 The XP Product Key Modifier was tested only on XP Pro and results may vary on other versions. Ryan is not currently supporting the utility and does not have the time to answer email questions. Most users find it will change the Product Key, if it doesn't, use the Repair Install option to change the Product Key.

Ryan needs mirror sites to host his key modifier. If you have the bandwidth or resources please contact Ryan at this address.

XPPID by Ryan Lederman

Download: RockXP

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware utility that retrieves your
Product Key (CD Key) used to install windows from your registry.

It has the options to copy the key to clipboard, save it to a text file or print
it for safekeeping.

It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT4, 2000, XP, .NET, Office 97 and Office XP.

This version adds support for multiple installations of Office and the ability to change the Windows XP, 98 and ME installation key.

Please note if your system came preinstalled from the OEM and you have not reinstalled XP, the Product key will not likely be valid. OEM's use a generic key to image the systems and this key will not work for reinstalling.

http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder.html

1. Start Windows XP.

2. Insert XP CD using the same version as installed.

3. Choose to Install

4. Choose to Upgrade.

5. Enter new valid key when prompted [If you are changing the "Corporate XP Version",  use a retail Pro Key. For OEM see Repair Install below].

6. Activate over internet.

Retail Pro XP full CD use the step by step link  to change "Corp" VLK Product Key:

Retail XP Pro Repair Install step by step

For OEM XP Pro CD:

   !! Before running the Repair Install below; make sure you read and follow the steps for preparation located in the Retail Repair Install step by step link above. You need to backup important data and remove spyware, malware and scan for virus before doing the Repair Install.

  OEM XP Pro can be used to repair install a "Corporate" VLK XP, but it must be run from Windows.  When booting from the OEM XP Pro CD the repair option is not available. To get the option to Repair Install follow the steps below.

1. With Windows XP running.

2. Insert the OEM XP Pro CD.

3. Select install from menu.

4.  You will get the warning message that upgrade is not available.

5.  Select "new installation" and specify you want to choose the install partition after reboot.

6. Reboot

7. After reboot, setup will copy files to a temporary location.

8. At the first setup screen; press "Enter",  [do not choose the "R" option]

9. After you accept the license agreement, the  option to Repair  will be offered.

10. Proceed with Repair Install

   It is unlikely the repair option is not offered in step #9; but if it isn't and you choose to reinstall, you will lose all information in the "Windows" and "Documents and Settings" folders. All information in My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, email, contacts and all applications that place key values in the registry will need to be reinstalled. You should abort the setup and explore other options.

Google Groups link validating the above procedure. Click

For more detailed instruction on Repair Install click the Repair Install XP link below.

Repair Install XP

Printable: OEM Repair Install step by step

Deleting a registry key value will also trigger the Activation process that will allow a valid key to be applied. This is only for changing a volume product key to a retail product key. Must be a Pro version.

1. The following requires modification to the registry, backup the key  by exporting it before making the change.

2. You should also Rename (x):\windows\system32\wpa.dbl to  wpa.old  as a further precaution.

3. From Start, Run, type

4. regedit Navigate to:    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\WPAEvents

5. Change any key value
   [screenshot]
   After changing the key value, from Start, Run type:%systemroot%\system32\oobe\msoobe.exe /a *
   

6. If you have used the Xp-Antispy you should load it again. Right click on "licdll.dll" and select "Reset entry to it's initial state"

7. This will trigger the activation window. Select the option to activate by phone
   [screenshot]
   

8. The next window will give you the option to Change the Product Key
   [screenshot]
    
   

9. Type in your valid Product Key The Product Key must be for the same version installed. I.E. Home Retail, Pro Retail, OEM Home, OEM Pro, VL.
   [screenshot]
   
   

10. You should get this window
    [screenshot]
    
    

* %systemroot% is usually C:\windows. If XP is installed to a location other than C:\windows,  it will be necessary to define the path to trigger the activation window.

KB Q328874 HOW TO: Change the Volume Licensing Product Key on a Windows XP SP1-Based Computer

KB Q326904 Error Message: The Product Key Used to Install Windows Is Invalid

Remove Win9x/Me & Keep Win XP

To remove Win9x/Me from a dual boot installation with XP.

1. Boot to Win XP*

2. Open System Properties [Winkey+Pause/Break]. Select Advanced tab; Startup and Recovery; Settings button.

3. Select the Edit button and from notepad, first backup boot.ini, by going to File; Save As and rename boot.ini. to something like boot.inibak.

4. Delete the line or lines) that refer to Win9x/Me.

5. Set timeout=0 so the system boots directly into Win XP (you will not get the boot menu).

6. Save As boot.ini & Exit. The example below would be representative of the results.

   [boot loader]
   timeout=0
   default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS
   [operating systems]
   multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /fastdetect

   
   

7. You can now open Explorer and delete the hidden [Explorer toolbar, Folder Options, View, unhide]  bootfiles for Win9x/Me: C:\Io.sys and Msdos.sys , plus Command.com and, if present.

   [I would leave Autoexec.bat and Config.sys for compatibility, but they can be removed]

8. You can now delete the Win9x/Me folder (Usually named C:\Windows) and Program Files (if not shared with XP).

* Uninstall all Win9x/Me software if both Win9x/Me and XP are on same drive/partition before proceeding with the above.

Alternate method for removal of Win 98/Me and leave XP

1. Backup the XP boot files located on the Win98/Me partition to a floppy. NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI

2. Boot from a Win 98/Me startup disk.

3. Format C: drive/partition.

4. Copy NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, BOOT.INI from floppy to C: drive.

5. Boot from XP CD and take the first repair option by typing R to load recovery console.

6. Run the commands fixboot, fixmbr.

7. Exit and boot into XP.

Note that the above method will delete all data from the Win98/Me partition/drive.

Remove Windows 2000/XP and leave XP

Procedure below is for dual boot of Windows 2000 installed on  C:\ and XP to another partition or hard drive. File system is not a factor. Drives or partitions can be NTFS, Fat32 or a combination of the two.

1. Boot into the Windows 2000 or XP option you want to remove.

2. Uninstall all applications. This will get rid of application folders located in Program Files and on other drives.

3. Backup your addresses and any V-Box folders [downloaded programs from the internet] that are sometimes located in the Winnt folder.

4. Boot into  Windows XP (the one you want to keep if you have more than one).

5. Delete the Windows 2000 folder on C, usually on a Win 2000 install it is
   called "winnt", but could be called "windows".

6. Delete the documents and settings folder on C

7. Delete the C:\Program Files folder if XP does not have applications
   installed to the C:\Program Files.

8. Do not delete these (hidden) boot files from the root
   folder: C:\Boot.ini, Bootsect.dos, hiberfil.sys, ntbootdd.sys, Ntdetect.com,
   Ntldr, Pagefile.sys.

9. Edit Boot.ini from System Properties [Winkey+Pause/Break]>Advanced
   tab>Startup and Recovery>Settings>Edit.

10. Before editing, go to File and Save as. Save boot.ini to something like boot.inibkp.

11. Set timeout to 0.

12. Remove the line referencing Windows 2000.

13. Save as boot.ini.
      Unless you reinstall Win XP clean, you cannot easily move XP to the C
    drive, so the XP installation location will remain on the same drive with the same drive letter designation.
    

After completing any of the above removal techniques , you can use an imaging application [Partition Magic, BootIT NG, etc.] to resize the C drive and the adjacent partitions to reclaim space if needed.

Remove Win XP from a NTFS System

To  remove XP on a NTFS system using a Win9x/Me  startup disk.

1. Backup all data, settings, passwords, downloaded programs, etc., anything that cannot be restored from other media.

2. Boot up  with a Win9x/Me boot disk, and type in a:\fdisk /mbr This will create a new boot sector (DOS, FAT), destroying the existing NTFS.

3. You can now format the partition/drive with a reboot using the floppy startup disk..

4. Type at the DOS prompt: a:\format c: /s  This will format the drive and install the basic system files.

5. You can use fdisk /status to identify your partitions.

6. Win9x/Me can now be installed from the CD or other media.

Remove Win XP & Keep Win9x/Me when Both use  FAT/FAT32 file system

To remove Windows XP from a dual-boot installation with Win9x/Me when they use the same FAT file system and leave Win9x/Me as the bootable OS.

The following steps apply only to computers where a dual boot with XP was installed after Win9X/Me.

Backup all data on your hard disks that can not be replaced.

1. Use the Win9x boot disk to boot up the computer.  At the A: prompt, type SYS C: and then press ENTER. The Sys command transfers control of the boot process to Win9x/Me. You will see a System transferred message.

2. Reboot

3. You can now delete these (Hidden) boot files from the root folder: C:\Boot.ini, Bootsect.dos, hiberfil.sys, ntbootdd.sys, Ntdetect.com, Ntldr, Pagefile.sys (if they are present).

4. Finally, delete the Windows XP installation folder (typically <drive letter>:\Windows), Documents and Settings and Program Files [if not shared with Winx/Me] from the XP hard drive or partition.

Remove Windows Vista or Delete Vista install Removing Vista from a dual boot system

Backup all data on your hard disks that can not be replaced before performing the step by step procedure below. This procedure is fairly difficult and should not be attempted unless you have a good background in computer usage and viable backups of the hard drive data that can be lost in the procedure.

1. Boot from your XP CD
2. Boot into recovery console by pressing "R" at the following screen.
3. Type command "FIXBOOT C:"
4. Type "FIXMBR", read warning messages, press "Y" to continue
5. Exit and reboot.
6. Edit Boot.ini and delete line with "Longhorn" or "Vista" on it, then delete the folder Vista resides in.

1. Insert the Windows XP CD into the CD-ROM drive.
2. Click Start and then click Run.
3. In the Open box, type:<CD drive letter>:\i386\winnt32.exe /cmdcons
4. A Windows Setup Dialog Box appears, which describes the Recovery Console option.
5. Restart the computer. You will see a "Microsoft Windows Recovery Console" entry on the boot menu. If Recovery Console does not accept a correct password click this Bug fix
6. The system prompts you to confirm installation. Click Yes to start the installation procedure.

A message indicating the "version of Windows on the system is newer than the version being installed" will happen if you applied Service Pack 2 and the CD media you are using to install is pre-SP2.

You will need to do one of the following.

1. If SP2 was applied as an update and the option to save the uninstall files was enabled, Uninstall SP2 from Add/Remove.

2. If Windows XP SP2 was preinstalled or installed from XP media with SP2 included, uninstall will not be an option. You will need to clean install with an older XP version or use one of the options in 3 and 4 or 5.

3. Use a slipstreamed XP CD with SP2.

4. Use a retail/OEM XP SP2 CD when available.

   SP2 work around fix

   ---

   Work around compliments of "Jon" from the msnews newsgroups.

   You can install Recovery Console, AFTER SP2 installation, via the following
   workaround.....
   
   For this you need the full network version of SP2.

   Downloadable from here.

   1. Open a command prompt in the folder containing the SP2 installer
      and type
      WindowsXP-KB835935-SP2-ENU.exe -x
      Choose a folder to extract the files to e.g. file:///c:/SP2files

   2. Make a backup of the file winnt32.exe in c:\windows\i386

   3. Replace the winnt32.exe file in c:\windows\i386 with the identically
      named file in C:\sp2files\i386 (or in the i386 folder in the folder where
      you extracted the files)

   4. Open a command prompt at c:\windows\i386
      Type winnt32.exe /cmdcons
      Recovery Console should install
      (Ignore the first error message, if any)

   5. Replace the winnt32.exe in c:\windows\i386 with its original version
      (created in step 2)
      
      Hope this works for you
      
      
      Jon

   ---