Removing Vista

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TheGOAT

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Hey
I cant remove Vista from my laptop, when i boot to the XP CD it goes a bit then just blue screens and gives me some error.
Is there some secret to Vista or what?

Thanks
 
You could at the very least tell us what this error it gives is
 
milomak said:
You could at the very least tell us what this error it gives is
Click to expand...
Where's the challenge in that?

TheGOAT: With blue screens, I usually start by testing the memory with memtest86. If that passes OK, then disable all the integrated stuff like sound/lan etc in the bios then try installing again.
 
What laptop?

I hear some of them are a b1tch to remove Vista/install another OS like XP, i.e. some HPs.
 
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u could try formating your hard drive using a linux cd - try OpenSuse(dvd) or Ubuntu.
 
Cute Partition Manager - freeware, makes a bootable CD and you can use it then to
delete the Vista partition and make a new NTFS/FAT32 partition for XP.
 
PeterCH said:
Cute Partition Manager - freeware, makes a bootable CD and you can use it then to
delete the Vista partition and make a new NTFS/FAT32 partition for XP.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't try that unless you can get the XP CD to boot.

The problem is most likely a driver issue. You will need to find out what IDE/SATA controller your laptop has and then put the drivers on a disk. When the Windows XP CD starts to boot, press F6 and it will prompt for the disk.

What laptop is it?
 
Had similiar problem with two of the Work HP laptops that came cursed with Vista.
both gave the problem of not finding a HDD to install XP on.

problem was solved by switching to Legacy sata in the bios..
XP setup then detected the HDD without any hassles


Problem with SATA/SCSI drivers is that most new laptops no longer has a stiffy drive. and AFAIK it doesnt help to copy it to a cd, but havent tested this yet.

I have seen a guide somewhere on how to merge sata drivers with your XP install disc, and the reburning it..... damnit should have saved that link.. :(


Model/ Make of laptop can help. Google is your friend after that information.
 
Could try to set the Bios to run the HDD in IDE compaitibity if it has that on a Laptop?
or....
Throw the laptop under a truck and blame Vista and Insanity and sue Microsoft for a new one and specify that XP was on it! :D
 
Neo_X said:
Had similiar problem with two of the Work HP laptops that came cursed with Vista.
both gave the problem of not finding a HDD to install XP on.

problem was solved by switching to Legacy sata in the bios..
XP setup then detected the HDD without any hassles
Click to expand...
You surmise correctly: XP doesn't have native SATA drivers, it's part of the F6-at-start-of-setup routine.

Problem with SATA/SCSI drivers is that most new laptops no longer has a stiffy drive. and AFAIK it doesnt help to copy it to a cd, but havent tested this yet.
Click to expand...
This is pretty much my main reason for hanging onto my USB stiffy drive - and you can merge the drivers into a new, custom setup CD...

I have seen a guide somewhere on how to merge sata drivers with your XP install disc, and the reburning it..... damnit should have saved that link.. :(
Click to expand...
...with nLite :rolleyes:
 
TheGOAT said:
Hey
I cant remove Vista from my laptop, when i boot to the XP CD it goes a bit then just blue screens and gives me some error.
Is there some secret to Vista or what?

Thanks
Click to expand...

secret ?
nah.... it's just good ole trash. :D
 
I've actually got a similar problem, I was dual booting Vista and XP but when I had to repair XP, when the PC restarted the Vista boot up option was gone. I have tried editing the boot.ini file but with no success.
 
LilJohn said:
I've actually got a similar problem, I was dual booting Vista and XP but when I had to repair XP, when the PC restarted the Vista boot up option was gone. I have tried editing the boot.ini file but with no success.
Click to expand...

Acronis?

or

Try the Cute Partition Manager thing.

Download it, make a bootable CD, then boot with that. It will show you all your partitions,
then you could HIDE the XP partition and possibly REPAIR the Vista install from the Vista
DVD.

Would a hidden partition stay hidden to the OS? Maybe inactivating it would also work.
Anyhow HIDING a partion won't destroy or corrupt it.
 
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Shouldn't a reapir install of Vista repair the MBR? Or if there is a Recovery Console running fixmbr from there?
 
LilJohn said:
Thank you Peter, I thought you were on to something until u.....said..this $10:eek:, just to repair my boot file wow, thats really amazing!
Click to expand...

It does more than that. It has full Partition management facilities and
a seperate Boot Manager/OS Selector. You'll be able to create/modify/resize
your partitions without data loss - I also have PM8 but it crashes sometimes.

Why not download the shareware version (free) and see what it says about your
Vista installation.
 
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