Help - How do I un-install Vista RC1 & fix the boot sequence

[User66]

I have a PC that has two OP system running (because I have lots
of junk), Windows XP Pro on D: Drive & Win98SE on C: Drive.
I had to load Vista RC1 on E: Drive, and it loaded OK, with some
exceptions. My network and the sound cards are not compatible
for Vista. At this point, I am not ready to replace these cards.
As I boot my PC, it gives me two choices first - boot from Vista
or boot from the other operating systems. When I select the second
choice, it takes me to the original boot sequence, where I can select
the WinXP or Win98SE. My question is -

(1) To remove the Vista RC1 from my PC, I have to
re-format the E: drive, but how do I manipulate the booting process,
so that I can return to my original boot sequences?

(2) Is there any easy way to learn to use the 'BCDEDIT.exe' to
modify Windows boot options?
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Original boot.ini file was like this :-

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Vista loading, the boot.ini file shows :-

;
;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
;
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
---------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

Bcdedit is only used for Vista's bootloader, you shouldn't need it for this.
You will probably find that Vista's boot files are on C:\, regardless of
where the system files are installed. To return to your XP bootloader, you
will need to boot the system with your WinXP CD and enter the Recovery
Console by hitting 'r' when first prompted. From the prompt, run fixmbr,
then fixboot. This will overwrite the Vista bootloader with XP's, and unless
you modify boot.ini, should also maintain the loader for Win98. After
loading XP successfully, you should be able to format the Vista volume from
Windows Explorer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[User66]

Thank you so much. Let me go through the process you have described.
If I get stuck, I will definitely repost for solution. Thanks again.

Hi,

Bcdedit is only used for Vista's bootloader, you shouldn't need it for this. You will probably find that Vista's boot
files are on C:\, regardless of where the system files are installed. To return to your XP bootloader, you will need
to boot the system with your WinXP CD and enter the Recovery Console by hitting 'r' when first prompted. From the
prompt, run fixmbr, then fixboot. This will overwrite the Vista bootloader with XP's, and unless you modify boot.ini,
should also maintain the loader for Win98. After loading XP successfully, you should be able to format the Vista
volume from Windows Explorer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

I have a PC that has two OP system running (because I have lots
of junk), Windows XP Pro on D: Drive & Win98SE on C: Drive.
I had to load Vista RC1 on E: Drive, and it loaded OK, with some
exceptions. My network and the sound cards are not compatible
for Vista. At this point, I am not ready to replace these cards.
As I boot my PC, it gives me two choices first - boot from Vista
or boot from the other operating systems. When I select the second
choice, it takes me to the original boot sequence, where I can select
the WinXP or Win98SE. My question is -

(1) To remove the Vista RC1 from my PC, I have to
re-format the E: drive, but how do I manipulate the booting process,
so that I can return to my original boot sequences?

(2) Is there any easy way to learn to use the 'BCDEDIT.exe' to
modify Windows boot options?
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Original boot.ini file was like this :-

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Vista loading, the boot.ini file shows :-

;
;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
;
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

 

[User66]

Yes it did work. I am back to my older boot system now.
Since I am unable to use or even view part of the Vista file
system, I have to re-format the disk. Since I want to use the
disk for both XP & 98, and the drive is larger than 40Gig,
I am formatting it as FAT32, by using the old fdisk & format
utility. Seems like I need a newer PC to work for Vista.
Thank you so much for the help.

Hi,

Bcdedit is only used for Vista's bootloader, you shouldn't need it for this. You will probably find that Vista's boot
files are on C:\, regardless of where the system files are installed. To return to your XP bootloader, you will need
to boot the system with your WinXP CD and enter the Recovery Console by hitting 'r' when first prompted. From the
prompt, run fixmbr, then fixboot. This will overwrite the Vista bootloader with XP's, and unless you modify boot.ini,
should also maintain the loader for Win98. After loading XP successfully, you should be able to format the Vista
volume from Windows Explorer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

I have a PC that has two OP system running (because I have lots
of junk), Windows XP Pro on D: Drive & Win98SE on C: Drive.
I had to load Vista RC1 on E: Drive, and it loaded OK, with some
exceptions. My network and the sound cards are not compatible
for Vista. At this point, I am not ready to replace these cards.
As I boot my PC, it gives me two choices first - boot from Vista
or boot from the other operating systems. When I select the second
choice, it takes me to the original boot sequence, where I can select
the WinXP or Win98SE. My question is -

(1) To remove the Vista RC1 from my PC, I have to
re-format the E: drive, but how do I manipulate the booting process,
so that I can return to my original boot sequences?

(2) Is there any easy way to learn to use the 'BCDEDIT.exe' to
modify Windows boot options?
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Original boot.ini file was like this :-

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Vista loading, the boot.ini file shows :-

;
;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
;
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

 

[Rick Rogers]

Glad to hear it worked for you. Vista really does need newer hardware to run
at its best.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

Yes it did work. I am back to my older boot system now.
Since I am unable to use or even view part of the Vista file
system, I have to re-format the disk. Since I want to use the
disk for both XP & 98, and the drive is larger than 40Gig,
I am formatting it as FAT32, by using the old fdisk & format
utility. Seems like I need a newer PC to work for Vista.
Thank you so much for the help.

Hi,

Bcdedit is only used for Vista's bootloader, you shouldn't need it for
this. You will probably find that Vista's boot files are on C:\,
regardless of where the system files are installed. To return to your XP
bootloader, you will need to boot the system with your WinXP CD and enter
the Recovery Console by hitting 'r' when first prompted. From the prompt,
run fixmbr, then fixboot. This will overwrite the Vista bootloader with
XP's, and unless you modify boot.ini, should also maintain the loader for
Win98. After loading XP successfully, you should be able to format the
Vista volume from Windows Explorer.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

I have a PC that has two OP system running (because I have lots
of junk), Windows XP Pro on D: Drive & Win98SE on C: Drive.
I had to load Vista RC1 on E: Drive, and it loaded OK, with some
exceptions. My network and the sound cards are not compatible
for Vista. At this point, I am not ready to replace these cards.
As I boot my PC, it gives me two choices first - boot from Vista
or boot from the other operating systems. When I select the second
choice, it takes me to the original boot sequence, where I can select
the WinXP or Win98SE. My question is -

(1) To remove the Vista RC1 from my PC, I have to
re-format the E: drive, but how do I manipulate the booting process,
so that I can return to my original boot sequences?

(2) Is there any easy way to learn to use the 'BCDEDIT.exe' to
modify Windows boot options?
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
Original boot.ini file was like this :-

[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-
After Vista loading, the boot.ini file shows :-

;
;Warning: Boot.ini is used on Windows XP and earlier operating systems.
;Warning: Use BCDEDIT.exe to modify Windows Vista boot options.
;
[boot loader]
timeout=5
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(1)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional D-Drive" /fastdetect /NoExecute=OptIn
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98 Sec. Edition C-Drive"
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-