How to uninstall vista...

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My notebook computer(Thinkpad T43) has only one partition... I installed
vista yesterday. It moved my windows xp("program files","windows","documents
and settings") to a folder named windows.old...
I want to uninstall vista....How to ?
I really unable to format my harddrive(80GB)...a lot of important files....
 
First, did you back up your data before you installed Vista. If not
consider this to be a learning experiance. In the future, before installing
unstable and bug ridden operating systems, such as Vista Beta 2:

1) back up your data. Then after you have backed up the data, make an image
of your operating system drive.

2) come to the relevant newsgroup and spend several days reading before you
install the nasty bug ridden OS.

There are at least two ways to install Vista with one partition. The usual
way is to upgrade XP to Vista. If that is what you did, your data should be
in the Vista installation, and you should be able to back it up. Do that
first.

Now the bad news, if you upgraded Windows XP to Vista, then XP is gone, and
you cannot uninstall Vista. To get back to Windows XP you must back up your
data, reformat the partition and reinstall XP. Notice that I keep repeating
"back up your data". Find your data and back it up. If you can't find it,
or you don't back it up you are really screwed.

If you installed Vista on the same partition as XP then, you have gone
against Microsofts stern warnings, and you have a dangerously unstable
system far worse than just the Beta OS itself, but it is possible to remove
the Vista install and get XP working again, but most people have not had
good luck with this.

Unless you have a lot of time and really want to have a new learning
experiance, find your data, back it up, and reformat your partition.

Todd
 
Ok i am very confused, and do not know a whole lot about this type of
thing... All i know is i installed vista, and want it off. Heres the deal, i
installed vista as an upgrade, on my computer, XP came with my computer when
purchased, All i want to know is can i not just simple, go out, repurchase XP
andinstall it just like i did Vista over my XP?

If not i know this is a lot of trouble but can someone give me a link to a
detailed tutorial on how to go back to XP,

My plan was to transfer all my info on to my external HD and then just to a
system RECOVERY, so it goes back to factory settings, IS THIS BAD?

Please i need help big time, LoL
 
No. Use the recovery. If recovery is started with a function key during
system startup and that does not appear to work, Vista overwrote the code
and you need a fix from the computer manufacturer. The manufacturer is
prepared for this issue. Otherwise you will restore your system to its
factory condition.
 
You cannot install XP over Vista. You however can use an XP install disk
and reformat the partition and install a fresh copy of XP. If you have any
data you need to save from Vista, copy it to your external HD first. After
you get XP set up you can copy your data back into it. There is no
RECOVERY. One way street only.
 
Well, that may not be true. For example, if he has a recent Dell, then
there IS a recovery partition and he can restore it to factory fresh.

Tom
 
He said he was going to buy a copy of XP. Sounds like he doesn't have a
recovery setup or xp disk. Just going by his words.
 
Yeah. Either that or just frustrated. My concern is that there is a
drivers disk he needs to even get on the internet. Anyway, I'm all for
saving him that expense. Trip to the store, buy Upgrade by mistake because
its cheaper, and so on. I'm not looking forward to this.
 
There are a lot of computer assemblers that supply an XP disk or Recovery
disk that he could use if he has it or can contact the assembler and obtain
one. He would probably end up with additional software also, but to divine
that he has a recent Dell and not allow for the other assemblers seems
myopic when no such situation is indicated. Carnac The Magnificent next.
 
I don't believe I divined anything. Reread the sentence. I said "if",
using Dell as an example.

Tom
 
Ok thanks for all your reposts on my question.
This is my plan, i contacted, my computers, company, in this case, Compaq.
And order XP Pro. I also bought a external HD. 300 Gb. Man a lot of money,
but i wanted one anyway. And my plan is to copy all my info i want save to
it, and to just, i really dont know from there? I guess system RESTORE, so it
goes back to factory settings, Please let me know if this sounds good? Thanks
agien... AJ
 
Ok thanks for all your reposts on my question.
This is my plan, i contacted, my computers, company, in this case, Compaq.
And order XP Pro. I also bought a external HD. 300 Gb. Man a lot of money,
but i wanted one anyway. And my plan is to copy all my info i want save to
it, and to just, i really dont know from there? I guess system RESTORE, so it
goes back to factory settings, Please let me know if this sounds good? Thanks
agien... AJ
 
Ok thanks for all your reposts on my question.
This is my plan, i contacted, my computers, company, in this case, Compaq.
And order XP Pro. I also bought a external HD. 300 Gb. Man a lot of money,
but i wanted one anyway. And my plan is to copy all my info i want save to
it, and to just, i really dont know from there? I guess system RESTORE, so it
goes back to factory settings, Please let me know if this sounds good? Thanks
agien... AJ
 
Wow guys sorry about the tripple post here! I have no clue how that happended
but, sorry non- the less.
 
It's a bug in the web-based newsreader. Well known.

Don't confuse System Restore with a backup restore. The latter is what you
use to restore everything that was on a Volume or just selected files.
 
Why not? Whats wrong with it?
Also i dont know if i neglected to mention, but my computer has two hard
drives... C: and D: The D: drive is for restore, and backup.
 
You did neglect. If you can get the restore partition to work, go for it.
If you have problems, search the newsgroup for solutions when the factory
procedures won't work because of changes Vista has made.
 
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