removing windows xp

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I recently installed a "borrowed" copy of XP. I am now stuck on the
activation screen and can not activate. I need to uninstall it. I am going
to have to do it from DOS I think. I don't know what command to type in to
do it. I do not want to have to format as I don't have the drivers to put
back in. Any Suggestions on how I can do this?
 
ilvpegasus said:
I recently installed a "borrowed" copy of XP. I am now stuck on the
activation screen and can not activate. I need to uninstall it. I am going
to have to do it from DOS I think. I don't know what command to type in to
do it. I do not want to have to format as I don't have the drivers to put
back in. Any Suggestions on how I can do this?
Click to expand...


The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format
the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

Only if you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to backup
the old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, can
you then boot into Safe Mode and click Start > Control Panel
Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions must be met for the
Click to expand...
uninstall option to be available.


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Bruce Chambers

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Thanks for the help. Unfortunetly none of the conditions you mentioned apply
to mine situation.
 
ilvpegasus said:
I recently installed a "borrowed" copy of XP. I am now stuck on
the activation screen and can not activate. I need to uninstall
it. I am going to have to do it from DOS I think. I don't know
what command to type in to do it. I do not want to have to
format as I don't have the drivers to put back in. Any
Suggestions on how I can do this?
Click to expand...

Bruce said:
The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to
format the hard drive and install a new OS of your choice.

Only if you performed an upgrade from Win98/Me, elected to
backup the old system files, and didn't convert the partition to NTFS, can
you then boot into Safe Mode and click Start > Control Panel
Add/Remove Programs. All of these conditions must be met for
the uninstall option to be available.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help. Unfortunetly none of the conditions you
mentioned apply to mine situation.
Click to expand...

Actually - the FIRST one applies to everyone...
'The normal way to "uninstall" any operating system is to format the hard
drive and install a new OS of your choice.'

This sentence makes no sense from your original posting, "I do not want to
have to format as I don't have the drivers to put back in."...

What does that mean...? You are needing to get rid of Windows XP because the
copy you installed/product key you utilized is not legitimate and you cannot
activate. You mentioned no other OS - no other Windows XP license you have,
etc... So at this point - the only way we can tell you to get rid of the
illegitimate XP (uninstall it) is to format it. If you do not have another
OS to do that - then I guess you will havew to purchase one or do without.
;-)
 
I have Windows 98 to put back in. I purchased the computer refurbished and
was not given any dicks containing the drivers. I was sure that you could go
into DOS and remove the Windows directory then just install a new one, but no
one seems to know the proper command to type in. Is this actually possible?
 
ilvpegasus said:
I have Windows 98 to put back in. I purchased the computer
refurbished and was not given any dicks containing the drivers. I
was sure that you could go into DOS and remove the Windows
directory then just install a new one, but no one seems to know the
proper command to type in. Is this actually possible? "Shenan
Click to expand...

No.
There is no true DOS in Windows XP.

You can boot from a DOS/Windows 98 DOS boot diskette (you'll have to to
reinstall Windows 98 anyway) and FDKISK to erase the partitions and create
new ones.

As for the drivers - you can download individual drivers from the web
support pages for the hardware in your machine.
 
Sorry but I hit the send button too soon. What I meant to say was you can
not do this the way you are asking "from DOS" non destructively.
 
I recently installed a "borrowed" copy of XP. I am now stuck on the
activation screen and can not activate. I need to uninstall it. I am going
to have to do it from DOS I think. I don't know what command to type in to
do it. I do not want to have to format as I don't have the drivers to put
back in. Any Suggestions on how I can do this?
Click to expand...
___________________________________________________________________
hi,
if u r having two or more than one drive... then u can install xp in
another drive........
example....
c: and d: are two drive
c: OS already install with driver

install xp in d: during the process of installation allmost allthe
drivers ( graphics, sound...) will be AUTOMATICALLY detected and
accepted from c: to d:

next time you put the xp cd and boot....... and format c:

difference IS THAT : a new OS with DRIVER in D:
_____________________________________________________________________

DOS COMMAND TO FORMAT DRIVE :
A:\>format C:
WILL FORMAT C:.... BUT IT WILL FARMAT ALONG WITH
DRIVER.
 
Provided the XP setup was to a FAT32 formatted partition then yes you can
boot a Windows 98 Startup Disk and use the Deltree command to delete the
existing Windows Directory. But that won't solve your problem of not having
drivers because by deleting the Windows Directory you delete the registry
and all references to any currently installed drivers. Even if you could
retain the drivers they would be specific to Windows XP or perhaps Windows
2000 and might not be accepted by Windows 98 anyway.

Anyway for what it is worth the DOS Command would be this

DELTREE C:\WINDOWS
 
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