Guide How To: Remove Windows Vista Safely !!?

After playing around with Vista for a few days, you may want to remove it from your system, and reclaim the hard drive space. Microsoft has made this step very simple as well.

1. Boot your computer in to Windows XP.
2. Ensure you have the Vista DVD image emulated or in the DVD drive.
3. Go to “Start†and “Runâ€. Type in “e:\boot\bootsect.exe /nt52 ALL /force†(without quotes, and replacing e: with the drive letter of your Vista DVD).
4. Restart the computer, and you will notice the boot selection menu is gone.
5. Format the partition/drive where you had Vista installed.
6. Remove two files (Boot.BAK & Bootsect.BAK) on your XP drive’s root folder (C, these were backup files of your previous bootloader, now no longer useful.
7. Optional: Restart to ensure it still works.
8. Use your partition software to merge your partitions together.

source:
Installing and uninstalling Windows Vista for dual-boot with XP - istartedsomething

 

[Deathbearer]

thankx might come handy some day

 

[thewebnsoft]

I have got the machine with Windows Vista installed from the manufacturer, but i dont want to use and want to use my own Windows XP licenses instead, but when i try to install XP, setup gives an error that There is problem with hard disk partitions.. how can I install windows xp, by removing windows vista, and i have standalone windows vista..?

 

[rajshah]

Just format the entire partition !

Boot from Xp cd.. format the partition with Vista and make a fresh Xp install !

 

[Eazy]

when i try to install XP, setup gives an error that There is problem with hard disk partitions

I had this same problem, I finally got rid of all traces of Vista by running freeware Ranish Partition Manager and deleting all partitions

 

[blr_p]

After playing around with Vista for a few days, you may want to remove it from your system, and reclaim the hard drive space.

i found this slightly funny :rofl:

Why would you want to do this after having paid good money for it ?

 

[deathvirus_me]

U know , Vista Boot Pro can do the exact same thing , plus its fully automated .. .. nice guide btw !!

 

[Dark Star]

Yeah people cry much after installing Windows So I should say an excellent tutorial .. Thanks

 

[abbY]

I have one HDD with two partitions
and one of the partitions has vista....after following your procedure how can i remove vista by deleting the files instead of formatting the partition

 

[rajshah]

^ Just shift + delete all vista files from Xp !