Uninstalling XP, Installing Win 98 SE help

Hello everyone,

I'm new here, but am here because I need some serious help. Recently I got Windows 98 SE simply because one of my pc's was running to slow on the ram hog of XP. I'm still going to use XP on my other PC, but need WIN 98 SE for this other one. Basically, I need help on uninstalling Win XP SP2, and installing Win 98 SE.

I went to a Microsoft site to get some instructions, and found this:

1. Go to add/remove:did
2. Click Win XP Service Pack 2, remove:did
3. Follow instructions:did [did some stuff auto]
4. Perform a system restore: NOT
5. Run sfc/scannow: NOT

Okay, so I have a problem. I went to XP in about mid-late 2003, but when I do a system restore it only takes me back to Sept 05 and I can't go back any farther (Tried this on both comps..same thing happens). So basically, how do i get farther back in system restore, or are there any other ways to uninstall Win XP. Remember..I can always restore the uninstall of Win XP that I did earlier today if that needs to be done. Thank You, and please help me.

Ryan

 

System Restore only allows you to go back so far because it only uses a certain amount of memory. Eventually it has to overwrite your older restore points in order to create new ones. I am not sure what to tell you about uninstalling XP to install 98SE. The only way you can uninstall XP through Add/Remove programs is if it was originally an upgrade. If it was not an upgrade, I am not sure how you would go about removing it. Hang tight though, someone will have an answer for that part of the question.

By the way, Welcome to Major Geeks!

 

If you used NTFS while formatting your drive during the installation of XP,
reboot with a W98SE bootdisk, start fdisk, (if fdisk shows a non dos partition then it's NTFS.) remove the partition on which XP was installed, create a new primary partition, activate it and fomat it with the FAT32 filesystem.

If not, just format the partition on which XP resides after booting from a W98 bootdisk. Now you can reinstall W98SE.

Steve

 

Steve, I'm not sure.

I didn't install XP, Future Shop did..lol, but that was 2+ yrs ago. Do you think they would have used it?

 

I would not play with uninstalls. I would just reformat the sucker from the 98 disk and load 98 on it from that. Waste of time playing with uninstalls for operateing systems .
-the new tech guy

 

If you have a Windows 98SE CD, then it's bootable, meaning you can set your Bios to boot from CD, and with the disc in the drive, reboot and follow the prompts to completely format and install.


If that fails for some reason, then use a Windows 98SE bootdisc.

You can either make your own, or you can download the necessary files and put them on a floppy.

 

To get the HD really clean.

WIPE OUT
http://www.lurkhere.com/~nicefiles/index.html
Freeware.
WIPE OUT: as the name implies, this utility will absolutely WIPE your hard drive. For those
times when an industrial strength cleaner is needed to remove any pesky files Fdisk may have
left behind. A readme file is included in the zip file. WARNING...WIPE OUT will remove ALL data
from the Hard Drive.

DIRECTIONS

1- Unzip file
2- Copy WIPEOUT to a Win9x boot disk
3- Boot with Win9x disk, make sure the bios is set to boot from floppy 1st.
4- At the A:\> type "wipeout c: /nq /np" (no quotes)
/nq = no queries - you will not be asked if you are sure.
/np = no partitions - this will overwrite the MBR

Press Enter.

Now run fdisk to set up partitions.
When done, reboot & format.

 

im a little confused..

I have the Win 98 SE disk at my house. I also have the XP one. I just need to learn how to get WIN 98 SE onto my computer..and use it instead of XP, but also get rid of XP b/c it's a memory hog!

Insomniac: If you have a Windows 98SE CD, then it's bootable, meaning you can set your Bios to boot from CD, and with the disc in the drive, reboot and follow the prompts to completely format and install.

I suppose I can do this then..but could you be more precise with instructions..are do you know any site that can help?

 

We have it HERE, like we do most programs.

This site can only exist if we support it.


Ryan44, it's really very simple. Set your Bios to boot from CD, insert your Windows 98 CD and reboot, and just follow the prompts on the screen.

It's the exact same procedure as installing XP.

There really isn't any more to it. If it won't let you format for some reason, use a startup floppy to format and install.

HERE are the steps.

 

This should help you, http://www.windows98.windowsreinstall.com/this will also help with the Bios (Insomniac's post) in case you do not have a 98 bootdisc

OR use the instructions below:

Steve

 

Oooops, didn't check before I posted. Sorry Insomniac.

Steve

 

No problems, you're always welcome. The more the merrier.

 

Okay, so if I do this whole booting process, XP will be officially gone right? I did the Add/Remove thing with XP like I said earlier...and it did all that automatic uninstallation stuff. So if I follow these instructions with the bios and booting, I will be ready for WIN 98 SE?

 

Yes, just follow the directions in your preferred link.

If you get stuck somewhere, just post back, but it's really very simple stuff.

 

Okay, just one more Question...lol

Should I use the WipOUT program? If so, do I wipe out my C Drive?

I will set my BIOS to the correct setting b/c after the wipe out..it restarts..so i will have my WIN 98 SE disk in the D-drive correct?

 

The easiest way, and the first thing I would do is to just try the Windows 98SE CD on it's own.

Then if that won't work, use the startup floppy, and if that fails, use something like WipeOut, but I doubt you will need it.


Again, set your Bios to boot from CD Rom as the first device, insert the CD, reboot and follow the prompts.

 

okay..what the..lol, i'm sorta stupid with pc's..i'm more of a graphics type person. Okay.. how do i get into my bios to change the first device to CD Rom? That's all i need.

 

Hey, don't put yourself down like that! Let me do it.

To enter the Bios can vary.

Usually, as you are booting, you will see writing at the bottom of the screen telling you to press (whatever) to enter the Bios or setup.

That key is usually Del (delete), or F1, or Esc, or F11 etc.

You need to repeatedly tap the key.

If you don't enter the Bios, you either didn't tap it enough, or it's the wrong key.

 

Okay.. so.

Reboot, enter bios.
Change it to CD Rom blah blah.

Then, put disk in.
Then reboot again?

 

Yes.

When you are in the Bios, change the first device to CD Rom, but make sure you save the setting before you exit.

It will tell you at the bottom of the screen which key to press to save and exit.

 

Okay, I did the whole CD Rom first thing. Then when my PC restarted, I got the choice to choose from booting the CD from either Hard Drive or the CD Rom. If I chose CD Rom, I can continue, but it advises me that it is mainly for a PC that doesn't have an operating system already, but i can continue..however i was afraid and exited. Or, if I did the boot from hard drive, I would enter back into XP like usual. Which one am i suppose to chose?

Ryan

 

Boot from CD Rom.

If you boot from hard drive, it will just load the operating system installed, which you don't want.

 

I know this has been largely implied already, but just because you sound like a fairly new user, I just have to spell things out for my own peice of mind- to uninstall Windows XP and go back to Windows 98, you are going to have to format (wipe out, erase) your C:\drive, then put Windows 98 on a clean, new c:\ drive. So any information you want to keep (like pictures, files, finanicial information, etc), you are going to have to save to a CD, DVD, flash drive, etc. before going through with the proceedure. Sorry if this has already been covered or if I'm just stating the obvious (which I am ), but I used to work on phone tech support before and have had a few bad experiences with people who did not really understand what a hard drive format meant, and so a little over-cautious about any possible mis-understandings in these matters!

 

Ok...i got it installed, and then when it restarts my computer for the first time, it asks for a serial number.

Only one problem, I don't have one. Apparently when WIN 98 SE was first put onto one of my PC's, the guy at the store did it. He never gave me a box or anything, just a disk in a paper case. It is a real CD, and not some illegal burnt thing of what ever. What should I do? Also, the store that installed 98 is no longer there...so there's a major problem. Is there any way to get around this?

 

Never mind,

My mom ended up having his number and went through some files. Luckily we found a serial number and it worked.

Thank You to everyone who helped, espescially Insomniac