How can I get back to Windows ME?

Question

I loaded XP onto my dimension -during the installation my first mistake was formatting the drive in ntsf format and did not partion (wrote over windows ME) Now I want windows ME back and I can't seem to find a way to reformat the drive - I've tried reinstalling XP from the installation disk, but it doesn't ask me again to reformat the drive, I've tried format c: from the command prompt, but it won't lock the drive as windows is running, I've tried format c: from the restore console (before windows loads) and it acts like it is going format but then never does. Can anyone offer advice as to how to get xp off this drive and get ME back on? Thanks --

jackshack · Answer

The only way you're going to get Me back is to install it.  You must remove the existing partition and create a new one, followed by formatting the drive in FAT32.  Win Me uses FDISK for this purpose; if your computer will boot from a CD, set up the CD ROM as the first boot device, boot from the Win Me disk, and follow the steps necessary to perform a new installation.  I haven't done this in a long time, but you should get a menu that allows you to run FDISK.  Once there tell FDISK to delete the existing non-DOS partition, the one that is formatted in NTFS.  If FDISK won't do this for you, you should be able to boot the Win XP disk, tell the install program you want to perform a new installation, and use the tools there to delete the NTFS partition.  Once deleted you need to to create a FAT32 partition using the version of FDISK included with Win Me.  If your hard drive is smaller than 32 GB you can also create a FAT32 partition with the Win XP tools.  Once you have the partiton use the Win Me Format program to format and transfer the system files to the hard drive.  Once complete you can execute setup from the CD and follow the on screen directions.   If your computer can run Win XP I would think it could boot from a CD, but if not you will need to use the emergency start up 3.5' floppy to run FDISK, Format, and then make the CD ROM the default drive and execute setup.

Darrel112 · Answer

Just curious why would you want to go back to ME? It's one of the worse operating systems out there. My experience with it anyway. It crashed more than Win98, and many other problems too. My troubles ended when I upgrade to XP from ME.

simpswr · Answer

Wow . . I do beleive this is the first time to see someone wanting to go back to ME . . ( pardon the language)   If you have a legitimate XP install disc . . boot from it . . delete all partitions . . recreate one ( or more ) and install XP clean.   This is a great guide for reinstalling on a Dell:  http://www.djdenham.com/Install%20Procedures.htm

Windows General

How can I get back to Windows ME?

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