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Uninstallin Windows XP
I got my Dell 8300 in Nov. 2003. After numerous problems, Dell replaced mother board, video card, hard drive, installation disks, and something else in February. It's been running better but now that I have stuff loaded on, it's starting to send Microsoft error messages weekly with something hanging up, IE 6 doesn't work right and game programs hang up. I can't get the fellow who took care of previous problems to answer phone calls or emails. With IE6, I've had cable co. here and everything is set right---they suggested I have a bad disk. I'm going to buy Win. XP Professional to replace the Win XP Home I have. All the articles say how to remove and revert to a previous edition, but this is the original windows. I think that from all of the times I had to crash computer and reinstall my disk, it went bad. I had reinstalled it 5 or 6 times when they were trying to fix. I'm hoping there is a way without having to crash the computer. Please don't tell me to call because I can't understand their phone answerers and they don't understand me. I wish this computer was 5 years old so I could replace it.
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Posted April 18th, 2004 23:00
If you only have one partition of HD then do a Clean Install by first deleting the existing XP Home partition during install from XP CD.
If you have a small about 32 MB partition it was OEM DELL installed & if it can't be accessed by option to press F12 at startup (boot) It can only be Deleted.
If option to use F12 exsits it should be shown on first screen (DELL Logo screen).Use this link which gives text & lager Pictures & set BIOS to boot from CD drive as first choice.
(see previous Reply info)
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxppro/installxpcdoldhdd/part1.htmMessage Edited by gryjhnhpe on 04-19-2004 08:23 PM
613
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Posted April 18th, 2004 23:00
Most of the sites seem to be for uninstalling an upgrade. This is the one Dell installed on the Computer when I got it. Do I have to erase everything in order to install a Windows XP I'm going to buy.613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 01:00
astikali,
You can do a clean install of XP Professional using an Upgrade CD. You don't need a full copy. If you check the third and fourth links in gryjhnhpe's first post you will see that they describe how you can format your hard drive as a part of the installation process (in steps 5 and 6 respectively). Since you will be formatting the hard disk there is no need to remove anything from the disk prior to doing the installation. In fact, it is easier not to, as the Upgrade CD will detect the installation of XP Home during its installation so you will not be required to prove that you are upgrading from a qualifying operating system.
613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 12:00
It's all right to install a new good cd on a corrupt program? We have a limited knowledge of computers so a lot of technical talk causes my brain to shut down and take a while to sink in. I finally understand that a "clean install" means you're installing over another program? The reason I wanted to uninstall the current Windows is because it's starting to make the computer act like it was before Dell replaced most of the parts in it. If I have this right---I can install an upgrade Win XP Pro over a Win XP home and it will get rid of the bad whatevers on the original Win XP Home program? Sorry to be a pest, but I don't want to mess it up since it is still new.613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 14:00
astikali,
A "clean install" means that you are removing everything on the hard disk before installing the new operating system. You will not be installing it "over" anything. Formatting during the installation does remove the previous Windows XP installation (and everything else on the hard disk).
613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 16:00
Thank you so much for explaining. I have another question. We have 2 hard drives. Would I be able to transfer the pictures, gifs, etc. that I've downloaded, from hard drive C to hard drive D? When I do the clean install of a new XP on hard drive C, will it do anything to hard drive D? We really don't know how it works so there is nothing on it. Since this seems like something major to us, would this be something that a Computer repair person could do easily? When we do the clean install, does that remove programs we've installed? Photo Programs, PSP, Card Programs, etc.? Will the upgrade Windows XP Pro install when I have XP home now? Everyone says that I should go with the Pro. I don't have a clue about the differences, just need something to work.613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 18:00
Most people don't find the extra features of XP Pro necessary unless they use it for business.
See Microsoft info http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/whichxp.asp
Just do a Clean Install of XP Home as I previous said & won't interfere with other HD is you have two.You can easily transfer "My Picture" etc to use other HD by first creating a new Folder on other HD called "My Documents" then right click on "My Document" Folder of existing XP OS HD.
Select "Properties" then "Move" button , select a Destination Folder by clicking "My Computer" & navigate to new "My Documents" Folder etc.When you Clean Install Windows XP Home you only have to do the above again & re-select the "My Documents" Folder on other HD to re-store all the old "My Documents" Folders/files.
All installed Programs are deleted by a Clean Install as Denny Denham explained.Message Edited by gryjhnhpe on 04-20-2004 08:27 AM
613
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Posted April 19th, 2004 18:00
Thanks so much. I just didn't know what a clean install was and when I was reinstalling something over a bad program, I didn't realize it would erase the old program.
gryjhnhpe
2 Intern
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1956 Posts
613
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Posted April 18th, 2004 22:00
If you haven't tried a Clean Install you should as New Installation from within Windows may cause problems later.
Use the below links for info on a Clean Install then install Drivers from DELL Drivers & Utilities (Resource) CD with Windows XP started ,
just insert Driver CD & click OK.
I have shown Supersite & Elder Geek links last as they assumes Clean Install status so doesn't include step to delete existing partition & so achieve Clean Install status.
(Clean Install status , ie: no Windows OS installed on HD).
Use this link & select XP Home or PRO then method , ie: Used Hard Drive , Multi_Page has text & large pictures of Clean Install.
http://www.windowsreinstall.com/
Use this link for Clean Install of XP , if you click on Pictures they Expand for easy view
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html (Delete existing partition at step 10b for Clean Install)
or use this link ( *** Delete existing partition at step 5 for Clean Install ***)
http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sg_clean.asp
or use this link (***Delete exiting partition at Fig 06 for a Clean Install**)
http://www.theeldergeek.com/xp_home_install_-_graphic.htm
Clean Install deletes existing partition (like FDISK) & Formats HD during Install of Windows XP from XP CD.
Set BIOS to use CD-ROM as 1st boot device usually by pressing "F2" key during boot (startup),
for some Computers press "Del" key. (the Key should be shown on first screen displayed at startup)
Re-start Computer & when message "Press any key to boot from CD" shows do it & let subsequent messages "Press any key...." time out to Windows setup.