How to Uninstall Windows XP from the PC
Level of difficulty: Easy
A computer used to run on Windows 98 or ME and was upgraded to XP automatically saves a copy of the old Operating System. This is so you may go back to the previous version of your Operating System in case you change your mind and wish to uninstall the upgrade or use the older or previous version installed in your system. Any data created or modified before upgrading to the new OS will also have remained unchanged. Applications, however, are a different story since there are registry entries to complicate matters. You may need to uninstall and reinstall these.
Materials Needed:- Computer with Windows XP installed
- portable storage device for backing up files (optional)
- XP CD (optional)
Step 1
Back up important documents and files before uninstalling.
Step 2
A computer used to run on Windows 98 or ME and was upgraded to XP automatically saves a copy of the old Operating System. This is so you may go back to the previous version of your OS in case you change your mind and wish to uninstall the upgrade. Any data created or modified before upgrading to the new OS will also have remained unchanged. Applications, however, are a different story since there are registry entries to complicate matters. You may need to uninstall and reinstall these.
Step 3
Make sure that you have not created any new partitions on the hard drive since upgrading to Windows XP. If this happens, you will no longer have the option to uninstall Windows XP.
Step 4
Go to 'Start', click on 'Control Panel', and double click the 'Add/Remove Programs' icon. You will see a Windows XP Uninstall in the menu. Click on this and choose 'Change/Remove'.
Step 5
An Uninstall applet will appear. This makes you aware of all the applications that have been installed and modified ever since the installation of the Windows XP Operating System. As mentioned previously, these programs will have to be uninstalled and, if you still need them, re-installed to create registry entries suited to the OS you will be reverting to. If you still want to proceed with the installation, click on 'Continue'.
Step 6
A confirmation box will make sure that you really want to uninstall Windows XP. Choose 'Yes'.
Step 7
A pop-up will inform you that Windows XP will now be uninstalled from your system. Your computer will shut down.
Step 8
The computer will restart and the un-installation process will begin. The computer will restart again and upon booting, the OS prior to XP will launch.
Step 9
You also have the option of uninstalling Windows XP while in Recovery console. To do this, you must boot your computer using the Windows XP CD. On the first menu, choose Recovery Console. You will be asked to log in. Input 'cd\' and then press the 'Enter' key.
Step 10
Type 'cd\windows\system32' and 'osuninst.exe', while pressing the 'Enter' key after each one.
Step 11
Windows XP will start uninstalling.