vista in dual-boot: want to go back to XP and delete Vista

Colin, I have a triple boot system, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro and
Vista and i have removed Vista without any issue. All i did was booted into
Vista and then run Vistaboot Pro (obviously the original poster will need to
download a copy of Vistaboot pro) I then got Vistaboot pro to remove the
Vista bootloader so that when i rebooted the pc my boot menu only contained
Windows XP Home and XP Pro. After that i simply deleted the Vista partition.
Afterwards everything seemsed to run okay both on XP Home and XP Pro.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..

"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:OX1Xen9wGHA.1808@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> You cannot return to XP without a complete fresh installation of XP.
>
> Do not install Vista on a production or primary home computer. Only
> install it on a box you can safely dedicate to testing.
>
> If you do install it on a computer that has files important to you only do
> so by ensuring that the hard drive you install Vista on is disabled when
> you want to use XP. You can do this through the BIOS or by physically
> changing out drives.
>
> Even in a dual boot scenario it is possible to lose the XP installation
> and your files while using Vista.
>
> This is beta software. I would not even do it when the release candidate
> comes out sometime around the second week of September.
>
> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...

>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista partition,
>> 2)
>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no boot
>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>> likely
>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>> Appreciate
>> your advise.

>
>

Just because it works sometimes does not mean it is safe all the time. It
is beta. MS advises not to install on a production or primary home computer
and they do not qualify that advice with "except on separate partitions."
With good reasons.

I triple boot also; XP Pro x64 and both Vistas. But on a test box.

Knowing what I do about what booting into XP does to Vista shadow copies,
previous versions of files, and system restore points, I have no intention
of multi-booting Vista gold with XP. I don't care for third party boot
managers that can hide Vista from XP nor do I want to use bitlocker on my
desktop at home. When Vista releases it will be Vista on one machine and XP
on another. All the way.

"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:eyAHwLJxGHA.4256@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Colin, I have a triple boot system, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro and
> Vista and i have removed Vista without any issue. All i did was booted
> into Vista and then run Vistaboot Pro (obviously the original poster will
> need to download a copy of Vistaboot pro) I then got Vistaboot pro to
> remove the Vista bootloader so that when i rebooted the pc my boot menu
> only contained Windows XP Home and XP Pro. After that i simply deleted the
> Vista partition. Afterwards everything seemsed to run okay both on XP Home
> and XP Pro.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
> either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail..
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:OX1Xen9wGHA.1808@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> You cannot return to XP without a complete fresh installation of XP.
>>
>> Do not install Vista on a production or primary home computer. Only
>> install it on a box you can safely dedicate to testing.
>>
>> If you do install it on a computer that has files important to you only
>> do so by ensuring that the hard drive you install Vista on is disabled
>> when you want to use XP. You can do this through the BIOS or by
>> physically changing out drives.
>>
>> Even in a dual boot scenario it is possible to lose the XP installation
>> and your files while using Vista.
>>
>> This is beta software. I would not even do it when the release candidate
>> comes out sometime around the second week of September.
>>
>> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...

>>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista
>>> partition, 2)
>>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no boot
>>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>>> likely
>>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>>> Appreciate
>>> your advise.

>>
>>

>
>

Colin it doesn't work 'sometimes' it works every single time and has done
since the first build of Vista that testers received. I can understand your
concern but not everyone has two or three machines. I would hazard a guess
that 'most' public beta testers are using Vista on a single machine. While
Microsoft do not actively suggest using it on production machine most of the
Microsoft develops are using ti in every day situations instead of XP - in
other words on production machines rather than test machines. I have only
one PC therefore my only option is to triple boot, so, theoretically i am
using a production machine. Fortunately each and every partition is imaged
so that, should anything go wrong, all partitions can be re-imaged and
normal service can be resumed.

--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for any
direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use
of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this mail..

"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:eYn8YINxGHA.4872@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Just because it works sometimes does not mean it is safe all the time. It
> is beta. MS advises not to install on a production or primary home
> computer and they do not qualify that advice with "except on separate
> partitions." With good reasons.
>
> I triple boot also; XP Pro x64 and both Vistas. But on a test box.
>
> Knowing what I do about what booting into XP does to Vista shadow copies,
> previous versions of files, and system restore points, I have no intention
> of multi-booting Vista gold with XP. I don't care for third party boot
> managers that can hide Vista from XP nor do I want to use bitlocker on my
> desktop at home. When Vista releases it will be Vista on one machine and
> XP on another. All the way.
>
> "John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
> news:eyAHwLJxGHA.4256@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> Colin, I have a triple boot system, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro and
>> Vista and i have removed Vista without any issue. All i did was booted
>> into Vista and then run Vistaboot Pro (obviously the original poster will
>> need to download a copy of Vistaboot pro) I then got Vistaboot pro to
>> remove the Vista bootloader so that when i rebooted the pc my boot menu
>> only contained Windows XP Home and XP Pro. After that i simply deleted
>> the Vista partition. Afterwards everything seemsed to run okay both on XP
>> Home and XP Pro.
>>
>> --
>> John Barnett MVP
>> Associate Expert
>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>
>> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in
>> this mail..
>>
>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>> news:OX1Xen9wGHA.1808@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>> You cannot return to XP without a complete fresh installation of XP.
>>>
>>> Do not install Vista on a production or primary home computer. Only
>>> install it on a box you can safely dedicate to testing.
>>>
>>> If you do install it on a computer that has files important to you only
>>> do so by ensuring that the hard drive you install Vista on is disabled
>>> when you want to use XP. You can do this through the BIOS or by
>>> physically changing out drives.
>>>
>>> Even in a dual boot scenario it is possible to lose the XP installation
>>> and your files while using Vista.
>>>
>>> This is beta software. I would not even do it when the release
>>> candidate comes out sometime around the second week of September.
>>>
>>> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...
>>>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista
>>>> partition, 2)
>>>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no
>>>> boot
>>>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>>>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>>>> likely
>>>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>>>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>>>> Appreciate
>>>> your advise.
>>>
>>>

>>
>>

>
>

No one should use Vista on their only computer. They may want to do it very
much so they can see what Vista is like, but it is a mistake because however
small the risk might appear to be it is a severe problem if things go wrong.

I have had some builds of Vista work fine in a multi-boot scenario and a few
other builds that messed up the computer. In one case I had to reinstall XP
Pro x64 to get a working system back.

It depends somewhat on the hardware. It also depends on what the user does
in response to apparent problems. This newsgroup has had postings from
users in these situations from the time beta 2 released.

There is no theoretical. You are multi-booting on a production machine.
You might take precautions not to lose your data and what you do is your own
business, but I am not going to advise any user to ignore Microsoft's
advisories and go right ahead and risk valuable files just for the
gratification of seeing what Vista is like. I suggest, as fellow MVP's that
we just not do that.

The only really safe way to check out Vista on a production machine is to
install it on Virtual Server. Certainly, there is no expense in doing so.

"John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:eiOZpVTxGHA.5056@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Colin it doesn't work 'sometimes' it works every single time and has done
> since the first build of Vista that testers received. I can understand
> your concern but not everyone has two or three machines. I would hazard a
> guess that 'most' public beta testers are using Vista on a single machine.
> While Microsoft do not actively suggest using it on production machine
> most of the Microsoft develops are using ti in every day situations
> instead of XP - in other words on production machines rather than test
> machines. I have only one PC therefore my only option is to triple boot,
> so, theoretically i am using a production machine. Fortunately each and
> every partition is imaged so that, should anything go wrong, all
> partitions can be re-imaged and normal service can be resumed.
>
> --
> John Barnett MVP
> Associate Expert
> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>
> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any kind,
> either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
> mail..
>
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:eYn8YINxGHA.4872@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

>> Just because it works sometimes does not mean it is safe all the time.
>> It is beta. MS advises not to install on a production or primary home
>> computer and they do not qualify that advice with "except on separate
>> partitions." With good reasons.
>>
>> I triple boot also; XP Pro x64 and both Vistas. But on a test box.
>>
>> Knowing what I do about what booting into XP does to Vista shadow copies,
>> previous versions of files, and system restore points, I have no
>> intention of multi-booting Vista gold with XP. I don't care for third
>> party boot managers that can hide Vista from XP nor do I want to use
>> bitlocker on my desktop at home. When Vista releases it will be Vista on
>> one machine and XP on another. All the way.
>>
>> "John Barnett MVP" <freelanceit@mvps.org.NOSPAM> wrote in message
>> news:eyAHwLJxGHA.4256@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>>> Colin, I have a triple boot system, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro and
>>> Vista and i have removed Vista without any issue. All i did was booted
>>> into Vista and then run Vistaboot Pro (obviously the original poster
>>> will need to download a copy of Vistaboot pro) I then got Vistaboot pro
>>> to remove the Vista bootloader so that when i rebooted the pc my boot
>>> menu only contained Windows XP Home and XP Pro. After that i simply
>>> deleted the Vista partition. Afterwards everything seemsed to run okay
>>> both on XP Home and XP Pro.
>>>
>>> --
>>> John Barnett MVP
>>> Associate Expert
>>> http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
>>>
>>> The information in this mail is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
>>> kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
>>> reliability or content of this mail. The Author shall not be liable for
>>> any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of
>>> the use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in
>>> this mail..
>>>
>>> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
>>> news:OX1Xen9wGHA.1808@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>> You cannot return to XP without a complete fresh installation of XP.
>>>>
>>>> Do not install Vista on a production or primary home computer. Only
>>>> install it on a box you can safely dedicate to testing.
>>>>
>>>> If you do install it on a computer that has files important to you only
>>>> do so by ensuring that the hard drive you install Vista on is disabled
>>>> when you want to use XP. You can do this through the BIOS or by
>>>> physically changing out drives.
>>>>
>>>> Even in a dual boot scenario it is possible to lose the XP installation
>>>> and your files while using Vista.
>>>>
>>>> This is beta software. I would not even do it when the release
>>>> candidate comes out sometime around the second week of September.
>>>>
>>>> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...
>>>>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista
>>>>> partition, 2)
>>>>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no
>>>>> boot
>>>>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>>>>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>>>>> likely
>>>>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a
>>>>> bit
>>>>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>>>>> Appreciate
>>>>> your advise.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>

>>
>>

>
>

I know this is a little late now ...but
Before I installed Vista as a dual boot with XP I copied all of XP's Boot
files to a seperate folder.
I made a note after Vista installation which files Vista added to the root
drive.
When I removed Vista by formatting the Vista drive from within XP ...I
deleted all Vista files off the root drive (C and copied the olde XP boot
files back.
worked like a charm......no reinstallation nor repair of XP
At the state your at you can format the Vista Partition.....the dual boot
will still show but you can pick XP and it will start(mine did)
If you have access to another installation of XP on another computer take a
look at the root of the C drive and compare the files those that the XP does
not have belong to Vista..delete them and recreate the XP boot.ini
file..........or do a repair installation.

Actually Vista will not be released till next year.

peter

--
"Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
"jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...

> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista partition,
> 2)
> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no boot
> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most likely
> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
> Appreciate
> your advise.

Although the date of General Public Availability is set for January, Vista
will ship in November to enterprises which have Software Assurance
contracts.

"peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:%23kijH0$wGHA.4200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>I know this is a little late now ...but
> Before I installed Vista as a dual boot with XP I copied all of XP's Boot
> files to a seperate folder.
> I made a note after Vista installation which files Vista added to the root
> drive.
> When I removed Vista by formatting the Vista drive from within XP ...I
> deleted all Vista files off the root drive (C and copied the olde XP
> boot files back.
> worked like a charm......no reinstallation nor repair of XP
> At the state your at you can format the Vista Partition.....the dual boot
> will still show but you can pick XP and it will start(mine did)
> If you have access to another installation of XP on another computer take
> a look at the root of the C drive and compare the files those that the XP
> does not have belong to Vista..delete them and recreate the XP boot.ini
> file..........or do a repair installation.
>
> Actually Vista will not be released till next year.
>
> peter
>
> --
> "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...

>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista partition,
>> 2)
>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no boot
>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>> likely
>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>> Appreciate
>> your advise.

>
>

That is correct. The RC1 is still on schedule for September and final
shipments will start to OEMs a few weeks afterwards unless a dangerous flaw
is found in the RC1 candidate.....
"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
news:%23s9C76BxGHA.4256@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

> Although the date of General Public Availability is set for January, Vista
> will ship in November to enterprises which have Software Assurance
> contracts.
>
> "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote in message
> news:%23kijH0$wGHA.4200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>I know this is a little late now ...but
>> Before I installed Vista as a dual boot with XP I copied all of XP's Boot
>> files to a seperate folder.
>> I made a note after Vista installation which files Vista added to the
>> root drive.
>> When I removed Vista by formatting the Vista drive from within XP ...I
>> deleted all Vista files off the root drive (C and copied the olde XP
>> boot files back.
>> worked like a charm......no reinstallation nor repair of XP
>> At the state your at you can format the Vista Partition.....the dual boot
>> will still show but you can pick XP and it will start(mine did)
>> If you have access to another installation of XP on another computer take
>> a look at the root of the C drive and compare the files those that the XP
>> does not have belong to Vista..delete them and recreate the XP boot.ini
>> file..........or do a repair installation.
>>
>> Actually Vista will not be released till next year.
>>
>> peter
>>
>> --
>> "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
>> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...

>>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista
>>> partition, 2)
>>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no boot
>>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>>> likely
>>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>>> Appreciate
>>> your advise.

>>
>>

>
>

The OEM editions will not ship before January. The only editions to ship in
Q4 are the Software Assurance editions (Business, Enterprise, and Ultimate).

"B" <johnson_robert_roy@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:A36D49D6-B778-4B9C-AFB8-10E06713E3C5@microsoft.com...

> That is correct. The RC1 is still on schedule for September and final
> shipments will start to OEMs a few weeks afterwards unless a dangerous
> flaw is found in the RC1 candidate.....
> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst(remove)@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:%23s9C76BxGHA.4256@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...

>> Although the date of General Public Availability is set for January,
>> Vista will ship in November to enterprises which have Software Assurance
>> contracts.
>>
>> "peter" <peterk@nowhere.net> wrote in message
>> news:%23kijH0$wGHA.4200@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...

>>>I know this is a little late now ...but
>>> Before I installed Vista as a dual boot with XP I copied all of XP's
>>> Boot files to a seperate folder.
>>> I made a note after Vista installation which files Vista added to the
>>> root drive.
>>> When I removed Vista by formatting the Vista drive from within XP ...I
>>> deleted all Vista files off the root drive (C and copied the olde XP
>>> boot files back.
>>> worked like a charm......no reinstallation nor repair of XP
>>> At the state your at you can format the Vista Partition.....the dual
>>> boot will still show but you can pick XP and it will start(mine did)
>>> If you have access to another installation of XP on another computer
>>> take a look at the root of the C drive and compare the files those that
>>> the XP does not have belong to Vista..delete them and recreate the XP
>>> boot.ini file..........or do a repair installation.
>>>
>>> Actually Vista will not be released till next year.
>>>
>>> peter
>>>
>>> --
>>> "Those are my principles. If you don't like them I have others."
>>> "jim_from_il" <jimfromil@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:63A86CFF-5460-4C4A-9D32-7219BF5EE438@microsoft.com...
>>>> What are the steps needed to 1) uninstall and/or delete Vista
>>>> partition, 2)
>>>> safely return to XP 3) any changes needed to recognize only XP (no
>>>> boot
>>>> menu)? I may or may not do this, as my wife doesn't like the
>>>> non-functionality of certain tasks within Vista. I would (and most
>>>> likely
>>>> will) like to wait until RC-1 comes out to see if that makes life a bit
>>>> easier. I hear it's suppose to come out after Labor Day weekend.
>>>> Appreciate
>>>> your advise.
>>>
>>>

>>
>>

>