Need To Remove A Failed Vista Install, And Get XP Back

[Tatiania]

I attempted to install Vista on my RAID array and after the 1st reboot I got BSOD and kept getting the BSOD, so I exited out of the install. Well, Vista left a few files on my C: drive (even tho I was installing it to D: drive) If I try removing the Vista folders or files, XP won't boot. And if I leave the Vista stuff on my computer, then even a normal boot gives me 3 seconds to decide between "Setup" and "Previous Windows Version" I just want to remove Vista and get my computer back to normal.

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/9...nserted8uk.jpg

I found this on the VistaBootPro website,


"On the original Microsoft DVD in the "boot" folder there is a program called "bootsect.exe".

run
bootsect.exe /nt60 c:
to restore the Vista bootloader.

run
bootsect.exe /nt52 c:
to restore the XP bootloader.

bootsect.exe /help shows all options"


Do you know or heard if this works? And how do I use "bootsect.exe" anyhow? If I double-click it a box pops up and disappears real fast.

Thnx,

Tati

[Jane]

Welcome to NeoSmart Technologies, Tatiania!

CG is the guy that wrote VistaBootPRO for PROnetworks, so if anyone can help you, he can

[Computer Guru]

Hey Tatiania,

Your image doesn't work.. but that's ok, it's unneeded

To uninstall Vista:
1) Boot from the Vista DVD.
2) Click "Advanced" on the first prompt, then open a CMD window from the next page.
3) Type

cd X:\Boot\
bootsect.exe /nt52 all /force
exit

Type that exactly as I wrote it here.
4) Exit the DVD, and restart.

XP *should* boot. Post back if you have any issues, and let us know if it worked

[Tatiania]

Thnx, I'll post back ASAP...and thnx for such a speedy reply.

Thnx,

Tati <3

[Computer Guru]

You're welcome, my pleasure.
Best of luck!

-CG

[Tatiania]

Can I do the procedure without booting from the disc and do it through windows with the dvd in the drive?

1. open a CMD window
2. cd X:\Boot\
3. bootsect.exe /nt52 all /force
4. exit

And then what do I do with those fugly entries in the screenshot I posted? (The ones from the failed install)


Tati

[Computer Guru]

Oh, I was under the impression you couldn't boot into anything.

That makes it a lot easier.
1) Open the Vista Drive, browse to \Boot\ in it
2) Copy bootsect.exe to your drive c:\
3) Open a command window
4) Browse to C:\ and do it from there.

HOWEVER

I cannot see your screenshot, instead of using image shack just add a reply and attach the pic via the "Attach a File" section beneath the reply box.

[Tatiania]

My screenshot...
Check it out, plz

[Computer Guru]

Cool.
This makes it easier..

Delete those two folders.
Delete the $somethingortheother$ files in that folder too.

Forget what I told you earlier, download VistaBootPRO,, install it, run it.
In the second tab press the big "DELETE VISTA BOOTLOADER" Button. You're done!

EDIT
Then delete the folder called "Boot"

[Tatiania]

I copied "bootsect.exe" to C: or would that be considered C:\? Anyways I copied it to the C: drive. Now what exactly do I type after opening the CMD window? I'm getting stuck there.

Tati

[Computer Guru]

You don't have to do that anymore

Just install VistaBootPRO...

But if you really want to do it this way:

1) Open a CMD Window
2) Type this (after every line, press enter):

cd C:\
cd \
bootsect.exe /nt52 all /force
exit

That uninstalls the Vista Bootloader.
Then delete all the files I told you about and restart.
It should work great now

[Tatiania]

THANK YOU!!! YOU ARE MY NEW BEST FRIEND!!! VistaBootPro worked!
I just need to know exactly which files to delete from that screenshot, otherwise everything works great now, thank you so much!

<3

Tati

[Computer Guru]

Do that first.
Then delete

boot
bootsect.bak
and any other file that starts and ends with a '$'

Good luck