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

T

Tatiania

Member
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/img105/9489/fa...inserted8uk.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
 
Welcome to NeoSmart Technologies, Tatiania!

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

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

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
Code: 
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 :smile:
 
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
 
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.
 
My screenshot...
failedinstalltextinserted8uk.jpg

Check it out, plz
 
Cool.
This makes it easier.. :smile:

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"
 
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
 
You don't have to do that anymore :smile:

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):
Code: 
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 :smile:
 
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
 
Do that first.
Then delete
Code: 
boot
bootsect.bak
and any other file that starts and ends with a '$'

Good luck :smile:
 
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