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windowsxpuser00
April 30th, 2007, 05:09 PM
How can I remove Vista without formatting my hard drive? Currently I have Windows xp on 1 HD and Vista on another HD (120GB) but it has important stuff for me that don't fit on the other (30GB) HD. Is there a way i can remove the vista files on my 120 GB without deleting the other important files I have?
AnnMarie
May 1st, 2007, 07:10 AM
Hi windowsxpuser00. When you say "important files", are you referring to files that you have created using Vista? If not, please clarify.
windowsxpuser00
May 4th, 2007, 12:45 AM
Sorry for responding late. The files I refer to are files like music, pictures, and videos. They have taken 59 GB's of my 120 GB HD (I don't know if I'm the only one who uses that much space). Also I had the files before installing vista so no they were not created by vista. When I mean deleting the vista files they are the system files. Sorry I didn't specify before.
renegade600
May 4th, 2007, 01:09 AM
I know of no other way to get rid of all of vista without reformating the drive. If you have the space, you will need to move the files you dont want to lose to c drive.
AnnMarie
May 4th, 2007, 01:27 AM
Also I had the files before installing vista so no they were not created by vista.

If the files were there before you installed Vista, they must be on another partition? If so, they should remain after you reformat the partition that Vista is on.
renegade600
May 4th, 2007, 01:31 AM
If the files were there before you installed Vista, they must be on another partition? If so, they should remain after you reformat the partition that Vista is on.

not always, I had some graphics folders and website backups that remained intacted on a second drive when I installed vista on the same drive in the same partition.
AnnMarie
May 4th, 2007, 04:22 AM
Was this a clean install or an inplace upgrade Dan?
windowsxpuser00
May 5th, 2007, 05:48 PM
If the files were there before you installed Vista, they must be on another partition? If so, they should remain after you reformat the partition that Vista is on.

How do you reformat the partition?
renegade600
May 5th, 2007, 06:10 PM
Was this a clean install or an inplace upgrade Dan?

oops somehow I missed your reply - it was a clean install on a second drive with the mentioned folders on that drive. Winxp was on the other drive. This was the last public beta (just remembered) Too many computers, too many installs :dizzy: It surprised me that the folders remained intact.

I also just remembered one other thing. When I installed the full version clean installed on top of winxp, all files including the windows folder was saved in a folder called windows.old. I was able to get files and just move them without any problems.

I guess I am getting old, I am forgetting too much.
AnnMarie
May 6th, 2007, 05:38 AM
Thanks Dan.

How do you reformat the partition?

A couple of questions first windowsxpuser00. Your answers may affect mine but they are not trick questions. :D

1. Have you backed up your important data yet?
2. What do you intend to do with the the larger hard drive?
windowsxpuser00
May 6th, 2007, 06:02 PM
No I haven't backed up any important data, and I need to use the Hard Drive for some pictures and videos we took. Also I got bored of Vista.
AnnMarie
May 7th, 2007, 04:02 AM
Ok, I spoke to Murf and this is what he suggests.

Follow the instructions here (http://vistasupport.mvps.org/remove_windows_vista_from_dual_boot_system.htm) to remove the Vista boot loader.

When you have done this, boot into XP and delete the Vista Windows directory, Program files, Program Data, User folders etc and just leave the files that you want to keep.

When you have done this, run a good registry cleaner to get rid of orphaned registry entries and defrag the drive.
windowsxpuser00
May 11th, 2007, 05:59 AM
Well here's what I've done so far.
Removed the Vista Boot Loader

The problem now Is I cant delete the WINDOWS folder and the other ones also.
Windows folder says its being used by FXSEXT.ecf
AnnMarie
May 11th, 2007, 07:34 AM
Did you have printer sharing enabled?

If so, try disabling it in XP. See here (http://security.utexas.edu/personal/windows/sharing.html).
windowsxpuser00
May 11th, 2007, 05:23 PM
I disabled Printer Sharing and now When I try to delete Windows folder it says bfsvc.exe access is denied.
AnnMarie
May 12th, 2007, 03:46 AM
Try taking ownership of the Folders. See here (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308421).
windowsxpuser00
May 12th, 2007, 05:38 AM
well followed the steps and it says "Cannot Delete Fonts: make sure disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use" bla bla bla the fonts folder is in the WINDOWS/Boot/Fonts.
AnnMarie
May 13th, 2007, 05:45 AM
It still sounds like a permissions issue. Have you tried taking ownership of the Fonts folder?
windowsxpuser00
May 13th, 2007, 08:41 AM
Nop but I had to take ownership of a whole grip of folders to delete the windows, and program files folders(took me all night). I also defraged the drive and ran the registry. Now I don't have any windows vista files. Thank You all for helping me with my problem. And Ann can you tell Murf thanks for helping me out also. Thanks!

P.S. I probably will be trying Fedora Core 6 now that I have more space in my HD.
AnnMarie
May 13th, 2007, 09:01 AM
That's good news windowsxpuser00 and you are very welcome.

And Ann can you tell Murf thanks for helping me out also.

I certainly will. :)