how do u remove an operating system without running system recovery??

hppg1287 · 11-07-2003, 08:19 PM

alright i have a kinda confusing problem here, let's see if anyone smart can help me out. i wanna run the system recovery because i installed windows 2000 as a seperate os instead of upgrading win. ME and so i cant use all the programs that came with ME while on 2000 (keep with me here) . so to get rid of 2000 can i run the system recovery or does that not get rid of operating systems? also, if i upgrade ME to 2000 will that get rid of any programs i had in ME? thanks in advance!:scratcher

SuperCub · 11-08-2003, 02:50 PM

First of all I would go for a fresh start, however if you proceed be prepared to lose everything, so backup your data first!!!!:

I am assuming that you have 2 partitions or drives and that WIN2K is in the second partition or drive.

To remove the WIN2K just remove its partition. Do this by booting up your machine from your WIN2K CD then select the WIN2K partition and delete it. When you boot in the future you will still see the boot-loader showing WIN2K & ME this can be altered by changing the boot.ini file. Be careful otherwise you will blow away your ability to boot up. The boot.ini is a hidden file so you will need to show hidden files and folders in the tools and files options. Make a copy of this file to a floppy B4 you start. Boot.ini is in the root should you need to replace it.

With regard to updating the ME to WIN2K, personally I don’t like updating any OS. Any problems you have in the old build from my experience will just come back and bite you at a later date in the new one, but other people may have a different opinion.

Regarding your programs some of these may not be WIN2K compliant you will need to read about each program on the developer’s website to find out. You can use compatibility mode but it’s not something that I have looked at in WIN2K, have a look on the MS website. I have used compatibility mode in XP and found it to be so so, I have had problems with very old and third party programs.

A word of caution, make sure you have fully backed up your data and that you only do this if you are happy to start over with a fresh build if it all goes wrong. A fresh start is my recommendation anyway!!

If you wish to try this all out with a safety net purchase Symantec Ghost 2003 which is NTFS compliant. Ghost both partitions to CD and then you can have more than one try.

Finally, if you wish to update ME then start the CD in windows ME and follow the instructions/wizard and it will carryout the update. Your programs may or may not work.

hppg1287 · 11-08-2003, 05:49 PM

ok thanks for the advice, but i'm still not clear on my biggest issue which is how can i check windows 2000's compatibility with the software that originally came with my computer on win ME if i upgrade? What will happen to the software that Win 2000 is not compatible with? is there some website i can go to to check, can u give me a url? further advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance!

SuperCub · 11-09-2003, 02:14 AM

OK you will need to look at each piece of software case by case going to the website of each company and then checking the compatibility of the versions that you are running. Most software developers include a URL somewhere in the help files if not I guess it’s a search with Google. Most of your popular programs like MS office should be OK. Why not checkout the major programs that you need. You really only need to worry about third party & old stuff but if it’s important to you then check it out b4 you start upgrading.

hppg1287 · 11-09-2003, 10:53 AM

thanks a lot man, u were really a lot of help. i was able to get all my progs. onto win2000 safely after checking the compatibility online. u rock! :cheers:

11-07-2003, 08:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
hppg1287 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 28 OS: win me	how do u remove an operating system without running system recovery?? alright i have a kinda confusing problem here, let's see if anyone smart can help me out. i wanna run the system recovery because i installed windows 2000 as a seperate os instead of upgrading win. ME and so i cant use all the programs that came with ME while on 2000 (keep with me here) . so to get rid of 2000 can i run the system recovery or does that not get rid of operating systems? also, if i upgrade ME to 2000 will that get rid of any programs i had in ME? thanks in advance!:scratcher

11-08-2003, 02:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
SuperCub Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hertfordshire England Posts: 126 OS: Win 9x/2K/XP	First of all I would go for a fresh start, however if you proceed be prepared to lose everything, so backup your data first!!!!: I am assuming that you have 2 partitions or drives and that WIN2K is in the second partition or drive. To remove the WIN2K just remove its partition. Do this by booting up your machine from your WIN2K CD then select the WIN2K partition and delete it. When you boot in the future you will still see the boot-loader showing WIN2K & ME this can be altered by changing the boot.ini file. Be careful otherwise you will blow away your ability to boot up. The boot.ini is a hidden file so you will need to show hidden files and folders in the tools and files options. Make a copy of this file to a floppy B4 you start. Boot.ini is in the root should you need to replace it. With regard to updating the ME to WIN2K, personally I don’t like updating any OS. Any problems you have in the old build from my experience will just come back and bite you at a later date in the new one, but other people may have a different opinion. Regarding your programs some of these may not be WIN2K compliant you will need to read about each program on the developer’s website to find out. You can use compatibility mode but it’s not something that I have looked at in WIN2K, have a look on the MS website. I have used compatibility mode in XP and found it to be so so, I have had problems with very old and third party programs. A word of caution, make sure you have fully backed up your data and that you only do this if you are happy to start over with a fresh build if it all goes wrong. A fresh start is my recommendation anyway!! If you wish to try this all out with a safety net purchase Symantec Ghost 2003 which is NTFS compliant. Ghost both partitions to CD and then you can have more than one try. Finally, if you wish to update ME then start the CD in windows ME and follow the instructions/wizard and it will carryout the update. Your programs may or may not work. __________________ SuperCub

11-09-2003, 02:14 AM	#4 (permalink)
SuperCub Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Hertfordshire England Posts: 126 OS: Win 9x/2K/XP	OK you will need to look at each piece of software case by case going to the website of each company and then checking the compatibility of the versions that you are running. Most software developers include a URL somewhere in the help files if not I guess it’s a search with Google. Most of your popular programs like MS office should be OK. Why not checkout the major programs that you need. You really only need to worry about third party & old stuff but if it’s important to you then check it out b4 you start upgrading. __________________ SuperCub

11-08-2003, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
hppg1287 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 28 OS: win me	ok thanks for the advice, but i'm still not clear on my biggest issue which is how can i check windows 2000's compatibility with the software that originally came with my computer on win ME if i upgrade? What will happen to the software that Win 2000 is not compatible with? is there some website i can go to to check, can u give me a url? further advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks in advance!

11-09-2003, 10:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
hppg1287 Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 28 OS: win me	thanks a lot man, u were really a lot of help. i was able to get all my progs. onto win2000 safely after checking the compatibility online. u rock! :cheers: