Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

I need to uninstall xp and I'd like to install Windows ME on a system that I
have (the short version is that the motherboard/plug & play devices are
incompatible with XP - go figure). I have tried to just install ME but the
system says it will not as long as XP is installed - I need to go to DOS
(which I have tried) or go to a different version of Windows (which I do not
have).
Is there a way to either get around this error or to go to a command
promt/DOS prior to XP loading? I tried in "Safe Mode" but it still has the
same problem.
Thanks for any help...

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Hopefully this will bump back to the top... anyone else that can help??!?

"kyrie" wrote:

> I need to uninstall xp and I'd like to install Windows ME on a system that I
> have (the short version is that the motherboard/plug & play devices are
> incompatible with XP - go figure). I have tried to just install ME but the
> system says it will not as long as XP is installed - I need to go to DOS
> (which I have tried) or go to a different version of Windows (which I do not
> have).
> Is there a way to either get around this error or to go to a command
> promt/DOS prior to XP loading? I tried in "Safe Mode" but it still has the
> same problem.
> Thanks for any help...

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Windows ME CD may not be bootable so you will need to bootup from a floppy drive or create/download an ISO image of bootable CD. First check that your bios is set to bootup from a CD. If it is then boot from a XP CD first and try deleting the partition and/or format the hard disk to see if it works. If you have a floppy drive then you can do a search for boot-disk in google and download the image files.

XP CD has all the files you need to format your HD. Just look for OLD MSDOS folder on it. Before you do anything, make sure you have backed up your own data as these are lost forever when you format the HD.

Hope this helps.
PS: I wanted to go to India but my job went instead so I am here to wind people up!! Those half naked indian fakirs are doing my job now!!!

kyrie wrote:
>
> Hopefully this will bump back to the top... anyone else that can help??!?
>
> "kyrie" wrote:
>
> > I need to uninstall xp and I'd like to install Windows ME on a system that I
> > have (the short version is that the motherboard/plug & play devices are
> > incompatible with XP - go figure). I have tried to just install ME but the
> > system says it will not as long as XP is installed - I need to go to DOS
> > (which I have tried) or go to a different version of Windows (which I do not
> > have).
> > Is there a way to either get around this error or to go to a command
> > promt/DOS prior to XP loading? I tried in "Safe Mode" but it still has the
> > same problem.
> > Thanks for any help...

Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support (More info?)

Finally, some helpful answers. Thank you to Shenan and 'Your Name'.
I guess I should have mentioned I'm trying to start over and no file saving
is needed.... thanks.

"Shenan Stanley" wrote:

> kyrie wrote:
> > I need to uninstall xp and I'd like to install Windows ME on a
> > system that I have (the short version is that the motherboard/plug &
> > play devices are incompatible with XP - go figure). I have tried to
> > just install ME but the system says it will not as long as XP is
> > installed - I need to go to DOS (which I have tried) or go to a
> > different version of Windows (which I do not have).
> Is there a way to either get around this error or to go to a command
> > promt/DOS prior to XP loading? I tried in "Safe Mode" but it still
> > has the same problem.
> > Thanks for any help...
>
> kyrie wrote:
> > Hopefully this will bump back to the top... anyone else that can
> > help??!?
>
> This is a NEWSGROUP - not a forum.. There is no "bump".
>
> You cannot "downgrade".. If you have upgraded Winodws ME to Windows XP and
> converted to NTFS - your only choice is to start NEW - everything gone,
> everything reinstalled.
>
> Boot from your Windows XP CD. Follow through LIKE you are installing. When
> it asks you which partition to install on, DELETE the partitions.
>
> Now install Windows ME - I believe the Windows ME CD is bootable, but if not
> a suitable Boot Diskette can be obtained from http://www.bootdisk.com/ and
> used to install Windows ME.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
>
>