How to remove failed XP install?

I could probably help with this one but you didn't give a whole lot of detail.
If you're trying to get back to your old operating system, is it on the list? If so, does it load normaly when chosen from the list? You might try rewriting the master boot record with "fdisk /mbr".
Another thing is that XP might have created another partition for itself to copy to, in that case, just erase the partition, but the boot menu might still appear.
XP will save informating about the old OS if it overwrites any files. It will give you an option to go back to the way it was before. You can usually find such utilities by simply rerunning the XP installation CD and looking at all the options, it should give you a choice to revert back to the old set up.

Was this an OS upgrade?

If so, what is the previous OS?

The possability, and proceedures to repair the system depend on what the old OS was.

In most cases, you need to restore the files in the root folder of the boot hard drive to return tothe old OS.

If you were setting up a dual boot with XP on a different hard drive, then that is all you need to do.
Alternatly, you could edit XP out of the boot.ini file, and set it up to boot directly to the old OS.

If this was a straight upgrade, and you were installing XP onto your boot drive, then, you options may be limited to re-formatting, or attempting to recover the XP install, then un-installing XP "IF" you choose the option during setup.

If this was a new install that failed, I would defenitely format the drive and start over.

Chas

I don't know what OS is on your system, but try looking in "C:\msdos.sys"(windows 98/ME). There should be an entry "bootmenu=1".
If this is so then change the "1" in to a "0".
This should kill the "choose" screen.
If you can't find the file, thisis because it is a hidden file and you to have change some settings in the explorer.

Good luck

Jan Linders

to answer to the best i can to get result you want, firstly if you upgraded to xp say from 98, xp will of told you that any other os present will be erased if you have got half of xp in your system, re-install it, make a boot disk restart your pc and boot upto C: and try C:uninst winxp if that fails try a 98 disk and re-install that by opening the 98 disk open/tools/sysrec/pcrec, this'll be a dos screen then follow it from there. failing all of the above be prepared to back up all of your workand files on to floppies/zip or any storage device, and then, boot up with 98 disk and format c: . i'm sorry thats all i can give to help you out.

This question was auto closed due to inactivity