How to Manually Remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 (301670)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
This article was previously published under Q301670

SUMMARY

This article describes how to manually remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 from your computer to return to a previous Microsoft MS-DOS installation.

MORE INFORMATION

Before you start, make sure you know where Windows NT or Windows 2000 is installed, how much of it you want to remove, and how your hard disk is partitioned and formatted. Then, use the information in one of the following sections in this article:
  • Remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 to Restore the MS-DOS Configuration
  • Remove a Primary NTFS File System Partition
  • Remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 Files
NOTE: If the hard disk contains a partition that uses NTFS, remove this partition in Windows NT or Windows 2000 before removing Windows NT or Windows 2000.

Remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 to Restore the MS-DOS Configuration

To return to your original MS-DOS configuration:

WARNING: Back up all your important data before you continue. All data on NTFS partitions and in the Windows installation folders will be erased by the following procedure.
  1. Start your computer to MS-DOS by selecting it on the Startup menu.

    NOTE: You can also start your computer with a Microsoft Windows 95 or Microsoft Windows 98 startup disk.
  2. At the command prompt, type sys c:, and then press ENTER.

    NOTE: This command replaces the Windows NT or Windows 2000 boot sector with the MS-DOS boot sector, and configures your computer to start MS-DOS.
  3. Delete the following files from the root folder of drive C. To do this, type del filename, and then press ENTER, where filename is name of the file to be deleted. Repeat this step for each of the following files:
    • Pagefile.sys
    • Boot.ini
    • Ntldr
    • Ntdetect.com
    • Ntbootdd.sys

Remove a Primary NTFS File System Partition

After you run the sys c: command, you must remove the primary NTFS partition. There are several ways to delete a primary NTFS partition:
  • Start the MS-DOS installation from a floppy disk, and then press ENTER to continue to install MS-DOS. When you are prompted to do so, select Remove Files.
  • Start Windows NT or Windows 2000 Setup from floppy disks or a CD-ROM. When you are prompted to do so, remove the partition.

Remove Windows NT or Windows 2000 Files

You can also delete the following folders to complete the removal of Windows NT or Windows 2000 from your computer:
  • Program Files
  • Recycled
  • Users
  • Winnt
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:6/6/2003
Keywords:kbenv kbGraphxLink KB301670
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