Vista has hosed my computer

[nick_sabatino]

Hi everyone,

So I've been using vista for a few weeks, but I've decided that it just wasn't worth it in terms of the resources it uses, so I wanted to go back to XP. So, I made a small fat32 partition and threw all my data on it, booted up from my XP cd, deleted the vista partition, and it formated and copied the files.

Here is where the fun begins. After it copies the files and it reboots, it reads DISK READ ERROR. Apparently, this is something common (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/919529). I've been working on this all day, and I've tried everything. I did the fixboot, fixmbr about a billion times to no avail.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE someone help me get XP back on my computer!

[B. W.]

Download a bootable Linux distribution like Ubuntu and use it to copy your files to another disk. Delete the NTFS partition, and reinstall.

[Dunan]

wow, that sucks man:(

i did read somewhere that if you install vista over xp you lose your xp key and you wont be able to reinstall it, something like that....

[nick_sabatino]

Maybe I didn't explain clearly. I have a 300Gb hard disk. With vista, I had one large 300Gb partition, but in preperation for the OS change, I made a 40Gb FAT32 partition to store my data on.

So all this has come about after I've deleted the ntfs partition, created a new one, and tried to install xp on it.

[djnes]

First rule is to back up your data off of the computer.

Once that's done, use a real drive utility to wipe the drive clean, and then install Vista clean. I've removed Vista from several computers before activating it on one, and re-installed XP on each of them. I haven't once had a problem getting it to install properly.

[bbz_Ghost]

You could...

Use the Vista DVD to get to the point where you work with the drives and partitions, use that to delete the partition you left for XP, then use that to recreate it, and even format it right then and there... then pop out the Vista DVD and insert the XP CD, reboot the machine and go from there.

You'll have a partition already formatted and ready to go once the XP setup gets to that point, just pick the appropriate partition, choose to leave the current filesystem as is, and go...

Might work, might not, only one way to find out. If worse comes to worse, go find the GParted LiveCD and have at it.

Hope this helps...

[zacdl]

I am not sure of this, but if Vista was sored on a single large partition, then you probably used Vista to create your data partition, correct?

That being said, because Vista was managing your partitions (they were not setup that way from the start), perhaps it has corrupted the drive in some way? That would be my guess.

I am 99% sure if you formatted the whole physical disk, it would work just fine.

Because you have not touched the partition the data is in, I suggest backing that up.
Have a flash drive? Download DamnSmallLinux (about 50MB in size), and boot into it.
See if you can't get to your data from there. Save what you need to another hard drive or DVD or something, and just format the whole entire disk.

[LstOfTheBrunnenG]

Download a knoppix livecd, use it to rescue your files.

[bbz_Ghost]

I'm pretty sure his files are safe since he stated he created the FAT32 partition to store them on (at least that's how I read it). It's the rest of the hard drive he's having issues with, the NTFS partition he's either already made or trying to make and get XP installed on and functional.

[Catweazle]

wow, that sucks man:(

i did read somewhere that if you install vista over xp you lose your xp key and you wont be able to reinstall it, something like that....

I've run a test on that theory. Didn't happen ;)

[drizzt81]

i did read somewhere that if you install vista over xp you lose your xp key and you wont be able to reinstall it, something like that....

utter rubbish.

[LstOfTheBrunnenG]

utter rubbish.What, you didn't notice the part of the Vista EULA that says all EULAs for previous OSes you've used (including Linux!) are null and void? :rolleyes:

[drizzt81]

What, you didn't notice the part of the Vista EULA that says all EULAs for previous OSes you've used (including Linux!) are null and void? :rolleyes:

No, I skipped that section ;)

[Catweazle]

What, you didn't notice the part of the Vista EULA that says all EULAs for previous OSes you've used (including Linux!) are null and void? :rolleyes:

huh? Where was that bit? Were you being facetious?

The EULA stipulates that you must be replacing a previous qualifying Windows license when using an Upgrade install license, that the previous license is void, and that the terms of use of the previous license (ie OEM v Full retail) continue to apply.

That's a legal situation, though, and not a statement that the previous install key will be rendered unusable.