To go back an OS, what can I do? Because XP Was on my new comp. when I bought it?

**PowerMan57two** · November 28th, 2002, 07:19 PM

with my new computer I bought I got windows xp home on it. now say i wanted to back an OS to windows Me (and i know some of you will say "why would u back there it was the worst OS ever?)

lol

but i'm using it as an example, but what would i have to do to get it on my compter, because as some of us know when you stick in the disk to install the OS it will say something like "this is an older version of windows, setup will be disabled"

so is there anything i can do to go back an OS.

**PowerMan57two** · November 28th, 2002, 07:44 PM

would I need something like Windows Me Upgrade, or Windows Me full version?

**Rickio** · November 28th, 2002, 07:45 PM

partition your drive and install your chosen OS into the new partition. then you can choose which one you want to use when you boot up with a boot manager.

a new installation requires a full installation.

snag one off edonkey if ya need one.

**PowerMan57two** · November 28th, 2002, 08:17 PM

yeah but I don't want partition thing where I have both on my computer I want just the 1.... so if I grab a full windows me, (which I hvae found on DC) I can do it then????do I do it from the boot disks? cause when I installed windows 2000 from boot disks it put it in 16bit.. and thats the only bit it would give me so I got 2000 off cause 16-bit is bad...

**phalkon30** · November 28th, 2002, 11:57 PM

I think you will have to reformat your hard drive

never worked with ME myself, but you should be able to download an ME startup disk, then just run Fdisk or whatever they call it, delete the partition, and full install ME

(you will lose ALL, i repeat, ALL of your information by reformating)

depending on the brand, you may not be able to go to a different OS, i have worked with several computers that were BIOS locked, only one cd key for one OS could be installed on that comp, its a pain in the arse!

**Rickio** · November 29th, 2002, 12:18 AM

what phalkon said
yup

just remember as he said, it's complete wipe out and your starting fresh.

**phalkon30** · November 29th, 2002, 12:32 AM

yeah, my neighbor had an acer, they bios locked 98 FE, i tried to upgrade, but it wouldnt let me, it just scrabled any text

my friend had a compaq pressario, same thing, i tried to upgrade, they keyboard wouldnt respond and it said the bios was out of wack

my dads new p4 machine is similar, he can install windows xp as many times as he wants, but only on that brand computer, i tried it on mine, wouldnt let me

im surprised it isnt used more often, but it seems only the older machines use it

**phalkon30** · November 29th, 2002, 12:43 AM

OMFG, thats the devil post!

666 posts!

lol, yeah, i just got a whole new comp from parts for her

Jared592 · November 29th, 2002, 01:02 AM

It's a bad idea to take a brand new computer (from one of the big manufacturers) and downgrade it's OS. This is because the devices within the comp that come with XP are often specific to that operating system. For instance, I had a friend who tried to downgrade a new HP from WinME to 98SE and there were simply no drivers available for his hardware for 98SE This is not always the case, but it'll save you a lot of trouble if you check before formatting (which you'll need to do if downgrading from XP and is just about a necessity in any OS change). Make a list of the devices on your new comp and verify that drivers are available for them for the OS you plan to use (go to their manufacturer sites, etc). I'm curious as to why you'd want to downgrade though...

**PowerMan57two** · November 29th, 2002, 09:05 PM

thanks for the help, I've been in fdisk before when I had windows me, and 98SE.. but how do I get into fdisk from XP Pro.? and when I get into Fdisk what do I do?

and yes i know I will loose everything, bu it's okay cause every 400-700MB I downloaded off the internet I back up on a disk, then delete it off my computer....

**CCSDUDE** · November 29th, 2002, 09:17 PM

First grab a full copy of ME.....or if you want a really stable OS download/use a copy of 95 then use the ME upgrade disk to install over that.

Heres alil guide....

1) download the bootdisk of your choice.... http://www.bootdisk.com/

2) Make bootdisk....

3) boot from disk.....

4) type in d:\ or whatever your cdrom drive is....with the 95/Me disk in it....

5) Type in "setup" without the quotes....

6) Sit and watch it install.....select what you want...blah blah blah...

Formatting -

1) Boot from floppy - MAKE DAMN SURE IT HAS Format.com and Fdisk.exe on it....

2) Type in fdisk

3) If your XP setup is on an NTFS select delete nondos partition...if it's fat 32 just delete the main partition....

4) Create main partition

5) Exit Fdisk....restart PC with bootdisk still in place

6) Then type in format c: /s

7) Wait while it formats.....

8) Refer to installing 95/ME at the top of this post.....

Later

**phalkon30** · November 29th, 2002, 11:37 PM

good stuff, thats basicly what i was meant, but thats a little more in depth...

glad to see a ZP god can still give usefull info

LOL!

**notbob** · November 30th, 2002, 06:43 PM

Originally posted by Jared592
It's a bad idea to take a brand new computer (from one of the big manufacturers) and downgrade it's OS. This is because the devices within the comp that come with XP are often specific to that operating system. For instance, I had a friend who tried to downgrade a new HP from WinME to 98SE and there were simply no drivers available for his hardware for 98SE This is not always the case, but it'll save you a lot of trouble if you check before formatting (which you'll need to do if downgrading from XP and is just about a necessity in any OS change). Make a list of the devices on your new comp and verify that drivers are available for them for the OS you plan to use (go to their manufacturer sites, etc). I'm curious as to why you'd want to downgrade though...

if it works with xp, 99% chance it'll work with 98 or ME, bios will definitely work with whatever you toss on there

it's actually just as dangerous to UPGRADE the os on a compaq or hp.--the unit was designed for a certain configuration, and doesn't like much else (mind you these things can be fixed, but it may be more fucking around than most sane people are willing to do)

if its xp home, i'd upgrade to pro (get it somehere, it's out there) xp home is trash downgrading may be an option if you hate all of the drm crap windows is putting in these days, but it is still rather impractical (i've seen devices that don't work on 98/ME but i've never seen one that didn't work with xp pro)

**PowerMan57two** · December 1st, 2002, 11:13 AM

okay everyone I got Windows Me on my computer but the system put it in 16bit color!!! and this computers colors are ugly, and I want that screen size to 1024x600 or whatever the size is... but when I rightclick on my desktop, and go to properties, then settings, and try to switch the bit color there is only 16bit... thers no 24bit color or anything listed! and for the screen size I can't drag the bar over, it only gives me the option of the really big screen size.. so everything on my computer is huge. any help please!!

**nasrules** · December 1st, 2002, 11:36 AM

dont woteva u do put win me on ur comp! its the biggest pile of shit ive ever used. stick win xp! y u wanna go back an os neways? if u really dont want xp, use 2000, its the best apart from xp.