Need To Uninstall Win2K & Reload WinME w/o Losing Data. How???

[Dan]

I upgraded an older Compaq laptop from WinME to Win2K. Now, after tearing my hair out all day, I have concluded that the POS modem isn't Win2K-compatible. So, I've got to "uninstall" Win2K and go back to WinME. How do I do that without losing all the guy's music, etc. on the hard drive?

The drive is formatted w/FAT32. Can I use a boot disk and install WinMe from DOS with losing his stuff?


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Note: I'm sure this question has been asked many times before. I searched 9 ways to Sunday though and didn't find a relevant topic. I also read the FAQ's.

 

[leezard]

does your hardisk got 2 partition?
if yes, just move all ur stuff to the second partition and just format the patition that ur OS is installed.

if u doesn't hav 2 partition......i think u can just delete the C:\windows folder that include all the windows file....and install Win Me again.....this will not affect the other folders.

good luck

 

[Adul]

man it is best to go witha clean install of me. otherwise things will be funky

 

[singh]

<< man it is best to go witha clean install of me. otherwise things will be funky >>



He he, with ME, they're going to by pretty funky anyways Stay away from ME .

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the replies. The hard drive has one partition now. I thought about using PartitionMagic to create a 2nd partition and mving data, etc. to it but the drive is too full for that to work well. (It's only 3GB.)

I also thought about deleting the winnt folder from the DOS prompt but then he'd lose stuff like his favorites folder and program links, drivers for stuff like his scanner, etc.



<< Can I use a boot disk and install WinMe from DOS with losing his stuff? >>

 

[puck]

Buy a new modem and save yourself the headache.

 

[Farfrael]

<< Thanks for the replies. The hard drive has one partition now. I thought about using PartitionMagic to create a 2nd partition and mving data, etc. to it but the drive is too full for that to work well. (It's only 3GB.)

I also thought about deleting the winnt folder from the DOS prompt but then he'd lose stuff like his favorites folder and program links, drivers for stuff like his scanner, etc.



<< Can I use a boot disk and install WinMe from DOS with losing his stuff? >>

>>




hum ....with the information you provided the situation does NOT look good.
I cannot really see anyway how you might be able to keep "his favorites folder and program links, drivers for stuff like his scanner, etc.
" if you do a win reinstall . (especially from win2k to Me or 98)

and, i strongly suggest that you do not install Me but win98 SE instead

 

[Dan]

Thought I'd report in on the final results.

I deleted as many programs as I could to free up space and then used PartitionMagic to create a second partition. After moving all the files (MP3's, word docs and spreadsheets) to the "D" drive I booted into DOS and formatted the "C" drive. I decided to install Win98SE but the results weren't pretty. Too many drivers weren't available, so, rather than waste more time, I reformatted the partition and installed WinME.

I'm no WinMe fan but I must say it got everything right the first time. At this point I have moved all the files back to the "C" partition and deleted "D" by merging it into "C." I have a few more programs to install and I'll be done.

 

[Finite]

Do you have a cd burner? If so then your situation isn't so bleek after all. I am going to assume (ya i know) that pretty much the only thing you need to REALY back up are the programs you have installed right. If that is indeed the case then just start copying all the data in the program files folder to cd's. After this format the drive and reisntall ME. Once ME is installed copy all the program files back into the program files folder in ME just like it was before. Everything should work fine. Then there is the easy way out, just buy a modem that is compatible with 2000. That is the road I would take but thats just me

PS: There are going to be some things that do not need to be copied from the program files folder. Programs that are win2000 specific which should be obvious.

Missed your update post If parition magic is still the same as it was a little over a year ago then DO NOT UNINSTALL IT after having used it to add and remove partitions. It turns your dos partitions into non dos and if you uninstall partition magic windows will no longer be able to boot. Some people say that ME doesn't use dos and there for doesn't need to be installed on a dos partition but this is bull. Agin this used to be a problem with partition magic and the folks that designed it may have fixed this by now. Look into it though to be safe.