Removing Windows Vista from a dual-boot configuration

If you want to remove Windows Vista from a dual-boot environment that includes an
earlier version of Windows, follow these steps.
Note You can follow these steps in the earlier version of Windows or in Windows Vista.
If you follow these steps in Windows Vista, run the commands from a command-prompt
that has elevated user rights. o do this, clic! "tart, clic! #ccessories, right-clic! the
command-prompt shortcut, and then clic! Run as #dministrator. $se %ootsect.e&e to
restore the Ntldr program. o do this, type the following command'
(rive')%oot)%ootsect.e&e *N+, #ll
Note In this command, (rive is the drive where the Windows Vista media is located.
#fter the computer restarts, it does not load the Windows %oot -anager program.
Instead, Netldr.e&e loads and %oot.ini loads.
(elete or remove the partition where Windows Vista is installed.
Important You can only delete the partition where Windows Vista is installed if that
partition is the non-active partition on the system. .or e&ample, consider the following
scenario' Windows Vista is installed on drive /. (rive / is partition 0 and is the active
partition.
Windows 12 is installed on the drive (. (rive ( is partition , and is the non-active
partition.
Windows Vista is installed on drive /. (rive / is partition 0 and is the active partition.
Windows 12 is installed on the drive (. (rive ( is partition , and is the non-active
partition.
In this scenario, you can run the bootsect command, but you cannot delete the partition
where Windows Vista is installed. If you delete this partition, the computer is put into a
non-bootable state because Windows 12 boot files are deleted.
Uninstalling Vista If You Have a Dual-Boot System' %oth Windows Vista and #nother
3perating "ystem 4e.g., 125 #re on the "ame 2artitioned 6ard (rive
#s you have two operating systems on one partitioned hard drive, you can easily gain
access to Vista to remove it. In this case you will not need an -"-(3" boot /(. he
only thing you will re7uire to remove Vista from a partitioned dis! drive is your Windows
Vista (V(. It is important to bac! up any files that you want to !eep, because all files on
the Vista partition will be erased during this process.
Note' .or this tutorial, we are using the configuration of a partitioned hard drive that has
Windows Vista on one partition and Windows 12 on the other.
"tep 0. "tart up your computer, and once in the boot menu, select Windows 12.
"tep ,. Insert the Windows Vista (V( into your (V( drive and launch Vista. 3nce Vista
is launched, close any menus that might open.
"tep 8. /lic! your start menu and then clic! on Run. 3nce the Run menu opens, input the
following command' e')boot)bootsect.e&e 9nt+, #:: 9force. Note that the letter ;e;
corresponds to the drive letter for the (V(-R3- in which the Vista (V( has been
inserted.
"tep <. Now, restart your computer, and once in the boot menu, choose Windows 12. You
will now reformat the part of the drive that Vista was installed on.
"tep +. 3nce the partition where Vista was installed on has been reformatted, you will
need to delete two specific files' %ootsect.ba! and %oot.ba!. hese files can be found in
your Windows 12 root folder.
3nce these two files are removed, the uninstallation of Vista should be complete.
How to change a drive letter in Windows X
he procedure is identical to the one for Windows Vista. =ust go to /ontrol 2anel -
#dministrative ools - /omputer -anagement. .rom there you follow the same
procedure and you are done.
.inal /omments
If you follow this procedure, you should have the same drive letters for all your partitions
e&cept the ones where the operating systems are installed. .or e&ample, in Windows 12,
you will see 12 on drive ;/'; and Windows Vista on drive ;('; and in Windows Vista
you will see 12 on drive ;('; and Windows Vista on drive ;/';.