Windows 7: Win 7 RC 7100 - uninstall question

Hi

I had been testing RC7100 on a work PC that I want now to 'revert' back to XP.

This might be a simple thing, but I don't know. I had retained the windows.old files. I had never intended to retain 7 and always thought this PC would go back to XP eventually - and a new requirement for the PC means I need it back to XP asap.

Is there a simple way to remove Windows 7 and re-install XP from those files? I have no 'imaging' software or knowledge.

If someone can at least point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it. The PC in question has NO access to the internet at the moment, and won't for a few weeks, but is required sometime soon(er) by a new employee. Yep....WE'RE HIRING!!

Rgds
Rod

Rod

There is only one way to revert unfortunately. Format and clean install. XP doesnt know anything about win 7 boot structure. If you have a backup from XP you could use the XP disk to boot and restore the xp image, agian you would have to have xp format during install.

Good luck with the new Hire

Ken

There is a way to roll back to XP using the windows.old file. I saw it on Technet forums last week and will find it for you now. Stand by.

No probs, I thought of guessed this would be the case. I have the Restore and original XP O/S discs, and I am up and running installing XP....THIS has been a while since I did this...from memory I upgraded my HOME PC from Win98SE to XP about a decade ago!! But the memory may be awry on that...!

Thanks and regards
Rod

Bugga!!!! Too late my man!!!! "Setup is examinig Folders"..."Setup is now deleting files".....

Thanks anyways...it'll be a nice clean install for her!

Yes probably better since the procedure looks complicated:

How to restore a Windows 7-based computer to a previous Windows installation by using the Windows.old folder

Its not nearly as bad as it appears on the surface. I did it about 2 weeks ago to prep my laptop for Windows 7 RTM. its just renaming the Windows 7 files and folders and then renaming and moving the XP files and folders. There was one issue I ran into. the "documents and settings" in RC are actually a Junction and not an actual location.

In step 4 "copy contents or move contents of the windows.old folder"

If you get an access denied attempting command #4:
"move /y "c:\windows.old\documents and settings" c:\

Then use: C: /A and look for <Junction> Documents and Settings [c: \users] IF FOUND then you have to cancel the junction:

dir "Documents and settings"

Now you should be able to do the move.

Good luck with your reversion

Looks like it too late now!

For future reference, there is a good free backup image program.
Macrium Reflect - Free Edition is a disk imaging program that will backup your important files.

It's best to keep your backups on a separate storage device. External HDs are a good choice, large storage space and reasonably priced.

Dave have you tried Windows 7 Backup Imaging? It's working really well here.
I save the image to a Primary formatted Recovery Partition on each machine, then backup to external in case of HDD failure.

You can select the partitions to save, and reimaging is done using the Windows 7 Installer/Repair Disk's Repair console>Recover Using an Image, flawlessly in about 15 minutes.