how uninstall vista beta 2

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

Thanks for returning my help. So there is no other way to take off Vista? i have to buy a XP home edition boot cd?
"Richard in AZ" wrote:

Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

Your disk drive probably has a Recovery Partition. Have you read the PC Manual for "Factory State" restore ? Vendors must supply customers with a way to restore the PC. Sometimes you must "Burn" the recovery disk set at initial boot/setup.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

Thanks for returning my help. So there is no other way to take off Vista? i have to buy a XP home edition boot cd?
"Richard in AZ" wrote:
Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

One word of caution - A Factory Restore will remove all user data and 3rd-party applications. Before jumping into a Restore you may want to backup/burn your personal data or you'll fix one issue and end up with another.
"R. McCarty" wrote in message

Your disk drive probably has a Recovery Partition. Have you read the PC Manual for "Factory State" restore ? Vendors must supply customers with a way to restore the PC. Sometimes you must "Burn" the recovery disk set at initial boot/setup.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message Thanks for returning my help. So there is no other way to take off Vista? i have to buy a XP home edition boot cd?
"Richard in AZ" wrote:
Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

I agree with the preceeding poster and would only add that you need to save your data if you can. You can use one of the repair CDs, or one of the Linix bootable CDs such as Knopix.
Todd
"Richard in AZ" wrote in message

Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

I'm not a wiz but i can understand what you are saying. So this means i'm screwed? I can't restore my laptop? to factoring settings? Only way is to put in the restore disk .but the Vista won't take it.
"R. McCarty" wrote:

Your disk drive probably has a Recovery Partition. Have you read the PC Manual for "Factory State" restore ? Vendors must supply customers with a way to restore the PC. Sometimes you must "Burn" the recovery disk set at initial boot/setup.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message Thanks for returning my help. So there is no other way to take off Vista? i have to buy a XP home edition boot cd?
"Richard in AZ" wrote:
Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

I have already have saved data on my mp3 player. I use it to save important things on it. So the alternative to this issue for laptop users is to buy or use the XP boot cd?
"Todd" wrote:

I agree with the preceeding poster and would only add that you need to save your data if you can. You can use one of the repair CDs, or one of the Linix bootable CDs such as Knopix.
Todd
"Richard in AZ" wrote in message Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

I'm not a wiz but i can understand what you are saying. So this means i'm screwed? I can't restore my laptop? to factoring settings? Only way is to put in the restore disk .but the Vista won't take it.

Boot from the restore disk.
-- Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, OE/WM Please reply in newsgroup.

Since you have saved your data, you can take a breath now.
You might as well play with Vista some more if it is running, is it?
If you have a restore partition, you may be able to restore your laptop from that. See if you can find a user manual for you machine on google. I havn't done this, so I'm not sure how to do it.
Other wise, you will have to get an XP boot disk. Someone on another thread suggested that you might be able to get them from Toshiba. Since every laptop comes with an operating system, they shouldn't be charging you for the operating system, only for the replacement disk.. If they will sell them to you, it should be cheaper than buying a retail Windows XP package from a store.
Todd
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

I have already have saved data on my mp3 player. I use it to save important things on it. So the alternative to this issue for laptop users is to buy or use the XP boot cd?
"Todd" wrote:
I agree with the preceeding poster and would only add that you need to save your data if you can. You can use one of the repair CDs, or one of the Linix bootable CDs such as Knopix.
Todd
"Richard in AZ" wrote in message Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

If you don't have restore cd's or XP Home in a hidden partition, then yes you will need to buy. While you are at it I would buy Pro and not Home for use on a laptop, but that's just my own experience with laptiops talking. Be sure to collect all of the special devices drivers and utilities from the manufacturer's website before you start and put them on a cd. You may not have internet connectivity after installation without those drivers.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

Thanks for returning my help. So there is no other way to take off Vista? i have to buy a XP home edition boot cd?
"Richard in AZ" wrote:
Asking a Windows Operating System to do a reformat on the operating disk is like asking it to commit suicide. It just will not do it. You are going to have to buy an XP disk, either from a store or from Toshiba. You will also need drivers from Toshiba for the motherboard, the sound card, the video card, the modem, etc. Then set the BIOS to boot first from the CD drive. With the XP disk in the CD, start the computer and follow the on-screen directions. (A restore disk from Toshiba, would be the easiest solution, but a full XP disk is a better tool for future repair) This is called live and learn.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.

Your posts are confusing. Do you or do you not have your Toshiba Restore disc? If you do, pop it in the drive, shut down Vista, then boot up and it should boot from the restore disc and give you a few options for restoring your system back to factory spec. If you don't, call Toshiba and the will send you one (for a small fee).

Most if not all restore discs don't allow you to boot from them and install XP. Anyone telling Daniel to use an XP Restore Disc on Vista is missing two major points.
1) 99% of the time these OEM restore discs don't work on XP or any other OS; neither do restore partitions. 2) It ain't workin' for Daniel on Vista.
The restore discs are cruel jokes perpetuated by MSFT and OEMs on victims who buy OEM and don't insist on a retail XP CD for their purchase. Anyone who thinks they aren't, bop on over to the XP Chatroom provided by MSFT and in a few minutes someone will post that they have a no boot XP. Don't lurk. You're helping here so dive in and help them. See how far you get with them becaue 99.9999% are working with anything but a retail XP CD to use in case they need to do a repair install. They sure have a partition and a restore CD and see how well that works. After about 1000 episodes of that, let me know how many successes you have using a recovery OEM CD or partition to get these people back to their Win XP versus the 35 minutes it would take trying *all four F8 so-called Win Advanced Options, and if no joy there doing a repair install with the retail CD.
That's what MSFT outlines in their Chapter 28 XP Resource Kit and it's parallel MSKB here:
Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
It worked pretty well for MSFT and the OEM's during XP, and that train is speeding down the track in Vista. It's part of MSFT's mission to make sure you buy the OS pre-installed and then need to buy it again retail. A retail XP CD and you don't have to futz around with boot order then, would format Vista off Daniel's drive.
I'm willing to bet that veteran MVPs like Frank Saunders make darn sure they have a retail CD in the case of XP and a Vista DVD whether you buy it or the more likely reality that MSFT gives it to you through Beta testing or some other venue.
What I don't understand about this whole thread is why Daniel doesn't give Vista a chance because while it does need a lot of work, it is very easy to use it as a day to day machine and many of us have been doing just that. I'd lobby as hard as the next guy to get some XP features back in as an optionlike View>Arrange Icons By Show in Groups.
I also think if Daniel were to try Vista next time around, he would be happier with a dual boot, where he could easily shortcut to his XP desktop from his Vista desktop reaching it at C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel's Profile\Desktop allowing him to access his XP files nad folders, and to save time and space copying them to Vista.
A really interesting question for me is how so many smart, successful people are duped by buying expensive OEM hardware from a Dell, Toshiba, Sony or HP and don't insist on the media that is going to allow you to
1) Repair Install in the case of Windows XP in case you need to following Chapter 28 of the XP Resource Kit and the corresponding MSKBs like this one
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
2) Run the capable new feature Win RE in Vista (not mentioned much in this group becaue MSFT is dragging their whatever in getting documentation up on thier site) but will be glad to sell you a nice fat Vista book at
http://www.microsoftbookstore.com/Store.aspx?ain=Default
Money is the language MSFT understands best--better than Hex, C++ , C#, VB, ..net or any other.
CH


"Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, OE/WM" wrote in message

"Daniel Woo" wrote in message I'm not a wiz but i can understand what you are saying. So this means i'm screwed? I can't restore my laptop? to factoring settings? Only way is to put in the restore disk .but the Vista won't take it.
Boot from the restore disk.
-- Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, OE/WM Please reply in newsgroup.

I agree with most of what you wrote: the philosophical, as it is hard to argue with the technical. But this is the classic example of not a strong enough warning or instruction by MS to the end user of Vista Beta. Had it been only available as an ordered disc, with strong warnings about overwrite at initiation, this would be a much smoother process for the poor sheep.
m--
"Chad Harris" wrote:

Most if not all restore discs don't allow you to boot from them and install XP. Anyone telling Daniel to use an XP Restore Disc on Vista is missing two major points.
1) 99% of the time these OEM restore discs don't work on XP or any other OS; neither do restore partitions. 2) It ain't workin' for Daniel on Vista.
The restore discs are cruel jokes perpetuated by MSFT and OEMs on victims who buy OEM and don't insist on a retail XP CD for their purchase. Anyone who thinks they aren't, bop on over to the XP Chatroom provided by MSFT and in a few minutes someone will post that they have a no boot XP. Don't lurk. You're helping here so dive in and help them. See how far you get with them becaue 99.9999% are working with anything but a retail XP CD to use in case they need to do a repair install. They sure have a partition and a restore CD and see how well that works. After about 1000 episodes of that, let me know how many successes you have using a recovery OEM CD or partition to get these people back to their Win XP versus the 35 minutes it would take trying *all four F8 so-called Win Advanced Options, and if no joy there doing a repair install with the retail CD.
That's what MSFT outlines in their Chapter 28 XP Resource Kit and it's parallel MSKB here:
Resources for troubleshooting startup problems in Windows XP http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
It worked pretty well for MSFT and the OEM's during XP, and that train is speeding down the track in Vista. It's part of MSFT's mission to make sure you buy the OS pre-installed and then need to buy it again retail. A retail XP CD and you don't have to futz around with boot order then, would format Vista off Daniel's drive.
I'm willing to bet that veteran MVPs like Frank Saunders make darn sure they have a retail CD in the case of XP and a Vista DVD whether you buy it or the more likely reality that MSFT gives it to you through Beta testing or some other venue.
What I don't understand about this whole thread is why Daniel doesn't give Vista a chance because while it does need a lot of work, it is very easy to use it as a day to day machine and many of us have been doing just that. I'd lobby as hard as the next guy to get some XP features back in as an optionlike View>Arrange Icons By Show in Groups.
I also think if Daniel were to try Vista next time around, he would be happier with a dual boot, where he could easily shortcut to his XP desktop from his Vista desktop reaching it at C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel's Profile\Desktop allowing him to access his XP files nad folders, and to save time and space copying them to Vista.
A really interesting question for me is how so many smart, successful people are duped by buying expensive OEM hardware from a Dell, Toshiba, Sony or HP and don't insist on the media that is going to allow you to
1) Repair Install in the case of Windows XP in case you need to following Chapter 28 of the XP Resource Kit and the corresponding MSKBs like this one
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308041/en-us
2) Run the capable new feature Win RE in Vista (not mentioned much in this group becaue MSFT is dragging their whatever in getting documentation up on thier site) but will be glad to sell you a nice fat Vista book at
http://www.microsoftbookstore.com/Store.aspx?ain=Default
Money is the language MSFT understands best--better than Hex, C++ , C#, VB, ..net or any other.
CH

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.
email: asianw2o@yahoo.com

If you did an upgrade of your XP installation and do not have a XP CD to reinstall from, you will probably have to buy a new copy of XP.
If this is your only computer you should have never installed Vista Beta 2 on it in other than a dual-boot setup.
"Daniel Woo" wrote:

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.
email: asianw2o@yahoo.com

Go to the comp.sys.laptop newsgroup, and ask them what the procedure for restoring the operating system is for Toshiba, if you don't have the restore CDs.
I have a Gateway, and I looked up the procedure for that a littile while age.
The procedure for your laptop is probably different.
To restore system software from the hard drive backup copy:
1 Restart the computer, then press F11 when prompted to start the restore process. The System Recovery program starts. You have three seconds to press F11 before Windows starts.
2 Click a system restore option. For more information, see "Restoration options" on page 5. ? Non-Destructive System Restore (Recommended) ? Full System Restore (Destructive) ? Full System Restore (with Backup) (Advanced Option)
3 Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the system software restoration process.

"digitalexplr" wrote in message

If you did an upgrade of your XP installation and do not have a XP CD to reinstall from, you will probably have to buy a new copy of XP.
If this is your only computer you should have never installed Vista Beta 2 on it in other than a dual-boot setup.
"Daniel Woo" wrote:
I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.
email: asianw2o@yahoo.com

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.
asianw2o@yahoo.com

For pretty obvious reasons, you can't use Add/Remove Programs to remove an operating systems any more than you can use it to install one.
"Daniel Woo" wrote in message

I've tried looking for it in the add/remove program and its not there. I've went to my computer and right clicked it and clicked format and a window came up and said that i couldn't format because "vista" was currently on the C:/ drive and i can't format. I don't have a XP boot cd. I never had one. If i ever had any problems with my Toshiba Laptop i would restore it. I need serious help. If anyone can give me a guide i've be pleased.
asianw2o@yahoo.com