Installation Problem-Black Screen Installing and Upgrading Vista Discuss Installation Problem-Black Screen in the Windows Vista forums; sorry, but please excuse the fact that im rather new to all this stuff. If i re-install windows XP from the CD, will it erase my hard disk? Or ...

[SeaTan]

sorry, but please excuse the fact that im rather new to all this stuff. If i re-install windows XP from the CD, will it erase my hard disk? Or when you said format the disk using Windows XP, does that mean that I can leave drives C and E as they were and only format drive D which is where Vista was installed?

[Znod]

Originally Posted by dazzlin

I think they meant for you to re-install XP from an XP cd or dvd.

Yes, thanks for clarifying daz.

[Snuffy]

No, do not format.. unless you just have to. when you boot to the XP CD. continue thru and the 2nd time you see repair, say yes.... what that does in reinstall XP with all your current settings working... and you loose nothing...
or if at worse "click clean install"... that way it will leave all other FILES intact..

[Znod]

Originally Posted by SeaTan

sorry, but please excuse the fact that im rather new to all this stuff. If i re-install windows XP from the CD, will it erase my hard disk? Or when you said format the disk using Windows XP, does that mean that I can leave drives C and E as they were and only format drive D which is where Vista was installed?

Yes, provided that you identify the drive correctly. And, at this point, I am assuming that the evil disk did not affect the other drives.

[felix8406]

Do not format or reinstall XP, but run Fixboot and Fixmbr commands instead from the Windows XP CD Recovery Console.

Simple insert the Win XP CD and Restart the PC > Press any key when prompted to boot from CD/DVD > Press "R" for Repair when prompted with the Installation or Repair options.

You'll be taken to a Command Prompt > Select the Windows you want to repair by entering the number (e.g. if your installation shows '1 Windows', you'll enter the number '1') > Press 'Enter' > Type 'FDISK' and press Enter > Press 'Y' for yes > When complete type 'FIXMBR' and press 'Enter' > Press 'Y' for yes > Type Exit to restart

[Seansmit17]

Im confused with some of the replys here ppl..

He has vista installed on a seprate hard drive.. so theres no other windows install on it and no other files that he needs right?? sooo why dont you just go and boot from your windows xp drive and then from windows format the one with the vista install on it. Vista will be gone but the vista you have is hacked and just will never work.

[SeaTan]

thanks, youve all been a real help so far, i will be trying out some of your suggestions shortly. Seansmit17, the reason id prefer not to re-format that whole drive is that i do have other files on there, and would like to keep them if possible. ill get back to you all soon if anything happens. thanks.

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Seansmit17

Im confused with some of the replys here ppl..

He has vista installed on a seprate hard drive.. so theres no other windows install on it and no other files that he needs right?? sooo why dont you just go and boot from your windows xp drive and then from windows format the one with the vista install on it. Vista will be gone but the vista you have is hacked and just will never work.

That's what I said. It seems like the only reasonable option.

[Snuffy]

Originally Posted by SeaTan

sorry, but please excuse the fact that im rather new to all this stuff. If i re-install windows XP from the CD, will it erase my hard disk? Or when you said format the disk using Windows XP, does that mean that I can leave drives C and E as they were and only format drive D which is where Vista was installed?

No, if you re-install XP from the CD IT WILL NOT ERASE YOUR HARDDRIVE!!!!
It simply reinstalls XP over XP or can clean install XP ( your option) but NO IT DOES NOT ERASE YOUR HARD DRIVE.!!!!!

[Znod]

Originally Posted by Snuffy

No, if you re-install XP from the CD IT WILL NOT ERASE YOUR HARDDRIVE!!!!
It simply reinstalls XP over XP or can clean install XP ( your option) but NO IT DOES NOT ERASE YOUR HARD DRIVE.!!!!!

He needs to rid himself of whatever got installed on the drive (D) he attempted to install Vista on. It seems to me that formatting is the best approach to doing so. He is not concerned about losing files on his D drive. He is concerned about not losing files on his other drives, C and E.