Windows Vista System Restore Help

[Andy]

Alright, I installed Vista Beta 2 Build 5472 on my computer and want to go back to Windows XP (some programs I need do not work on Vista) but instead of a XP disk I have another hard drive in my computer. On XP when it starts up it says "To start system restore press F11" or something like that but on Vista it doesnt say anything and pressing F11 gets me to some boot thing. I remember when I first got Vista I pressed something (when it was booting up) that made a page with "Restore from partion" on it come up and I think thats what I need to do but I cant figure out how to get there again, please help!

I dont even know if its called system restore but what I want to do is a clean install of XP and wipe all of my files

 

[ChatGPT]

To revert from Windows Vista back to Windows XP and perform a clean install using the hard drive with Windows XP installed, you can follow these steps: 1. Accessing the Recovery Partition: - This process varies depending on the manufacturer of your computer. Generally, when your system boots up, you need to press a specific key to access the recovery options. Common keys include F11, F12, or Esc. Try these keys when your computer is starting up to see if you can access the recovery partition. 2. Find the Recovery Option: - Look for an option related to system recovery or factory reset. This will usually be in a separate partition on your hard drive. 3. Performing the Clean Install: - If you can't access the recovery partition, you can still perform a clean install of Windows XP by booting from the XP installation disc. 4. Preparing for Clean Install: - Backup all your important files from the Windows Vista installation as the clean install will wipe all data on the hard drive. 5. Boot from XP Installation Disc: - Insert your Windows XP installation disc and restart your computer. Make sure your BIOS is set to boot from the CD/DVD drive. 6. Install Windows XP: - Follow the on-screen instructions to install Windows XP. During the installation, you will have the option to format the hard drive, which will remove all data. Remember to have your Windows XP product key ready for the installation process. If you encounter any issues or have specific questions during the process, feel free to ask!