How to Uninstall Windows 2000 Professional

There are two easy ways to uninstall Windows 2000 Professional, or any operating system, from your computer. How you choose to do it depends on whether or not the Windows 2000 Professional was an upgrade from an earlier version of Windows or if it was a fresh install. Before uninstalling Windows 2000 Professional, be sure to have another operating system ready to load, so that your computer will still be usable in the future.

Things You'll Need

• Windows 2000 Professional install disk (possibly)

Instructions

If 2000 Was An Upgrade

1. Click on "Start" and then the text link for the "Control Panel."

2. Click on the "Add/Remove Programs" icon on the "Control Panel" screen.

3. Allow the list of currently installed programs to load.

4. Scroll down the list until you see a line that reads, "Revert to an earlier version of Windows."

5. Click on the line and follow all onscreen instructions. The wizard may ask for the Windows 2000 Professional installation disk, so be sure to have it ready.

If You Did a Fresh Install

1. Click on the "My Computer" icon on your desktop.

2. Right click on the "C:" drive and choose the format option from the list.

3. Choose the file system you want to create on the hard drive. If you are planning to install an older version of Windows or a completely different operating system, choose Fat 32. If you plan to install Windows XP or Vista, choose NTFS.

4. Click the "Start" button at the bottom of the screen.

5. Let the process complete. Once completed all programs and files are removed from your system, including Windows 2000 Professional.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to back up any important files before beginning this process. Even if you are reverting to an earlier version of Windows, files may be lost in the conversion process. Formatting the drive erases any programs and data on the drive. If you are selling the computer or the hard drive, you should uninstall Windows 2000 Professional before the sale. By doing this, you are able to keep the Activation key numbers for use on another computer.