How to Uninstall a Windows XP Operating System & Reinstall

Uninstalling and then reinstalling Windows XP is a drastic measure.

For a variety of reasons, you may want to uninstall and then reinstall the Windows XP operating system. However, this may not always be able to be accomplished. You can only uninstall Windows XP if you previously installed it by upgrading from Windows 98 or Windows Millennium Edition. That allows your computer to revert to a previous operating system. If you received Windows XP through any other means, you will not be able to uninstall XP. You can, however, upgrade to Vista.

Things You'll Need

• Windows XP installation disc

Instructions

Uninstall

1. Restart your computer. While it is booting up, press and hold the "F8" button. Doing this will allow you to start your computer in a variety of ways. Choose to boot up the computer in "Safe Mode."

2. Click "Start." Scroll up to "Control Panel" and select the option to "Add/Remove Programs." In the list of programs on your computer, find Windows XP and click the option to "Add/Remove Programs."

3. When asked if you are sure you want to delete it, select "Yes." The computer will now uninstall Windows XP and the next time you turn your computer on, it will revert to the previously installed operating system.

Reinstall

1. Insert the Windows XP installation disc into your computer's disc drive. After a moment, your computer will read the disc and ask if you want to "Install Windows XP." Click "Yes."

2. The installation wizard will start to run. Follow the instructions to specify which aspects of Windows XP you want to install onto your computer. When prompted, enter in the 25-character product key that is located with material that came with the CD. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.

3. The computer will prompt you to restart it. Do so and, when you turn your computer back on, the Windows XP operating system will be reinstalled.

Tips & Warnings

• Make sure to save all files before uninstalling any operating system.

• Simply uninstalling and reinstalling an operating system will, in most cases, not solve any problems you have with your computer.

References

• Microsoft: How to perform an in-place upgrade of Windows XP
• Microsoft: How to uninstall Windows XP

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish