Removing Windows NT with Winntp.exe/D: Option

 Last reviewed: July 29, 1996
Article ID: Q152291
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.50 and 3.51 - Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.50 and 3.51

SYMPTOMS

When you use Winntp.exe from the Windows NT Resource Kit 3.51 with the /D: option to remove your current installation of Windows NT, the following error message appears: 

   Windows NT Profile Setup

   Setup is unable to find the Repair.WinntFiles section in the setup log
   file named below.

   C:\WINNT35\REPAIR\SETUP.LOG

   Setup is unable to remove Windows NT files from the specified directory.

CAUSE

The Setup.log does not contain a Repair.WinntFiles section. Adding the Repair.WinntFiles in place of the Files.WinNt in the Setup.log allows Winntp.exe to detect the Setup.log but does not remove the current installation of Windows NT.

WORKAROUND

The following paragraphs describe how to remove Windows NT from the system without reformatting the disk drive.

NOTE: This method only works if the drive has been formatted for a FAT file system and the partition is less than or equal to 2 gigabytes (GB).

By default, Windows NT creates the following directories of the ROOT of the drive: 

   \WINNT35
   \USERS
   \WIN32APP
By default, Windows NT places the following files in the ROOT of the drive: 

   Boot.ini
   Ntldr.
   Ntdetect.com
   Pagefile.sys
   Bootsec.dos (if MS-DOS is on the system)
   Fatboot.bin (if the current install was done by CPS)
To remove Windows NT from the system without reformatting the drive, perform the following steps:

  1. Create an MS-DOS boot floppy
2. Place the following files on the boot floppy: 
    - Sys.com
    - Attrib.com
    - Deltree.exe
    - Scandisk.exe
    - Defrag.exe
3. Create a batch file called Cleanup.bat 4. Enter the following into Cleanup.bat: 

   @echo off
   a:
   SYS C:
   DELTREE /Y C:\WINNT35
   DELTREE /Y C:\WIN32APP
   DELTREE /Y C:\USERS
   DEL C:\PAGEFILE.SYS
   A:\ATTRIB -S -H -R C:\BOOT.INI
   DEL C:\BOOT.INI
   A:\ATTRIB -S -H -R C:\NTDETECT.COM
   DEL C:\NTDETECT.COM
   A:\ATTRIB -S -H -R C:\NTLDR.
   DEL NTLDR.
   A:\ATTRIB -S -H -R C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
   DEL C:\BOOTSECT.DOS
   DEL C:\FATBOOT.BIN
   REM
   REM It is important that maintenance is
   REM done on the drive to prevent an unreasonable
   REM amount of fragmentation.
   REM
   A:\SCANDISK C: /CUSTOM
   A:\DEFRAG C: /F

  • Boot the computer from the boot floppy created in step 1 and run Cleanup.bat

    When this procedure is complete, Windows NT has been completely removed from the system while all other existing data and files remain intact.

    STATUS

    Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.5x Resource Kit Winntp.exe. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

    • KBCategory: kbsetup
    KBSubcategory: ntsetup
    Additional reference words: prodnt 3.51 3.50

    THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

    Last reviewed: July 29, 1996
    © 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.