How to Manually Remove Windows NT

ID: Q103049

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Operating System version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server

SUMMARY

This article describes how to remove Windows NT from your computer.


MORE INFORMATION

Before you begin, make sure you know where Windows NT is installed, how much of it you want to remove, and how your hard disk is partitioned and formatted. Then, go to one of the following sections:

  • Removing Windows NT from the Boot Sequence


  • Removing a Primary NTFS Partition


  • Removing Windows NT Files


NOTE: If the hard disk contains a partition using the NTFS file system, remove this partition in Windows NT before removing Windows NT from the boot sequence.

Removing Windows NT from the Boot Sequence

There are two ways to remove the Windows NT boot sector from your computer:

  • If you want to return to your original MS-DOS configuration, boot MS-DOS and type "sys c:" (without the quotation marks). This command replaces the Windows NT boot sector with the MS-DOS boot sector, and allows your computer to boot MS-DOS. The following files are left in the root folder and can be deleted after you perform the "sys c:" operation: 

    
      Pagefile.sys
      Boot.ini
      Ntldr
      Ntdetect.com
      Ntbootdd.sys


    NOTE: The Ntbootdd.sys file is installed only if you have a SCSI Host Adapter installed in Windows NT.

    You can also start your computer with a Windows 95 bootable floppy disk and use the "sys c:" command if you want to return to your original Windows 95 configuration.


  • If you want to leave Ntldr on the disk, you can boot MS-DOS without being prompted by changing the startup operating system and time-out value. To do so, start the System tool in Control Panel, click the Startup/Shutdown tab, click MS-DOS in the Startup box, and type "0" (without quotation marks) in the Show List For <n> Seconds box.


NOTE: If the primary partition was converted to NTFS, the only way to return to starting MS-DOS automatically is to reformat the drive and reinstall MS-DOS. See the next section if this is the case.

Removing a Primary NTFS Partition

In general, attempts to modify the primary, bootable NTFS partition do not succeed for the following reasons:

  • MS-DOS versions 5.0 and 6.0 do not recognize an NTFS partition. The MS-DOS Fdisk program reports an NTFS partition as an OS/2 high-performance file system (HPFS) partition.


  • You cannot modify or delete an NTFS primary partition within the partition.


To delete or modify a primary NTFS partition, use any of the following methods:

  • Boot MS-DOS version 6.0 from a floppy disk and press RETURN to continue installing MS-DOS 6. When you are prompted to do so, choose "Remove files."


  • Initiate Windows NT installation from floppy disks or a CD-ROM. When you are prompted to do so, choose "P" to remove the partition.


  • Use the Delpart tool (Delpart.exe) to delete the NTFS partition. The Delpart tool is included with the Microsoft Windows NT 3.1 Resource Kit only. It is not included in the Windows NT 3.5, 3.51 or 4.0 Resource Kits. Note that the Delpart tool cannot delete a logical drive an extended partition. The Windows NT 3.1 Resource Kit is available for download from the following Web site:
    ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/reskit


  • Boot OS/2 version 1.x from a floppy disk and run its Fdisk program. To remove the partition, specify the /D option.


Removing Windows NT Files

You can remove the following folders to remove Windows NT files and free disk space:

Windows NT 3.51 and Earlier:

  • Users


  • Win32app


  • Winnt
    NOTE: The Winnt folder name may vary. Windows NT may also be installed in the same folder as Windows 3.1. If this is the case, you should delete only the System32 folder in the Windows folder.)


Windows NT 4.0:

  • Users


  • Winnt
    NOTE: The Winnt folder name may vary.


Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95 both use the following folders. Delete them only if you are not running or do not intend to keep the Windows 95 installation.

  • Program Files


  • Recycled


Additional query words: uninstall win32sdk win32 sdk 3.10

Keywords : kbsetup ntsetup ntgeneral NTSrvWkst prodnt
Version : :; WINDOWS:2000; winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: January 17, 2000
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