Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
Reverting to Windows 98 from Windows XP and NTFS can be done, but it's a lot of work and not recommended.
I have a four year old Dell PC that originally came with a Windows 98 OS. This past summer I had the local computer repair shop upgrade to Windows XP-Pro which I now regret. They installed XP without reformatting the hard drive so Windows 98 still remains. I want to get rid of XP and convert back to Windows 98. I read the uninstall instructions and it says that Windows XP-Pro cannot be uninstalled if the hard disk configuration has been changed: if FAT has been converted to NTFS. NTFS is the current file system but I cannot be sure if it was converted from FAT during the XP installation or if it was originally set this way. The only information that I have is the original generic manual that came with the computer when I bought if from Dell. In the manual it talks only about FAT file systems so I would assume that FAT is the original file system and the computer file system was converted to NTFS during the XP installation. SO...my question is: Am I stuck with Windows XP or is it still possible to uninstall XP and if so how would I go about doing it without damaging the whole computer.
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Well, it can be done. It's not easy, but it can be done.
But I don't recommend it.
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Windows 98 doesn't support NTFS, period. So yes, if your hard disk is now formatted with NTFS then it was converted somewhere along the way.
It also means that your only real approach to reverting to Windows 98 would be to backup or save all your data, reformat the hard disk (with the FAT filesystem), and install Windows 98. From scratch.
That's quite a bit of work, to be sure.
And in all honesty ... why?
Windows XP is such a better operating system than Windows 98. My recommendation instead would be to see if the issues you're having with it could be addressed instead.
In the long run, I'm convinced you'll be much happier that way.
Article C2253 - January 4, 2005 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
December 20, 2007 8:39 PM
some of the windows xp disk for gateway has a section that allows you to reformat the hard drive to fat32 partitions and allows you to delete partions. it a three disk set (driver, operating systems and applcations) it usually takes several times to get it to the screen that allows you to change the format. ive installed windows xp and im using your site to downgrade to windows 98 i've used your site to link to ultimatebootcd but i dont know what to select please let me know what to select so i download the right software
January 8, 2009 5:55 AM
I downloaded windows xp, over 98 and it took away, but I think it kept folders I needed. I want to get revert back to 98. How can I do it? I read part of Freds, but didn't get it all. Help!
08-Jan-2009
November 19, 2010 6:53 AM
some of the windows xp disk for gateway has a section that allows you to reformat the hard drive to fat32 partitions and allows you to delete partions. Thanks ;)
Computer Services
November 7, 2011 12:44 PM
I have a psion (handheld omputer fom 90's) and I would like to download the info in it into my computer. Howeve, it only uns on windows 98. I have windows vista. I wanted to know if i can download windows 9 without loosing windows vista?
November 7, 2011 1:10 PM
@Paula
You might try installing Windows 98 in a virtual machine. Since the psion requires a driver, I'm not totally sure it would work in a virtual machine, but it might be worth a try.. Otherwise, you may have to find someone with an old Windows 98 machine laying around.