How to uninstall Windows 2000 in DOS? - China DOS Union Forum

First you have to see whether there are a lot of user programs and data that absolutely must be kept. If not, use FORMAT and cut the Gordian knot!
If so, then as follows:
XP (OR 2000) file format must be FAT32
You also need to see whether it's a single system or a dual system with 98.

If it's a single system, under DOS you can delete all folders and files related to XP OR 2000. If messages like "file not found" "access denied" etc. appear, before deleting use attrib -s -r -h /s to remove system, read-only, and hidden attributes. Also, in DOS, if no long filename (LFN) support program is loaded, folder or file names longer than 8 characters are represented by "the first six characters (ignoring spaces)" plus "~1", and you must type the file extension. Use "del" to delete files, and "deltree" to delete folders.

They are:
Folders:
windows
program files
documents and settings
The following two are on every drive:
system volume information
recycled (in 2000 it is recycler)
Files:
ntldr
boot.ini
ntdetect.com
bootfont.bin
pagefile.sys
Also some related .txt and .log files
Do not delete application programs and data files unrelated to the system.
After that, reboot and you can install a new operating system. But you will need to reinstall applications.

***************************************
If it is a dual system with 98:
You need to keep these under the system directory:
ntldr
boot.ini (if you don't want the dual-boot menu to appear and want to enter 98 directly, you can change default= to the 98 one, and change timeout=xx to 0)
bootsect.dos
io.sys
msdos.sys
config.sys
command.com
autoexec.bat
Then you can go straight into 98.

--------------------------
If you still want to wipe out the three files ntldr boot.ini bootsect.dos, that's also possible, but it's a bit risky. It's best to rename them first, then use debug to write bootsect.dos into the system boot sector, as follows:
debug
-nc:\bootsect.dos
-l 0
-w 0 2 0 1
-q
This writes bootsect.dos into the system boot sector. Reboot and try it; if the system can enter, then you can delete those three files.
If not, just change the three filenames back.
------------------------

Multi-system setups are more or less the same.

Floor1　ming.h.b	Posted 2004-02-18 00:00
初级用户　Posts 6　Credits 124
Question for DOS experts? Thanks, everyone.

Floor2　cdcd	Posted 2004-02-18 00:00
中级用户　Posts 54　Credits 317
I think just deleting it doesn't seem to work. I've tried it too. The best way is to format it. If you delete it, then use scandisk from 98 and you'll find disk errors. And all partitions are FAT32

Floor3　GOTOmsdos	Posted 2004-02-19 00:00
铂金会员　Posts 1,827　Credits 5,154
First you have to see whether there are a lot of user programs and data that absolutely must be kept. If not, use FORMAT and cut the Gordian knot! If so, then as follows: XP (OR 2000) file format must be FAT32 You also need to see whether it's a single system or a dual system with 98. If it's a single system, under DOS you can delete all folders and files related to XP OR 2000. If messages like "file not found" "access denied" etc. appear, before deleting use attrib -s -r -h /s to remove system, read-only, and hidden attributes. Also, in DOS, if no long filename (LFN) support program is loaded, folder or file names longer than 8 characters are represented by "the first six characters (ignoring spaces)" plus "~1", and you must type the file extension. Use "del" to delete files, and "deltree" to delete folders. They are: Folders: windows program files documents and settings The following two are on every drive: system volume information recycled (in 2000 it is recycler) Files: ntldr boot.ini ntdetect.com bootfont.bin pagefile.sys Also some related .txt and .log files Do not delete application programs and data files unrelated to the system. After that, reboot and you can install a new operating system. But you will need to reinstall applications. *************************************** If it is a dual system with 98: You need to keep these under the system directory: ntldr boot.ini (if you don't want the dual-boot menu to appear and want to enter 98 directly, you can change default= to the 98 one, and change timeout=xx to 0) bootsect.dos io.sys msdos.sys config.sys command.com autoexec.bat Then you can go straight into 98. -------------------------- If you still want to wipe out the three files ntldr boot.ini bootsect.dos, that's also possible, but it's a bit risky. It's best to rename them first, then use debug to write bootsect.dos into the system boot sector, as follows: debug -nc:\bootsect.dos -l 0 -w 0 2 0 1 -q This writes bootsect.dos into the system boot sector. Reboot and try it; if the system can enter, then you can delete those three files. If not, just change the three filenames back. ------------------------ Multi-system setups are more or less the same.

Floor4　Kinglion	Posted 2004-02-19 00:00
铂金会员　Posts 1,924　Credits 5,798　From 金獅電腦軟體工作室
Back when I deleted WIN2000, I just did FORMAT C:, simple and fast. No future trouble! No need to worry about junk left behind by the old system causing interference.

Floor5　天涯木子	Posted 2004-02-19 00:00
初级用户　Posts 6　Credits 135
Bump, really very useful Many thanks to the OP

Floor6　ming.h.b	Posted 2004-02-19 00:00
初级用户　Posts 6　Credits 124
Mine is a dual system, not easy to delete.

Floor7　MYS	Posted 2004-02-19 00:00
元老会员　Posts 1,637　Credits 5,170　From 广东佛山
A dual system should be the same, right? Use DELTREE -y D:\XXXXX to delete the entire WIN2000 folder, then boot once with a WIN98 boot disk and run SYS C：, that should do it.

Floor8　GOTOmsdos	Posted 2004-02-20 00:00
铂金会员　Posts 1,827　Credits 5,154
If it's a dual system with 98, deleting it in 98 is simple. But the OP's requirement is to delete it in DOS, so then you have to use the DOS method.

Floor9　黑夜精灵	Posted 2004-02-21 00:00
初级用户　Posts 16　Credits 182
If they're important Chinese files, then how should they be taken out?

Floor10　GOTOmsdos	Posted 2004-02-21 00:00
铂金会员　Posts 1,827　Credits 5,154
Even without loading Chinese translation software, there is still a way. You can first type "DIR 英文目录 > xxx.txt"(to find the Chinese files you want, while redirecting to the specified file), then edit it (keep the garbled path, filename, and extension, and add the COPY command; delete everything else, then rename xxx.txt to xxx.bat, and run it)