Windows Vista

I need to make sure..

Hi guys. I currently have XP and am planning to get Vista. Thing is, if I install Vista and there are problems or I don't like it, will I be able to revert to XP without reformatting and losing all my data? I'm planning to have two OS's. Is there any way I can uninstall Vista?

Second thing is, if there are no problems with it (ie with my programs and such) will I be able to remove XP and let Vista be the only OS in my system? I'm sorry if my questions sound confusing, I'm not very good with all these technical jargons. Please ask for clarification if you need. Thanks in advance.

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Install Windows Vista beta builds with dual boot. Use Partition Magic. Latest Windows Vista external build is 5219. It should not be your primary OS for the moment, this is not its intended purpose.
If you don't like it, then reformat your Vista partition and resize your primary partition to the max. Vista uses NTFS as file system.
Windows Vista will be available for sale between November and December 2006. You will then be able to choose the edition you want (there'll be 5 of them available to the general public: Home Basic, Home Premium, Professional, Small Business and Utimate) and use the included migration tool to upgrade from XP to Vista.

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I am a little confused. Is there a "dual boot" option I can choose when I install? My hard drive is already partitioned (did it while installing XP). By the way, how do I choose to only reformat a partition? Each time I reformat, everything in the hard drive goes off. I don't really dare to meddle with this unless I am really sure of it. Oh, the pain of losing your data!

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Fuzzy Logic

Join Date 05/2002

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If you don't know how to perform simple PC tasks then perhaps it is not wise to install an O/S beta

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I believe the question was in regard to getting Vista when it was publicly available. In general the majority of people I believe simply install over an existing version of Windows. However if you are able to do it, it is better to make backups and re-format and do a clean install of the new OS. Alternatively you can install Vista in its own partition.
As mentioned above you can get a program like Partition Magic that helps make it easier to partition your hard drive.
So in performing a dual boot setup you can revert back to Xp if you choose. Otherwise usually you can only revert back with a reformat and clean install of the previous version.

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Thanks a lot. I will try out this Partition Magic but chances are I will have to call the technician over (and lose some money

). Hope Partition Magic is user friendly. Fuzzy Logic knocked some sense back into me tho. I am quite excited over this Vista thing. Thanks for the help guys.

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I KNOW! I WILL EXPERIMENT ON IT ON MY LAPTOP! Why didn't I think of that sooner? Most of my important stuff is in the PC. Oh yes. Have a nice day!

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