Help installing windows XP over Vista

[Ravioli]

I installed the full Vista Ultimate 30 days ago or so and it said when the trail ends the system just wont let me acces accounts anymore. Anyway im at that point right now, so i have to install windows XP on my computer so that i can use it you know. However, i dont want to FORMAT my entire hard drive. I just simply want to remove Vista and replace it with XP. In the XP installation i choose the option to just leave everything and install XP and delete the current OS on the computer. But then it said that there already is a folder called Windows and it asks if i want to delete all files, sub folders etc and replace it with the windows XP.

Here is the deal...does it mean delete all files and subfolders WITHIN the Windows folder ONLY?? Or does it mean delete ALL files and ALL subfolders on the ENTIRE hard drive?

Im asking this because i dont want to loose important work and music and you know..that little...extra stuff we men need sometimes. So can someone tell me what the installation is meaning by this.

Thanks

 

[Narcolepsy]

You should have dual booted! When you overwrote XP, you took your porn into your own hands, and you can't very well enjoy it with both hands occupied.

I'm not positive on this at all, but I'm pretty sure it would just delete all Windows files. I'd guess that this would end up pretty messy though - you should really backup everything, format, and start over.

 

[Ravioli]

I can access the files in Safe Mode and there is ONE program that can burn files, and i have a re-writable DVD so i guess i can burn and copy it into this computer, and do it about 30 times and then format.

Thanks for your opinion

 

[Iced_Eagle]

I'm guessing it means it is asking if you want to delete the Windows folder and all of it's sub-folders.

But no point taking the risk and backup.

 

[pomegranate]

As I recall from when I installed the Vista beta, Vista creates to a new boot sequence file, which means you can't go back to XP as easily as you want to. You will need to back up all your files and wipe your HD to reinstall XP. Get an external HD for backing up, a small one is only about 4-5x more expensive than a spindle of blank DVDs