How to uninstall / remove Windows Vista?

A. Use the Programs and Features item in Control Panel to uninstall Windows Vista

To uninstall Windows Vista SP1 by using the Programs and Features item in Control Panel, follow these steps:

1. Click Startthe Start button, type Appwiz.cpl in the Start Search box, and then click Appwiz.cpl in the Programs list.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

2. Click View installed updates.

3. Click Service Pack for Microsoft Windows (KB936330), and then click Uninstall.

4. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to complete the uninstall process.

B. Use System Restore to uninstall Windows Vista

To use offline System Restore to remove Windows Vista SP1, follow these steps.

1. Insert the Windows Vista DVD, and then restart the computer.
2. When you receive the following message, press any key:
Press any key to boot from CD or DVD.

3. Set the following preferences, and then click Next:
- Language to install
- Time and currency format
- Keyboard or input method

4. Click Repair your computer, select the operating system that you want to repair if it is necessary, and then click Next.
5. Click System Restore, and then click Next.

6. Click to choose the Restore Point that matches the installation date for Service Pack 1. The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

7. Confirm the disks that you want to restore, and then click Next.
8. Click Finish, and then click Yes when you are prompted.

9. When the System Restore process is complete, click Restart to restart the computer.
10. After the computer restarts, click Close to confirm that the System Restore process has finished successfully.

To use System Restore in Windows Vista to remove Windows Vista SP1, follow these steps.

1. Click the Start button, type rstrui in the Start Search box, and then click rstrui in the Programs list.
User Access Control permission If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Continue.

2. In the Restore System Files and Settings window, click Next.
3. In the Choose a Restore Point window, click to choose the Restore Point that matches the installation date for Service Pack 1, and then click Next.

Note The Restore Point will be labeled either Install: Windows Update or Install: Windows Vista Service Pack 1.

4. Verify the restore point that you want to use, and then click Finish.

C. Use the a command-line command to uninstall Windows Vista

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window. To do this, click Startthe Start button, type command in the Start Search box, right-click CommandPrompt, and then click Run as administrator.

2. Run the following command. This command assumes that the Windows6.0-KB936330.exe folder is in the C:\Temp folder.
C:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.exe /x:C:\temp

3. To create a sandbox, type md .

4. To remove SP1, type start /w pkgmgr.exe /m:c:\temp\Windows6.0-KB936330-X86.cab /up /s:.

5. After Pkgmgr.exe finishes, you are prompted to restart the computer. This is true unless you specified the /quiet command with Pkgmgr.