[megabyte]

That's the problem Dave.......It says "windows cannot delete the active partion on this disc"..........but i am not in that partition, i am in the other partition with the newer install........i have managed to delete all other stuff from there except "windows" and "program files"

[Hybr!d]

Try this free partition software, sometimes windows locks the drive, this should sort it.

http://www.partition-tool.com/download.htm

[megabyte]

Thanks Dave....downloaded it this afternoon...been trying for an hour to get rid of this partition and still no good. All this download seems to do is make another partition on the disc and the original which now only consists of 2 files approx 17mbs in total is still there. Seems you just cant get rid of it when installed.

[Hybr!d]

Not sure what to suggest, partition software does exacly that, it's possible you are doing something wrong or something else.

[megabyte]

Thanks Dave...no i have tried always that it lets me. Just been searching the internet and apparently i am not on my own and from what others say it seems it was never meant to be uninstalled.......just searching through loads of stuff .....will let you know but to be honest i am sick of it i much prefer xp just for ease of use......which one is actually the better i dont know but i much prefer a simple life

[Hybr!d]

If you backup your data then do a fresh XP install that will get round the issue.

[megabyte]

No tried that Dave......it wont let me do that as it wont let you install anything that pre-decedes it.

I have found one thing which says i have to wipe the hard drive with a "hard disc data erase utility" which on a search is free downloads which just erase anything on a hard drive........Do you know anything about these one is called Killdisc........i have my own which i may use tomorrow after all this hassle, mine is called "Sledgehammer" and mine works first time!!!!

[Hybr!d]

It will, you boot from the XP CD not run it in Vista!

[megabyte]

I see what you mean....... but clever me firstly installed the vista disc on the second partition and was then going to delete the first partition.....so basically i have 2 copies of vista on the laptop so when i throw my xp disc in it wont let me install something that predecedes vista.......................Ah you beat me with the edit.........ok see what you mean but how do i get rid of the first partition which is the main problem ???

[Hybr!d]

You are missing the point, you BOOT UP off the XP CD and it will 100% let you wipe all partitions and install XP OS fresh on a new, formatted, single partition.