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-   -   How do i go about removing a linux distro...? (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-general-1/how-do-i-go-about-removing-a-linux-distro-548169/)

mitchell7man 04-22-2007 07:47 PM

How do i go about removing a linux distro...?
 
Hello, my mom has a system which i set up, it currently dual boots Kubuntu and Windows, seeing as she uses only windows and kubuntu is only a waste of space in her situation, how do i go about removing kubuntu?, do i just format the partitions linux uses and formatting them in fat32?, that is if i boot a live cd and open gparted, then remove the linux partition(and swap) and use that space to create a fat32 partition, will the windows boot fine by itself?, or is there another way to go about this? All help in appreciated,

Hern_28 04-22-2007 07:53 PM

Its np
 
Just boot with the live cd, remove the linux partition with cfdisk, reboot with windows, fdisk and recreate partition, might want to do fdisk /mbr to remove lilo or grub, format disk and roll :)

hand of fate 04-22-2007 08:43 PM

You can also do this from within Windows.

Right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage". Under "Disk Management", right click on the Linux partition (it will probably show up as "unknown") and select "Delete".

phantom_cyph 04-22-2007 08:48 PM

Or you can do it with GParted. What is she doing in Windows she can't do in Kubuntu? Why not delete Windows?

jay73 04-22-2007 08:55 PM

Deleting Linux should be easy enough; the crucial thing is to restore your MBR because as long as it contains GRUB, you won't be able to boot into Windows. The MBR can be restored from a windows boot disk or cd.

kstan 04-22-2007 10:28 PM

Before remove linux, you need to have a windows installation disk 1st.
1. In windows, as hand of fate mentioned:

Quote:

Originally Posted by hand of fate
You can also do this from within Windows.

Right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage". Under "Disk Management", right click on the Linux partition (it will probably show up as "unknown") and select "Delete".

2. boot the windows installation disk, choose 1st option to repair your windows.
3. in the recovery console, type fixmbr.


Good luck,
Regards,
Ks

mitchell7man 04-22-2007 11:18 PM

The problem with kubuntu is the wireless card, i have two threads, and no solutions.... and can i use a different windows disk than the one used to install windows on the computer?, (someone else did the windows installation), ... the disk i have came with my comp, and when i install it on other systems it is only a trial of XP,... will the disk i have work to fix the install?.... currently i have windows on the grub, so, even if i am not going to do the following couldnt i leave grub on?... though i would prefer a strictly windows base for her... thanks for the responses and help.

jay73 04-23-2007 01:32 AM

No, leaving GRUB on is not an option. GRUB actually comes in two parts, one sits on the MBR and the other is on your Linux partition. By deleting Linux, you're actually severing the connection so GRUB stops functioning. It will still show up when you reboot, but it won't know what to do next because the list of your OSes was deleted.

Using a different install disk should be fine, as long as it is an XP disk.

kstan 04-23-2007 02:42 AM

Technically you can leave the grub on even you no longer need linux, which is make a small partition to keep the /boot directory files. But this is no meaning and wasting your time.

mitchell7man 04-23-2007 08:53 AM

Ok, so from what i gathered, i
Quote:

Right click on "My Computer" and select "Manage". Under "Disk Management", right click on the Linux partition (it will probably show up as "unknown") and select "Delete".
then i put in a XP disk (mine is xp media center - my moms is XP Pro,... strangely i think they are the same as during install mine xays XP pro, then towards the end media center installs), and repair setup, correct?, is this guaranteed to work?

jay73 04-23-2007 05:39 PM

Yes, that's it. When using the windows cd you'll have to use the command "fixmbr" after selecting repair mode. It will throw up a warning that you're about to do something pretty tricky but you can safely ignore that.

kstan 04-23-2007 09:22 PM

during you boot windows xp pro cd, u'll see 2 times for repair, make sure you choose the 1st one you see(which will immediately bring you to command prompt).

mitchell7man 04-23-2007 10:15 PM

Ok, will do, thanks for everything!,


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