Uninstalling Ubuntu - nothing works!
 

Hi!

A year ago or so I installed Ubuntu on my computer because I was told that it will work better (my computer was a bit slow, but now I know that it wasn't windows to blame).
So, when I installed ubuntu, I deleted windows so now I have only ubuntu. I haven't been using that computer for over six months and I forgot the password. The are two accounts on it, one with the password and one without. The one without the password has limited acess.

Now, I tried to uninstall Ubuntu with live cd, not working, I tried with esc or F12 to enter the boot menu to just install windows over ubuntu with boot cd, but it doesn't work. I tried with making a special boot cd, but when I put it in my computer, my mouse and keyboard die so I can't do anything. So also not working.

Then I came across one method that needed my password which I don't know. So i tried to restore it in 3 or 4 was and none of them worked.

I really need that computer so if anyone could help me I would be very gratfull!

if you want to install something else, why try to uninstall the old os? Just nuke it in the installer for windows or whatever.

if you want to recover the passwords it's pretty simple though. on the boot screen, hit e to edit the options, and then just add "1" to the kernel options line. That will load you into runlevel 1, directly in as root and then you can use "passwd <username>" to change that users password. simples.

So you just want to install Windows on it?
Boot from the live-CD, open a terminal and launch this command:
Be careful! This command assumes that there is only one harddisk in your computer. You also will not be able to access the data on the drive after running the command!

This command deletes the MBR, including the partition table, so that it will be handled as a new drive from your computer. Just pop in your Windows CD and restart the computer to install it.

Windows cd won't start when I put it in, even though I figured it out how to make it boot from cd first.


Tobi, I did what you said, but when I write that comand in the terminal I get this:

dd: opening '/dev/sda': Permission denied

I tried that too. Several times. I hit e, but nothing happens.

I have no data on this computer so I don't need to save anything. I just need to put win on it.

Was "cs" a typo for "cd"? Or is it some version of Windows I never heard of or what?

It is quite unlikely that the installed copy of Linux on the hard drive causes any problem for booting a Windows install CD or for installing Windows from that CD.

There are occasional reports describing situations in which an installed copy of Linux does interfere with installing Windows. My best guess is those are all operator error misunderstanding some other problem and blaming it on the installed copy of Linux. But I wasn't physically there, so I can't be sure.

If you really think an installed copy of Linux is interfering with booting a Windows CD, you can get any Linux liveCD (most Linux install CD's can be booted in liveCD mode), boot that, go into the GUI partitioning program, and delete all the partitions.

More likely, your Windows CD won't boot for some other reason.

None of that is relevant. You shouldn't be trying to uninstall a copy of Linux from inside that installed copy. If you want to uninstall Linux (which is questionable) you should be booted in your Linux liveCD.

I don't know what password might be required to run a GUI partitioning program (with root privilege) from a Ubuntu liveCD. I expect no password is required, but if one is required, it would be in Ubuntu online documentation and would not be related to any passwords you selected and forgot on your own installed copy.

I think most of the confusion here relates to whatever you mean by "boot cd".

You need a Windows install CD.

Sorry about that, I always forget that Ubuntu uses sudo for getting root privileges. The command has to be:If your computer doesn't start from the CD then I would assume that the CD is faulty. Try to boot it in a different computer.

Yes :D

I deleted them and I hope this will help. Thank you guys for your help!

---------- Post added 09-18-11 at 09:38 AM ----------

I tried with sudo too, it didnßt work :D

What error message did you get?

I don't remember any more, but itßs all ok now. I was able to start the win boot cd. Thanks guys!

Then the CD is defect.
Can you boot from another live CD?

Kind regards

I don' know what was the problem, I was able to book Ubuntu live cd, but no windows boot cd. At the end, I deleted partitions using Ubuntu live cd and after that, windows boot cd worked :)

does the windows cd boot on any other pc.

are you able to boot any other bootable cd from this pc.

i suspect you didnt change the boot order correctly in your bios (every manufacturer and model has a different key combination to enter bios at bootup).
is it possible possible the disk is faulty or the dvd-rom is broken ?

Can we
 

Mark this thread SOLVED? NOXUS: is my understanding correct that you have recovered this device and it is functional and you need no more help from this thread?