Want To Replace Ubuntu On Dual-Booted Machine w/o Losing other OS
 

Hi Again, Guys, :(

As you may have noted from my other recent thread, I am having some severe problems with Ubuntu 10.04 (I wish it weren't so- as I loved it when it was working good!)

Since 10.10 is not out yet, I think I'm going to try Mint. (or possibly Lubuntu - I have both ISOs copied to CD already)

Question is: Is it possible to install the new OS on the partition that now contains Ubuntu, without disturbing my Windows Vista partition? (I just need Vista for occasional use of MagicJack- otherwise I'd gladly just wipe the whole disk)

Can I just boot my Ubuntu live CD and run Disk Utility and delete the Ubuntu partition? (I prefer to use GUI rather than CLI).

Thanks in advance. Don't know what I'd do without you all!

What OS's and partitions do you have now? Just Windows and Ubuntu? But what partitions?

Are you using Grub or Grub2 and which partition is it on?

You can replace the Ubuntu partition(s) without loosing any of your other Os's or partitions, but the details of how to do it likely depend on your answers.

With most Linux installers, it is possible to select existing partition(s) and reinstall wiping just those partitions and leaving others undisturbed.

Alternately, it is definitely possible to delete your Linux partition(s) with the GUI partitioning tool on almost any Linux liveCD, then with almost any Linux installer it is possible to install into the unpartitioned space (creating new partitions).

Unless you make a mistake in partition naming, none of that is likely to disturb your Windows partition. But I'm not as confident that the Linux installer will notice the installed copy of Linux and automatically configure the new Grub or Grub2 control files to include a choice to boot Windows.

If it doesn't then you will need to know what to edit into that file to reenable booting Windows. You might want to look at how that Windows boot info is stored in Ubuntu before deleting it.

Not sure why Lubuntu or Mint wouldn't have the same problems as Ubuntu, but go for it.

To answer your question, yes. The installer on your Lubuntu and Mint CDs should show your partitions as they currently exist; just select the partition that currently contains Ubuntu to receive your new OS (and be sure to indicate that this partition should be formatted).