I have Ubuntu 14.04 installed alongside Zorin 9 on the same hard drive. How do I uninstall Ubuntu and replace it with Windows 8.1 so that it will then be running alongside Zorin 9

Zorin 9 comes with WINE preinstalled. Does that mean Windows Office Apps will also work with Zorin 9. and how do I install Windows Office Apps on Zorin 9?

buy a second drive for MS windows
but be warned
Microsoft moved to office 365 a ONLINE monthly subscription model
now there are STUDENT install dvd's of older MS office and install dvd's of MS Office 2012


why not just use Libreoffice it is already installed in Zorin AND in Ubuntu

and please answer this
WHY!!!
Why win8.1 ???

Microsoft is really trying REALLY HARD to kill off everything but Windows 10
and 8.1 will auto download win 10 and nag you to install win10

Hi John : Thanks for the prompt reply. The reason why I want to install Windows 8.1 is simply because I happen to have the Windows 8.1 installation disk and once installed I will automatically qualify for a free upgrade to Windows 10.

The only snag with LibreOffice (and almost all Linux office apps) is that it does not always properly open formatted Windows Office documents sent to me. The formatting (e.g. figures in columns) appear all haywire on the screen and when printed.

My apologies for duplicating my initial post but that was in error.

ms windows office also has a very bad track record on opining MS office docs
just try to open a office 2014 docx with office 2012

buy a second drive

but windows is going to through a "3 year old TEMPER TANTRUM!!! " if it is not on the FIRST DRIVE!!!!
and windows bootloader is not on the MBR of that FIRST DRIVE

so
buy a second drive
physically MOVE the cables in the computer so that windows IS using the FIRST plug
install 8 to that
upgrade to 10

then
in the system settings flip the drives and rerun the grub config - so it finnds windows

but BE WARNED!!!!!!

if you do not RESET windows to use the FIRST drive in the system settings
windows Auto updates will ERROR
and win 10 you CAN NOT !!! turn off the auto install of updates
this is ALREADY causing problems with 3d software that needs say 2 days to render a 3d video
updates can cause a reboot DURING the render



windows is causing me SO many issues that this current REINSTALL will be the very last ( it is only taking up 50 gig out of 5 TB )

i have only really used it once ( in the last 6 months) to debug a software plugin that worked on linux but was causing errors on the windows version

WPS office generally takes care of compatibility issues

You don't "uninstall" operating systems, you would simply format the partition on which you have windows and install it to that partition or partitions. Since windows partition/drive naming conventions are entirely different from Linux, you had best ascertain in advance which one is Ubuntu, by size possible.

Do you have Zorin installed using UEFI or GPT? You need to use the same method for windows. My understanding is that with the newer windows, if you use GPT partitioning you need to use UEFI, not sure as I dont' use it myself. Your windows install in any case is going to render Zorin un bootable in all likelihood, certainly if you are using MBR. Don't bother to fix it if you are going to upgrade to windows 10 because you will have to do it all over again.

I also read a recent post by someone who upgraded to 10, didn't like it and wanted to revert to windows 7 but could not because he was over the 30 day time limit?

Many thanks for all the further responses. As regards WPS Office, I did give it try but it too would not open Microsoft Office properly. Formatted text would simply appear all haywire on the screen and even when printed. I contacted WPS concerning the issues with the software and was assured that the problem would be looked into.

I am not very technically oriented but it appears from yancek's reply that the best alternative for me would be to format the drive, then install Windows 8.1 and thereafter Zorin 9 once again. That way Ubuntu would no longer be on the drive. Alternatively, would it be better to install Windows 8.1. on a separate and Zorin on another? That way I guess I will have two hard drives and at startup can choose which drive to boot from.

However, can I install say Windows Live Mail and Microsoft Office on Zorin? My understanding is that WINE enables all Microsoft products to run on Linux distros but I could be in error. Thanks in advance.

Why do you need Windows live mail?

No, it enables some windows software to run well, some to run adequately and some not at all. The wine site below gives a list of how well specific software is expected to run.

https://appdb.winehq.org/

Separate drives might work better but you should investigate possible complications if you are going to use UEFI.

Hey Mike. You're right, your best alternative is to format the drive and start fresh if ultimately migrating to Windows 10 is your intent. However, there are MAJOR security issues with Windows 10 you need to be aware of before deciding to move in that direction.

Basically Windows 10 is a mass marketing tool for Microsoft and it's real customers, those who 'partner' commercially with MS to mine and profit from the massive amounts of data Windows 10 collects from its users.

If your intent is to become another nameless cog in MS's money making machine, then all I can say is good luck. There's nothing MS offers software wise that's worth losing personal computer freedom over. There's no shiny new Windows OS that's worth what you'll be required to give up if you decide to swallow MS's "Free Upgrade" bait and install Win 10..

Don't believe me. Do your own research and see why legions of users are abandoning Windows and moving to Linux. Sure, millions more are drinking the MS Koolaid and toddling off as unknowing minions to MS and it's business partners in their Windows 10 scheme. But you don't have to be part of that captive audience unless you decide you actually want to be.

Whatever decision you make regarding Windows 10, make it in a fully informed manner Mike, not just because you've bought into all the Win 10 hype and hysteria and swallowed that multi-barbed "Free Windows 10 Upgrade" hook that MS is dangling in front of the whole world.

Think about the PC you're using. It's called a PC because it's a Personal Computer. If you do decide to go with Windows 10 you will have effectively turned your Personal Computer into a minion of Microsoft and it's commercial partners, and the very idea of "personal computing" will have been lost to you forever..

Stay with Zorin would be my advice. Or move to Linux Mint or one of the other top tier distros available today. If you need to run Windows programs that don't play well in Wine, then run them in a Windows virtual machine on your Linux desktop using VirtualBox.

Good luck whatever you decide Mike.