I do realize that there are a very large number of queries in these forums about dual-boot scenarios. I just don't have a lot of time to search and/or read the numerous entries available . So, I will ask my question. I originally had Windows XP Home only. This past November I installed Ubuntu 9.10 as "dual-boot" with XP on the same HDD. I am very close to wanting to completely remove XP Home. And, I was wanting also to un-partition the HDD so that Ubuntu is the sole OS on the drive. So, I need complete - step-by-step procedures to remove XP and keep Ubuntu without removing/deleting Ubuntu and re-installing anew. Your help greatly appreciated . Thanks.

Here is what you need to do:

1. Open 'GParted'. From the menus: System -> Administration -> GParted
2. Right click on the ntfs partition and select 'delete'
3. Right click on this deleted partition and select 'Format to' and select ext3. This should accomplish what you want.

If GParted is not installed, then open a terminal window and type

And then proceed with steps 1-3 specified above.

PS: Backup any data you need from the WinXP partition before you do this.

Alternately, instead of formatting the XP partition to ext3, you could do this:
Using gparted, as described above:
Right click the XP partition and click delete.
Right click the Ubuntu partition and click resize
In the resize dialogue, change the settings to that it is as big as possible.
Click apply changes.

This is riskyer, so BACK UP EVERYTHING!!!!!! I do not take responsibility for lost data.
This however will be closer to "unpartitioning" the drive, what was suggested above will still result in it being split into two partitions, they will just both be linux partitions.

You might have to boot from the livecd to get these to work.

Ineed2know,

You are about to make a good decision, but good decisions are always backed by equal amount of prudence. Consider these-

a) Examine first the Xp partition, hunt for important data and move securing them into your ubuntu partition. Then,

b) Ubuntu has a good gParted GUI application: Menu > Administration > Partition Editor, as anand and jmite suggested to "Delete" you may do so, but to format directly the partition (twice ran) into ext3 is a better shortcut in writing zero's.

However, I do not recommend you "un-partitioning" into one (1) big chunk of a drive, because sooner you will certainly feel enamored to try other distros (because they are all free), by then, you will use that former Xp partition to house, maybe, a Fedora, Suse, Mandriva, PcLinuxOS or even the prestigious Slackware. Unless maybe if you are out of free space.

Remember also, that Linux can always read from an ntfs, so if you have former data drive formatted in ntfs you just leave it undisturbed as well, linux can continue using the data drive.

This is an oldman's advice. I have once lost (idle) space of about 2GBs due to lack of good planning in migrant partitioning one of my laptops. I don't want others to needlessly learn from that bad experience.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

First ... thanks to all that responded. I do have GParted installed. I'm sure just yet if I will remove the partition or not. I sure should I need to that I can re-establish a new partition if need be. I have to 80gb HDD in my computer right now. The second HDD is already partitioned to approx. 20+gb (3 partitons). I guess I could put XP Home on the second HDD and not really (totally) get rid of it. Just keep up-to-date as much as possible. I don't know how to set-up XP Home on it's own HDD and still use a "dual-boot" config. But ... that's another topic. I am still in the process of either getting alternative software for the Windows apps I have or try to use Wine to run them. In Wine .. some work and some don't. Anyway ... again ... thanks for responding.

Sorry ... my last post was a bit "not good"!!! Here it is again.

First ... thanks to all that responded. I do have GParted installed. I'm not sure just yet if I will remove the partition or not. I sure that .. should I need to .. I can re-establish a new partition if need be. I have two 80gb HDD in my computer right now. The second HDD is already partitioned to approx. 25+/-gb (3 partitons). I guess I could put XP Home on the second HDD. I'm not really (totally) ready to get rid of it. Just keep up-to-date as much as possible. I don't know how to set-up XP Home on it's own HDD and still use a "dual-boot" config. But ... that's another topic. I am still in the process of either getting alternative software for the Windows apps I have or try to use Wine to run them. In Wine .. some work and some don't. Anyway ... again ... thanks for responding. Sorry for the bad post.

You can check this list of opensource software that are good replacements for their windows equivalents:

http://www.opensourcewindows.org/

cheers...

Hi,

Here's another site that has a very extensive list of alternative software (OpenSource) for Windows applications.

http://www.osalt.com/

Kind regards,

Eric

Many thanks to all that responded !! Not to keep this thread going much longer ... I am looking for a Lotto/Lottery application -- preferably for Linux and FREE. I have been using Lotto Buster 2010 on my Win XP Home but it will not work (run) on Ubuntu. Any suggestions?