Finding 2nd HD
 

HI. I had Ubuntu installed on HD1 with XP Home on HD0. The mbr (grub) for Linux was set at the beginning of HD0 and I wanted it removed, so inserted XP install cd and Repaired the mbr and now boot directly to XP. However, now my machine won't recognize HD1. I think I've read a solution for this problem but can't find it now. I'd like to access HD1, format to use as a back up drive for Win XP, then put Linux on another computer. Any suggestions appreciated.

You need a linux live CD to change the partition(s) of /dev/hdb. Delete all partitions and create a new NTFS file system, then Windows can see it.

Or you could some partition manager.

# Freeware tools for partitioning/resizing hard drive partitions:
Any Linux Live CD usually have fdisk, cfdisk and other tools available
Ranish Partition Manager

Or DBAN (Darik's boot and nuke)
Or the Ultimate Boot CD

Doesn't fdisk from the Windows command line work?

I couldn't get it to work unless the partition(s) are marked as a Microsoft filesystem. (My experiences in Windows only, I continue to have a flaky Windows installation, my 4th). YMMV

OK, I tried Linux, I think it sucks and I don't like it. I want to go back to Microsoft Windows.
# Microsoft's instructions: How do I uninstall Linux completely and keep/use Microsoft Windows only?
How to Remove Linux and Install Microsoft Windows XP
You can remove lilo from the mbr with
/sbin/lilo -u
You can remove grub or lilo from the mbr by booting with a Microsoft Windows 98 boot floppy (at the prompt, type fdisk /mbr), or by using the Windows XP Recovery Console or the Windows 2000 Recovery Console

# Basic Microsoft Windows security
Firewall: ZoneAlarm
Virus protection: AntiVir

#Multi spyware removal utilities:
Lavasoft
Spy-bot

# Microsoft Windows tools
Belarc Advisor - Free Personal PC Audit - builds a detailed profile of your installed software and hardware, including Microsoft Hotfixes, and displays the results in your Web browser. All of your PC profile information is kept private on your PC and is not sent to any web server.
Driver Cleaner - Driver Cleaner is a program which helps you to remove parts of drivers that are left after uninstalling the old drivers. The program is for ATI and nVidia drivers. First you need to uninstall the drivers from the control panel than reboot and after that run the program. If you really want a good description of what steps you should do than you really need to read the readme file included in the zip file and installation as it contains a detailed description step by step.

GNUWin II - Lots of freeware from the Open Source community

# Microsoft Windows help sites
Windows BBS
Computing.net
Annoyances.org
BlackViper.com mirror
Microsoft's Computer Management
DSL Tweaks

Boot into the recovery console on the XP CD and run diskpart.

Was that from experience, reading or memory?

From the horse's mouth (Microsoft):

I don't see your point.

Linux GRUB
 

Thanks, I did use the cd to remove all partitions, but in my confusion I now can't get my xp to boot. If I run Recovery, it shows that there are no errors and all is on the HD, but I can't access. FIXMBR doesn't work, if I use bootcfg /? I can see the NTSF partition is still there, but not able to access. At least Linux is off 2nd HD. It would help if I would be fully rested when I'm doing these things!

Remove GRUB
 

Thanks all, I got it and the second partition is set up in two partitions, one for backup of HD0 and the other half for future. I can get into XP on HD0 now and all is just peachy! Thanks, will probably have more "issues" when reinstalling UBUNTU on the other computer, unless I try to put it on the second partition of HD1.