Removal of windows without re installation of Linux?
 

(Background info, semi important)
So I am a relatively inexperienced user of Linux. I have some experience and have dabbled in linux mint on several occasions, I get what linux is I suppose.

I was running windows XP before, it caught a virus and I rigged up a usb drive to install another copy of XP over that because my disk drive is broken.

I decided yesterday to make a switch to linux, I was fed up with windows and I can do anything windows can do with linux if I actually immerse myself in it with a little work and a little learning.

(Actual problem)
So I downloaded a copy of Ubuntu 10.10. I tried to make a bootable USB stick install of it and I was successful, booted from it, but it kind of just lingered at a black screen with credits and never began installing, there was no terminal or anything and it wasn't starting on its own.

I chose the next best thing, installing it inside of windows from that wubi.exe thing included in the iso image of ubuntu 10.10. I installed it over that, wired it and got my always problematic (with linux at least) b43 broadcom drivers.

So now when I start my computer there are the two windows xp installations and ubuntu.

(TL;DR / actual question)
Is there any way to, from my ubuntu from the install method stated (installed from inside of windows using wubi.exe), remove both instances of windows XP and make linux the only operating system on my computer WITHOUT having to reinstall linux.

I say again my disk drive is broken and the USB stick method didn't work for me, there is no way I can legitimately install linux and format my hard disk / delete partitions.


Any thoughts?

Sure, if you want to delete Windows, boot up Ubuntu, open the partitioner (gparted/cfdisk/fdisk) and delete the Windows partitions, then run update-grub .

I don't know much about Wubi, but looking at the WubiGuide, you may be able to delete one of the XP partitions using GParted, then use LVPM to move your wubi install to a real partition. Then delete the XP partition and reclaim the space.

Though if you want it all to be on a single partition, you'll probably just have to get your USB install working (or borrow a USB CD-rom). Did you try making your usb install with Unetbootin?

EDIT: it looks like Unetbootin might also allow a hard disk install...

Just grabbed gparted and checked it out, it appears as though all three operating systems are on the same partition, which makes sense because I had done a ghetto install of XP over the other XP to make a temporary OS without the virus, I sort of got used to it and never really fixed it so now I have two instances of windows and ubuntu on the same partition.

Thanks, I will try this out.