Uninstall ubuntu 10.10 Netbook version!
 

Dear Friends,
I want to uninstall the above mentioned Ubuntu from my Toshiba laptop (3 months old/new?),since i already have the same Desktop version.
I have tried the CD booting of XP and a message(blue screen)appeared telling me to check for viruses and to rule out a corrupt disk (The laptop never had a Windows installed on it!The laptop has no internet connection of any sort and that's the SIT.REP.as the Green Berets (YOU) would like to know! So,your advise is most welcome and i need it to install Linux Mint(THE BRAND NEW ONE)alongside the XP! Thanks a lot and am waiting for your informed help!
Regards,
vyver

Not sure wether I understand if you want to install Windows XP or if you have it installed already and it is giving you a bluescreen of death on boot. If the latter is the case:

Enter BIOS setup. Usually done by hitting ESC or F2 during the very first screen you see when you start the machine. Make sure that the SATA mode is set to "Compatibility". If set to "Enhanced" or "AHCI", you might run into a bluescreen complaining about all sorts of things. This is most likely because the SATA controller isn't being recognized by Windows due to the lack of a driver.

As far as installing Mint goes; if you are able to recognize the partition which you have installed Ubuntu 10.10 on, all you have to do is back up whatever you want to keep on the Ubuntu partition and then select "Manual" when asked about partitioning by the Mint installer and set the Ubuntu partition as "/" and check the "Format" box.

If you are starting fresh; simply install Windows first to avoid complications from Microshizzles side. Windows XP does not like being installed on other partitions except the very first partition on the drive for some odd reason.

So heres the riddle;
- Make 1st partition for Windows at around 50-60 gigs. This makes the machine ready for an upgrade to Windows 7 at some point in the future. If this won't ever be the case; 15gig is more than enough for XP if you install bigger apps on the storage partition mentioned in a bit.
- Make 2nd partition 10gig for Linux. Ubuntu is around 4.8gig installed so I assume Mint is a bit bigger as it contains more stuff by default. A little headroom is always nice anyway.
- Make 3rd partition for swap. I enjoy going way overboard and use 2gig swap.
- Make a last partition for storage from the remaining space. Format this partition as NTFS and make symbolic links in your home folder which points to the folders on the storage partition (ln -s /mnt/storage/something ~/somewhere) and voila; you can access your files both from Linux and Windows.

Dear Kslen,
Thanks for the reply!I'll try to explain things more clearly! !) I am trying to uninstall ubuntu and no success! 2)Win.xp would not install at all,so no question of entering BIOS. 3)I was trying to install XP AND AFTER LOADING A FEW DRIVERS it says" Windows is setting up",and that is when this blue screen with the error message to "check for viruses or a corrupt disk"appears and it further says "if this is the first time,restart". I restarted with the xp installation disk in the CD/DVDdrive and i get stuck at the same place as above..
regards,
vyver.

ps

PS: THERE ARE NO PARTITIONS CREATED MANUALLY!Sorry for the bold type!The entire disk is/was always dedicated to Ubuntu!

If I understand your question correctly, you are having trouble installing Windows XP? Sounds like a good question for Microsoft support... this is not a Linux issue.

I'd suggest running a few passes with memtest on your memory and a surface test on your hard drive to rule out any hardware defects. Checking the S.M.A.R.T. data is another way to reveal hard drive trouble. A tool for checking both surface and logs should be available from the hard drive manufacturers website.


If everything checks out fine, the simplest answer I can give regarding your Microsoft trouble is the following: Start fresh.

- Back up whatever you want to keep on the drive containing the operating systems.

- Use TobiSDG's dd command as suggested in the post below this one. (Post problem solved edit.) :)

- Start fresh by installing Windows and follow the "riddle" as mentioned above if you want to dual boot along side Mint.


If Windows still acts up after this, we're not the people to ask for help. :)

OK, you want to install XP and Mint 10 in dual-boot configuration, if I don't misunderstand you. First thing to do is: BACKUP YOUR DATA !!
At second we need to get rid of your Ubuntu installation, because installed Linux distros can disturb XP to a point that it refuses to install. Boot into your Ubuntu and type this into the terminal:This will delete bootloader, partition table and the beginning of your first partition.
Windows XP is not able to use drives that run in AHCI mode, if not given a driver disk. So you should set your drive to a non AHCI/RAID mode in your BIOS.
Now you can install XP, don't forget to leave space for your Mint installation, which can be done after XP finished its installation.

Note to potential future readers with multiple hard drives: /dev/sda might not be the drive you want to erase, so make sure you know which drive you are about to erase before you hit enter. There is no undo. :)

This guy is trying to uninstall Linux and install XP.If you are having this much of an issue with it ...Go to a WINDOZE FORUM AND ASK THEM!!!!!!

Also, if AHCI and the lack of a driver isn't causing his BSODs, he may have hardware issues which would make it all in general a painful experience and a complete waste of time.

Be helpful.

You should read the posts carefully, before writing such crap. The OP wants a dual-boot configuration with XP and Mint.

This is why you should enter BIOS setup and look for SATA or AHCI configuration options. Make sure it is _not_ set to "AHCI/RAID" or "Enhanced", but "Non-AHCI/RAID" or "Compatibility" as XP does not require any additional drivers with this setting.

Do save yourself some time by running memtest and a surface test on your hard drive to eliminate defective hardware before you proceed. Even brand new hardware ship defective or become defective during transportation.

To Kslen and TobiSGD,
Huge thanks to both of you!QUOTE " At second we need to get rid of your Ubuntu installation, because installed Linux distros can disturb XP to a point that it refuses to install."UNQUOTE---TobiSGD.
The above excerpt from TobiSGD's post is so vitally important, that he should write a small "wiki"on solving such specific probs. I am not saying it lightly, because i have searched so many sites to get out of this logjam and ONLY TOBISGD COULD HIT THE POINT(NAIL) ON IT'S HEAD (Rem agu tetigisti-that's Greek for you).
Again, QUOTE " Windows XP is not able to use drives that run in AHCI mode, if not given a driver disk. So you should set your drive to a non AHCI/RAID mode in your BIOS" UNQUOTE---TobiSGD. The same point echoed by Kslen!So very right.It's Ten P.M here and this Doc. is in the dock not only with this issue but also with a "cold and many sneezes"!I am sorry for not viewing your posts and replying much earlier(my nose came in the way)!
To Kslen,
Another point, i tried the DBAN job, but it was a thumbs down! I booted a live Linux distro which i had previously burnt onto a DVD, over the Ubuntu and the process was sweet as jam!Do you still think the HD is somehow inconsistent? Eitherway, i'll have to change the "BIOS" settings as TobiSGD and you advised and try to install Win.,only on the 'morrow! Will get back and again a BIG THANKS to you both!
warm regards,
vyver.
PS: I have a habit of taking regular B&R(for Win.,nothing like Macrium Reflect-Free).

To TobiSGD&Kslen,
your magic worked!THIS IS FOR THOSE IN A SIMILAR. SIT.! AS ADVISED ABOVE, ENTER BIOS AND UNDER"ADVANCED"-->SCROLL DOWN TO "SATA" AND SET IT TO "COMPATIBILITY", PRESS F-10 KEY ,THEN HIT "ENTER" ,AND START THE WIN INSTALLATION.(sorry for the bold type-it's purely for emphasis!).

To snowpine,
I would not have sought help here ,if not for the simple fact that i wanted to have Linux Mint as a dual-boot with XP! THANKS TO THE SUPERB ADVISE I RECEIVED, I CAN SEE MY LAPPY WITH XP INSTALLED! VIVA LQ!:hattip::hattip:
regards,
vyver.:Pengy:

I don't know if the drive is well or not, only a test can determine that. But if you have managed to install XP on it and it isnt acting up it may well be fine until a damaged sector is written to..but again..this is mere speculation on my part. My reason for suggesting this is simply because I've spent many hours trying to figure out software problems when it was hardware which were causing them. I run memtest and surface tests every so often just to be sure my hardware isn't faulty. Call it a digital health check-up. :)

I am sorry if my DBAN advice did not do much to help. I was under the impression that DBAN pretty much does the same thing as the dd command Tobi suggested, but if dd did something DBAN didn't I have not read the documentation clearly enough. It is supposed to destroy all data on drives connected to the machine it is being run on so I assumed this would include the memory boot record and partition table also. :)

Glad everything worked out for you.

May your health restore itself soon also!

The 1 count 1M dd command Tobi suggested is a much more elegant solution.

Updated my DBAN response and pointed directly to Tobis suggestion for future readers.