I will try to make this short as possible

Lately I have realised that installing only ubuntu was and removing windows was a huge mistake mainly due to gaming purposes . so is there a way that I can remove ubuntu and install windows or even keeping ubuntu because it don`t really mater as far as I have windows on my laptop. I have try`d booting windows 7 from a usb several times using UNetbootin but it don`t really work as I had problems while formatting it from fat32 to NTFS and I have also try`d installing windows xp from CD using Nero Linux but that was a failure to and I ended up wasting 2 of my CDs so is there a way where I can install windows 7 from a DVD because USB`s don't really seam`s to work for me.Also I have try`d different iso. for windows 7 and xp..


Thank you for your answers... Harsh

I suggest you create a new partition, and format it as ntfs from ubuntu.

the formatting is really fast compared to when using windows tools.

Then you should be able to install win7 to the new partition. Make sure you do a full format, not quick. Win likes Win-tools.

Your new partition will need to be over 20Gb, to support win7 and programs/games.

regards Glenn

I suspect that 20GB will be far too small for a usable Win 7 install.

I have a Win7 computer with a full install and several applications installed, plus some data, and it's nearly 200 GB. I don't remember what the base install was, but it was somewhere around 50 GB, I think.

Here's an article on how to dual boot Ubuntu and Win7. I haven't tested it.

If you install Win7 along side of Ubuntu, you will need to update GRUB; Windows is historically inimical to dual-booting.

Yeah, 50-100GB ( at least )
for Win7

Easiest Solution ( assumes You have no real customisation or data that you don't want to lose )
is to Start Over and install windows ( format everything and size Windows Partition )
Then install Ubuntu ( with will give Dual boot option to Winblows )

You can save data, etc form you current Ubuntu, but a bit more involved.

short version

• Backup Data !, don't like calling them apps, but there are some for that , see software centre ( or synaptic if you are like me )
• Boot Ubuntu Live Disk
• resize partitions with gparted
• Install windoze
• Boot Ubuntu Live Disk
• Open terminal
• Code:

  mount /dev/sdXx /mnt
  for i in dev proc sys;do
     mount -o bind /$i /mnt/$i
  done
  chroot /mnt/
  update-grub

• then reboot

Above list is just a 'sketch'
sdXx should be actual device

If you need help ask ( when I learn were the FAQ/WIKI for this is I'll add it to my sig )
there are other ways to do it ( well basically the same, one is setup a grub on floppy/usb/anotherHDD and use that instead of the last liveCD )

Yes 20 is too small, 50 also. 50 is too small especially if you hsven't dealt with service-pack update.

Yeah, that's true for me too @ 77Gb used, good to get some other input.

Here are the official instructions from Ubuntu.com:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

To be blunt, it sounds like your problem would be easily solved by using a legal Windows 7 DVD, rather than an .iso you have downloaded from the interwebz. If your computer came with Windows preinstalled then you should be able to obtain a Windows recovery DVD from the manufacturer free/low-cost.

thanks everyone for the reply and now I have the general idea of what to do next..

ok so if I have the system recovery dvd than can I get my default settings back e.g windows but how is that possible from ubuntu or I have to remove ubuntu first and than use the recovery dvd from bios would it work ??

The link I provided explains how to do it:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

That's assuming you have a normal, legally-purchased, full-install Windows DVD.

If you have a recovery DVD from the manufacturer then it might be a different situation; sometimes these recovery DVD's overwrite the entire hard drive, which would indeed erase your current Ubuntu install. (But you would want to make a full backup of your Ubuntu install anyway, no matter which method you're using!)

If in doubt then simply fork over the $99 for an OEM Windows 7 disk.

1. 20GB is indeed to small for Windows 7, it normally will refuse to install on anything smaller than 40GB, IIRC.
2. @snowpine: There are legal sources for Windows ISO files, for example, you can get those from your university if you are a student on an university that takes part of the Microsoft partner program.

@harsh123: I would recommend to make a backup of your data, then re-install Windows, either from a DVD or a USB device (unetbootin will not work for that). After that either install Linux into a virtual machine or install it natively side-by-side with Windows.