Linux - Software This forum is for Software issues.
Having a problem installing a new program? Want to know which application is best for the job? Post your question in this forum. |
Notices |
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
Are you new to LinuxQuestions.org? Visit the following links:
Site Howto |
Site FAQ |
Sitemap |
Register Now
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
|
 |
|
08-28-2014, 11:37 AM
|
#1
|
Member
Registered: Apr 2009
Posts: 390
Rep:
|
Removing First-Installed OS from Linux Dual-Boot System
Early this year I installed Linux Mint 11 first on a computer after I replaced its defective hard drive and subsequently I added Ubuntu 12.04 to the system. I would like to know how to remove Linux Mint 11 properly. Any help will be much appreciated.
julianvb
|
|
|
08-28-2014, 11:40 AM
|
#2
|
LQ Guru
Registered: May 2005
Location: boston, usa
Distribution: fedora-35
Posts: 5,326
|
i would boot up something like gparted live-usb and delete the partitions i didnt want.
|
|
1 members found this post helpful.
|
08-28-2014, 11:51 AM
|
#3
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Jul 2002
Location: East Centra Illinois, USA
Distribution: Debian stable
Posts: 5,908
|
But first, boot into Ubuntu and, as root, run "grub-install /dev/sda" without quotes. That will assure that the Ubuntu grub first stage is written to the MBA and you can continue booting Ubuntu without any problems while you decide what to do with the Mint partition(s).
With regard to the Mint partition, you could:
a. reformat the partition and install another distro.
b. delete the Mint partition and grow the Ubuntu partition to take up the free space.
Bear in mind that any partition operations should be done on unmounted partitions, using something like Gparted running as a livecd.
Last edited by bigrigdriver; 08-28-2014 at 11:56 AM.
|
|
1 members found this post helpful.
|
08-28-2014, 12:10 PM
|
#4
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland,Ca
Distribution: wins7, Debian wheezy
Posts: 6,841
|
Before removing anything run to list your current partitions.
Then run
The last command is run from the OS that you want to keep.
The importance of fstab is that if any of the partitions from linux mint are in the extended partition before the Ubuntu's partitions you'll need to edit fstab accordingly.
For instance, if you have sda 5, 6, 7, 8 & remove sda5 & 6,
sda7 becomes sda5 & sda8 becomes sda6.
As far as removing linumint partitions they can be done from within Ubuntu. Keep in mind that installing grub & editing fstab has to be done before shutdown or reboot or your system will not boot.
Don't forget to update-grub.
Last edited by EDDY1; 08-28-2014 at 12:16 PM.
|
|
1 members found this post helpful.
|
08-29-2014, 12:50 PM
|
#5
|
Member
Registered: Apr 2009
Posts: 390
Original Poster
Rep:
|
Hi, Everyone,
Thank you so much for your good advice. I'll certainly put it to use.
bigrigdriver,
Do you mean to run Gparted from Ubuntu Live CD in the following instruction?
"Bear in mind that any partition operations should be done on unmounted partitions, using something like Gparted running as a livecd."
julianvb
Last edited by julianvb; 08-30-2014 at 11:53 PM.
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 02:48 PM
|
#6
|
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Debian sid
Posts: 2,683
|
Personally i'd just boot the preferred OS
Delete/wipe the partitions related to the un-desired
The run update-grub
If don't see what I expect .. do what bigrigdriver suggested ..
Then again.. unless I needed the space, I might leave it there.. as a backup
in the pasted i've tended to 'dual boot' linux/linux , alternating old/new
Eventually the old gets s new Linux installed over it, making it the 'new' new
When happy.. the now old is either 'left as is', or I use the partitions for 'junk'
Been a while since I've done that, I've found Debian 'rolling release' model to be very stable (I currently track testing (Jessie at time of touching a touch screen) )
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 03:02 PM
|
#7
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland,Ca
Distribution: wins7, Debian wheezy
Posts: 6,841
|
update-grub alone will not help if os being removed is the first to be installed. Make sure to edit fstab or recovery will be more difficult
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 03:14 PM
|
#8
|
LQ Guru
Registered: Apr 2008
Distribution: Slackware, Ubuntu, PCLinux,
Posts: 11,429
|
Less potential for problems if you just format the partition on which you have Mint and use it for data because if you delete that partition, it will change the partition numbers of other higher numbered partitions. Grub2 is probably installed from Ubuntu as it was the last installed but you should verify that as suggested by bigrigdriver and the post by EDDY1 explains the problems with deleting partitions.
|
|
1 members found this post helpful.
|
08-29-2014, 03:21 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Debian sid
Posts: 2,683
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EDDY1
update-grub alone will not help if os being removed is the first to be installed. Make sure to edit fstab or recovery will be more difficult
|
but the last probably wrote grub to the mbr.
But you are right, I left many details out.
Can you please explain the red , it makes little sense to me
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 03:30 PM
|
#10
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland,Ca
Distribution: wins7, Debian wheezy
Posts: 6,841
|
You can erase sda2, sda3 & sda4 as lo.g as they don't contain logical partitions & are not part of the Os that controls gru & MBR.
Logical partitions when erased:
If you remove sda5 the next partition will be renamed to sda5.
If you have vbox
start it up with gparted live
Create partitions on it
1 primary & 1 extended with multiple logical parts
Remove sda5 & reboot
View the new results
If sda5 changes the part # it can affect the fstab especially if system is not using UUID. If Ubuntu 12.04 is using UUID maybe OP will be ok.
Last edited by EDDY1; 08-29-2014 at 03:35 PM.
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 04:38 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Debian sid
Posts: 2,683
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EDDY1
You can erase sda2, sda3 & sda4 as lo.g as they don't contain logical partitions & are not part of the Os that controls gru & MBR.
Logical partitions when erased:
If you remove sda5 the next partition will be renamed to sda5.
If you have vbox
start it up with gparted live
Create partitions on it
1 primary & 1 extended with multiple logical parts
Remove sda5 & reboot
View the new results
If sda5 changes the part # it can affect the fstab especially if system is not using UUID. If Ubuntu 12.04 is using UUID maybe OP will be ok.
|
Dude! Are you 'drunker' than I?
That makes for little sense
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 04:40 PM
|
#12
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland,Ca
Distribution: wins7, Debian wheezy
Posts: 6,841
|
Try it & see
Test in virtualbox
No haven't had 1 but I'll bet you the next 1 that logical partition /dev/# changes after removing the /dev/# preceeding it.
Last edited by EDDY1; 08-29-2014 at 04:44 PM.
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 05:05 PM
|
#13
|
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Debian sid
Posts: 2,683
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by EDDY1
Try it & see
|
Try what?
Quote:
Originally Posted by EDDY1
Test in virtualbox
|
Test what?
I know that unless 'dodged' a typical Linux disto will install its own grub
Quote:
Originally Posted by EDDY1
No haven't had 1 but I'll bet you the next 1 that logical partition /dev/# changes after removing the /dev/# preceeding it.
|
what?
Granted, I'm not sober.. but I'm not so far gone as to not understand that what you wrote makes little sense.
Last edited by Firerat; 08-29-2014 at 05:08 PM.
|
|
|
08-29-2014, 05:05 PM
|
#14
|
LQ Addict
Registered: Mar 2010
Location: Oakland,Ca
Distribution: wins7, Debian wheezy
Posts: 6,841
|
Deleting a Partition
http://gparted.org/display-doc.php?n...lete-partition
Read yellow warning.
However it does say that using UUID's avoids the problem while still changi.g /dev names.
Last edited by EDDY1; 08-29-2014 at 05:31 PM.
|
|
|
08-30-2014, 05:51 AM
|
#15
|
Senior Member
Registered: Oct 2008
Distribution: Debian sid
Posts: 2,683
|
Eddy1, please accept my apologies,
I understand what you meant now.
It has been a long time since I saw a distro default to 'hard coded' /dev/sdaX
UUID seems to be the 'normal', and for good reason (the pitfall you pointed out)
|
|
|
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:32 PM.
|
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.
|
Latest Threads
LQ News
|
|