how to remove ubuntu 11.10 from dual boot win XP with out win XP CD?

[gokulsurendiran]

Hi all,

I'm using windows xp & ubuntu 11.10 dual boot. I wanted to remove ubuntu and i don't have windows cd.

Even if XP is crashed I don't mind, i just wanted to get rid of Ubuntu.

Thanks,
Gokul

[wilee-nilee]

If this is a dual boot and you are getting the grub menu, you can install a bootloader that will boot XP direct so you can remove Ubuntu, it is called lilo.

Here are the commands, make sure you have the HD correct by running this first command and subbing the correct letter for the X in the two lilo commands, no partitions it will be sda, or sdb...etc.

From a live ubuntu cd .


sudo fdisk -lCommands for install of the lilo bootloader, untick the cd in software sources and make sure the universal repo is marked and run a update of the cd then follow these commands inserting the HD letter for the X.

sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/sdX mbr May show error messages about the rest of lilo missing, ignore, we just want MBR

[gokulsurendiran]

If this is a dual boot and you are getting the grub menu, you can install a bootloader that will boot XP direct so you can remove Ubuntu, it is called lilo.

Here are the commands, make sure you have the HD correct by running this first command and subbing the correct letter for the X in the two lilo commands, no partitions it will be sda, or sdb...etc.

From a live ubuntu cd .


sudo fdisk -lCommands for install of the lilo bootloader, untick the cd in software sources and make sure the universal repo is marked and run a update of the cd then follow these commands inserting the HD letter for the X.

sudo apt-get install lilo
sudo lilo -M /dev/sdX mbr May show error messages about the rest of lilo missing, ignore, we just want MBR

Hi, thanks for the reply.

this is the reply for 1st command,

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc3ffc3ff

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 40965749 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 40965811 312580095 135807142+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 40965813 83194310 21114249 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda6 120840993 160737817 19948412+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda7 202756428 255117433 26180503 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda8 255119360 310118399 27499520 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 310120448 312580095 1229824 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda10 83200698 120840929 18820116 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda11 160746453 202756364 21004956 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Partition table entries are not in disk order

is everything fine, should I sub 'a' in place of X.

reply for 2nd command

<sudo apt-get install lilo>

It seems to be your first LILO installation. It is absolutely necessary │
│ to run liloconfig(8) when you complete this process and execute │
│ /sbin/lilo after this.

how do I do this?

Thanks,
Gokul

[wilee-nilee]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

this is the reply for 1st command,

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders, total 312581808 sectors
Units = sectors of 1 * 512 = 512 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xc3ffc3ff

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 63 40965749 20482843+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda2 40965811 312580095 135807142+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 40965813 83194310 21114249 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda6 120840993 160737817 19948412+ 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda7 202756428 255117433 26180503 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda8 255119360 310118399 27499520 83 Linux
/dev/sda9 310120448 312580095 1229824 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda10 83200698 120840929 18820116 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT
/dev/sda11 160746453 202756364 21004956 7 HPFS/NTFS/exFAT

Partition table entries are not in disk order

is everything fine, should I sub 'a' in place of X.

reply for 2nd command

<sudo apt-get install lilo>

It seems to be your first LILO installation. It is absolutely necessary │
│ to run liloconfig(8) when you complete this process and execute │
│ /sbin/lilo after this.

how do I do this?

Thanks,
Gokul

Did you notice this?
May show error messages about the rest of lilo missing, ignore, we just want MBR.

Just run both lilo commands and sub an a for the X

[mastablasta]

wouldn't it be easier to simply download official windows XP restore disk and use it to restore master boot record. you can't install windows with it but you can "fix it" i believe.

you could install recovery console in existing os: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654
or maybe with service pack disk: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

[wilee-nilee]

wouldn't it be easier to simply download official windows XP restore disk and use it to restore master boot record. you can't install windows with it but you can "fix it" i believe.

you could install recovery console in existing os: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/307654
or maybe with service pack disk: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322389

Not sure any of that is possible or easy.

If you have an exacting answer that would be great. ;)

Lilo is what is always suggested on the forum by people who work in this area.

Lilo is two commands and a done deal.

I will add as well I would rather a user had the MS bootloader, but lilo works every time, so it is the option here as far as I know, under these circumstances.

[gokulsurendiran]

ran the lilo command,


Backup copy of /dev/sda in /boot/boot.0800
The Master Boot Record of /dev/sda has been updated.

restarted the system! it worked!

Thanks a ton!

Just out of curiosity, is the ubuntu removed or is hidden?
is it possible to load through ubuntu?

[black veils]

did you backup all your data, even in the windows system? you might make a mistake when removing ubuntu, and lose the files.

you should boot the ubuntu live cd/usb, choose Try to load the desktop.

open gparted. from the list of partitions, check if there is a key symbol to the left of them, if there is, right-click, choose unmount (or swap-off for swap).

select and right-click a linux partition, choose delete, then apply. wait, repeat for the other linux partitions.

make sure you are not deleting anything for windows or another linux system you want to keep!

after that, run those lilo commands again.

[gokulsurendiran]

did you backup all your data, even in the windows system? you might make a mistake when removing ubuntu, and lose the files.

you should boot the ubuntu live cd/usb, choose Try to load the desktop.

open gparted. from the list of partitions, check if there is a key symbol to the left of them, if there is, right-click, choose unmount (or swap-off for swap).

select and right-click a linux partition, choose delete, then apply. wait, repeat for the other linux partitions.

make sure you are not deleting anything for windows or another linux system you want to keep!

after that, run those lilo commands again.

Hi, thanks for the advice, but i hv already removed ubuntu atleast from the boot menu!

[presence1960]

Not sure any of that is possible or easy.

If you have an exacting answer that would be great. ;)

Lilo is what is always suggested on the forum by people who work in this area.

Lilo is two commands and a done deal.

I will add as well I would rather a user had the MS bootloader, but lilo works every time, so it is the option here as far as I know, under these circumstances.

Lilo works perfectly for resetting MBR to windows. A couple commands from the terminal and then reboot and you are set. Definitely way better than booting a CD.

[choganj]

It has nothing to do with lost Win XP CD as you can simply uninstall Ubuntu from Add/Remove of XP, if you installed Ubuntu into XP.

If you installed it along with XP on another partition, then you can simply format that partition.

In the end you will have to modify your Boot.ini file to remove Ubuntu from boot menu as well.

You may also visit http://www.techyv.com/questions/problem-after-deinstalling-ubuntu for more information.

I hope it would be of some help.