Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive

lostinubuntu · 10-01-2008, 11:36 AM

I need to know how to completly remove Ubuntu and re-install windows xp.

My hard drive is not partitioned and I don't have the Ubuntu start up disk.

I've tried a couple of things I read online unsucessfully I have no idea what I'm doing somebody please help.

**wmorri** · 10-01-2008, 01:28 PM

My first question is why are you removing linux? Do u need windows for a school or something, or are as your un says lost in ubuntu? I hope that we can save you from having to install windows again if it can be at all helped.

If you are really intent on getting rid of it I would recommend that you download the iso for GParted. Then you can burn a live cd and reformat your hdd. Then just install windows xp and you will be all set.

Cheers!

lostinubuntu · 10-02-2008, 08:41 PM

Thanks for your help but it seems my hard drive is password protected all options on the partition editor are unavailable. I'm going to call my cousin and make him talk me through the process because he has the passwords being that he installed Ubuntu for me.

**K-B** · 10-03-2008, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lostinubuntu

Thanks for your help but it seems my hard drive is password protected all options on the partition editor are unavailable. I'm going to call my cousin and make him talk me through the process because he has the passwords being that he installed Ubuntu for me.

To an external partition editor like GParted, it doesn't make any difference whether the drive is password protected somewhere or not.

lostinubuntu · 10-06-2008, 12:31 PM

ok no luck with my cousin this is what i see when i run gparted the only drive i can change is the linux-swap drive. Do I format that one?

lostinubuntu · 10-06-2008, 12:33 PM

maybe a screen shot might help

**wmorri** · 10-06-2008, 06:08 PM

Thanks for the screenshot. Here is what I would recommend that you do.

Delete all of the partitions that are on that hdd.
Next create a new partitions which consists of the entire drive. It will ask you what format you would like to use.
You will want to use NTFS for the new partition, as that is what windows installs on.
Then click apply and let GParted do its thing and you will be ready to install windows.

Cheers!

**Bartender** · 10-06-2008, 07:32 PM

Yeah, you've got some weird partitions. First off, not many people bother with a separate /boot partition. Second, reiserfs isn't the typical file system.

As wmorri suggests, wipe the drive and start over. I'd use a bootable GParted LiveCD. If you think you might be installing Linux down the road, use the GParted LiveCD to format the first part of the drive as a primary ntfs partition for Windows,and create an extended partition for Linux. If you just plan on installing Windows format the whole drive as one ntfs primary partition.

Post #12 of this thread shows what my partitions look like.
Dual Booting Linux

That setup is working dandy on an Acer laptop

10-01-2008, 11:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
lostinubuntu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: ubuntu	Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive I need to know how to completly remove Ubuntu and re-install windows xp. My hard drive is not partitioned and I don't have the Ubuntu start up disk. I've tried a couple of things I read online unsucessfully I have no idea what I'm doing somebody please help.

10-01-2008, 01:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,831 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive My first question is why are you removing linux? Do u need windows for a school or something, or are as your un says lost in ubuntu? I hope that we can save you from having to install windows again if it can be at all helped. If you are really intent on getting rid of it I would recommend that you download the iso for GParted. Then you can burn a live cd and reformat your hdd. Then just install windows xp and you will be all set. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever!

10-02-2008, 08:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
lostinubuntu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: ubuntu	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive Thanks for your help but it seems my hard drive is password protected all options on the partition editor are unavailable. I'm going to call my cousin and make him talk me through the process because he has the passwords being that he installed Ubuntu for me. Last edited by lostinubuntu; 10-02-2008 at 08:46 PM. Reason: Passwords

10-06-2008, 12:31 PM	#5 (permalink)
lostinubuntu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: ubuntu	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive ok no luck with my cousin this is what i see when i run gparted the only drive i can change is the linux-swap drive. Do I format that one?

10-06-2008, 12:33 PM	#6 (permalink)
lostinubuntu Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 4 OS: ubuntu	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive maybe a screen shot might help Last edited by lostinubuntu; 10-06-2008 at 12:36 PM.

10-06-2008, 06:08 PM	#7 (permalink)
wmorri Moderator/Fedora Amb. Join Date: May 2008 Location: /pm/etc Posts: 2,831 OS: Window 7/Fedora 10 My System	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive Thanks for the screenshot. Here is what I would recommend that you do. Delete all of the partitions that are on that hdd. Next create a new partitions which consists of the entire drive. It will ask you what format you would like to use. You will want to use NTFS for the new partition, as that is what windows installs on. Then click apply and let GParted do its thing and you will be ready to install windows. Cheers! __________________ Linux Forever! Last edited by wmorri; 10-06-2008 at 06:12 PM.

10-06-2008, 07:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
Bartender Mentally divergent Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Chehalis, WA, USA Posts: 1,285 OS: W2K, Ubuntu 8.04	Re: Removing Ubuntu from a non-partitioned drive Yeah, you've got some weird partitions. First off, not many people bother with a separate /boot partition. Second, reiserfs isn't the typical file system. As wmorri suggests, wipe the drive and start over. I'd use a bootable GParted LiveCD. If you think you might be installing Linux down the road, use the GParted LiveCD to format the first part of the drive as a primary ntfs partition for Windows,and create an extended partition for Linux. If you just plan on installing Windows format the whole drive as one ntfs primary partition. Post #12 of this thread shows what my partitions look like. Dual Booting Linux That setup is working dandy on an Acer laptop