How I Can delete Ubuntu 7.04 from my computer?

Well, you don't really 'uninstall' an operating system, you overwrite it. You can format the drive and Ubuntu will be gone. Of course, you could explain your situation more as to what exactly you want to accomplish. Also, please let us know why you want to remove Ubuntu, and it may help us improve.

Best Regards,
Williamts99

I'm sorry you didn't get a real answer. But this is an open community.
I will help you out...

There are two possible scenario's:

A. You installed Ubuntu and removed Windows => You need to reinstall windows. We cannot help you. Get the XP Installation disc and install it in the same way you installed Linux.

B. You installed Ubuntu next to Windows and can choose which one you want at boot-time. This is called Dual-boot. This is the most common setup.

If your setup is dual-boot (that is, if you can still go into windows) you can do the following:

Step 1: Restoring the windows boot-loader

   - go into windows
   - click on the start-menu and choose 'run'
   - type 'command.exe' .. this will open a windows-terminal
   - type 'fdisk /mbr' .. this will restore the boot-loader
   - reboot your computer
   - you should automatically go to windows now

Step 2: Getting rid of Ubuntu partition

  - boot from the ubuntu-live-cd (just like you did when you installed it)
  - open up 'partition editor' from the menu: system -> administration -> partition editor
  - In the partition editor you will see all the partitions on your hard drive

Now we're in the partition editor...
 - Windows is usually the first partition.
 - Ubuntu would be the second one.
 - And perhaps you have a third one called 'recover' (to reinstall windows as it was when you bought your computer)

To be sure, check the type of their filesystem: Ext3 is Linux, NTFS is Windows.
 - delete the Ext3 partition
 - resize the first NTFS to all available free space
 - this will take a little while

Now when you reboot, you will be back in windows and all of your harddrive space is available to windows.

If you have any questions/problems let us know...

PS. In case you are wondering why it is so difficult to uninstall an operating system: its because there is no place nor system to store information about specific choices. So only us humans can do a roll-back. This is the same for all operating systems (linux, windows, etc.)

It takes one to remove the other..

I'm using both XP and Ubuntu, but in different hard disks.
In the first step, you described, I could find the command fdisk. I think XP is no longer has the command fdisk. (I click "run", and then typed "command.exe", but it could find this command. Please, can you check it again ? Thanks

Hi, Kenny.

fdisk should work. However, if you are having troubles, you can also do one of these tricks to restore the windows bootloader:

  - put in the windows XP restore disc and choose 'repair'.
  - put in a windows rescue disc, go to c: and type fdisk /mbr

Since Ubuntu and XP are on different harddiscs you can't resize the windows partition to use all the space. I suspect that the Ubuntu partition was the d: drive in the past. In this case, all you have to do is remove the ext3 partition (using the ubuntu live cd for example) and create an NTFS partition on that drive.

Good Luck!

I come inside the command line and type fdisk. It says that this is not the known as inside or outside order or recognazible data or program. And i don't have XP disk. any help and something without much code.

cheers.

Ok. I've tried it on a windows machine and you are right: fdisk is not installed by default.
So, let me revise the steps to remove Ubuntu from a dual-boot setup.
Note: If step 1 doesn't succeed, do not continue with step 2!
Note: Updated to work with Vista as well!

Step 1: Restoring the windows boot-loader

  Method a: using the official windows XP setup-cd (not one branded by your OEM)
   1. boot from this official windows XP setup cd
   2. press F10 or choose 'R' for repair mde
   3. type 'fixmbr' [enter]
   4. windows bootloader is restored!

  Method b: using the official vista setup-cd (not one branded by your OEM)
  1. boot from the official windows Vista setup cd
  2. choose 'repair'
  3. select 'restore bootloader'

  Method c: using the program mbrfix
  1. boot into WinXP or Vista
  2. download mbrfix.exe from 'http://www.sysint.no/en/Download.aspx'
  3. move the file to c:\ in explorer
  4. go to the start-menu and choose 'run' (or press alt+f2)
  5. type 'command' and press [enter]
  6. type: 'cd /' [enter]
  7a: if you are running winXP: type 'MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /yes'
  7b: if you are running Vista: type 'MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /yes /vista'
  8. Reboot your computer, you should be going to windows now automatically

Step 2: Getting rid of Ubuntu partition

  - boot from the ubuntu-live-cd (just like you did when you installed it)
  - open up 'partition editor' from the menu: system -> administration -> partition editor
  - In the partition editor you will see all the partitions on your hard drive

Now we're in the partition editor...
 - Windows is usually the first partition.
 - Ubuntu would be the second one.
 - And perhaps you have a third one called 'recover' (to reinstall windows as it was when you bought your computer)

To be sure, check the type of their filesystem: Ext3 is Linux, NTFS is Windows.
 - delete the Ext3 partition
 - resize the first NTFS to all available free space
 - this will take a little while

Now when you reboot, you will be back in windows and all of your harddrive space is available to windows.
Good luck! And hopefully, someday, you will return to Ubuntu ;-)

Ralf you are the man! Solved the problem and thanks for your help!

Why would somewhone want to uninstall Ubuntu?

Well, i can't speak for the people i've tried to help, but I can come up with a number of reasons:

  1. they installed it for another person and that person simply finds it too "different"
  2. it did not work correctly with their hardware, for example
  3. dual-boot users because of the windows games, might come to the conclusion they prefer 1 system instead of 2, and more free space

However, I do expect most of these users are a little younger. Just trying everything out. Learning.
The older user's usually have the patience to make a backup of their system ;-)

When people think of the amount of time they spent getting used to windows (years ..)

and they see Ubuntu and it's different and they say oh i tried for 30 mins - couldn't work it..

this message is for everyone there is a new program called supreme a amazing program its on its way the team has been working on it for 4 years hopefully you will take grant for what they will give you. i heard this its true and i you think its not true but only time will tell

i have a question that kinda goes with this

is it possible to recover all of the files on my HD before re-installing windows xp so i don't lose them?

@austin

That depends on what your current situation is.
If my assumptions are wrong, do not follow these steps!

Assumptions:
 - you no longer have windows installed
 - you have ubuntu installed (a recent version)

Step 1: Save your files and stuff

Method: back-it-up (always a good idea) using a removable drive
 - Plug the removeable drive in a free usb port of your pc
 - A file browser window pops up
 - Drag and drop your files here.
 - Test the removeable drive on a windows pc. Are the files there? Are the filenames correct?

Method b: back-it-up (always a good idea) using empty cd's or dvd's
 - Launch your installed Ubuntu
 - Go to Programs -> Add/Remove and search for brasero or k3b
 - Mark the box next to one of them and click the 'apply settings' button
 - You will need to supply your password.
 - When finished it will tell you where the program(s) is(are) in your menu
 - Launch one of them
 - Put an empty cd/dvd in there.
 - Burn baby burn. Both these programs work very much like the famous Nero Burning.
 - Test your backup-cd/dvd with a windows pc. (can it read the cd/dvd?)

Method c: create a separate partition (fat32) and store your stuff there temporarily
  - boot from the ubuntu-live-cd (just like you did when you installed it)
  - open up 'partition editor' from the menu: system -> administration -> partition editor
  - In the partition editor you will see all the partitions on your hard drive
  - there should be one big ext3 partition
  - drag the end of the partition to the left, so you get some free space at the end of your drive
  - in that free space, create a new partition of type 'fat32'
  - apply changes
  - you should now see two instead of one drive in the places menu
  - open both and drag and drop want you need to keep
  - your files are in /home/yourusername
  - when done copying, launch the partition editor again
  - delete the ext3 (the first) partition
  - when reinstalling windows, make sure to choose 'manual partitioning'
  - make sure it keeps the fat32 partition at the end of your drive
  - when windows has been succesfully installed, you should see a d: drive that has all your files

I hope this helps!

@derry

>When people think of the amount of time they spent getting used to windows (years ..)

You are right, but that doesn't mean they owe us an explenation.
Have you ever stopped a magazine subscription and were asked all these questions 'why'.
Didn't that piss your off?

If we go around and convince everybody to try Ubuntu, we owe it to them to help them get rid of it when they want back. Otherwise we just vendor-locking them with our selective support. This is fight for freedom, so we do as we preach. We respect the choices of others and help them out.

When they have succesfully reinstalled windows, our support ends. But not until then.

Dear Ralf
was looking for your answers long time ago.
thank you for the above explanations, and for your open mind.

regard the step N0 2 can we do the resizing using magic partition instead the Ubuntu live CD?

Ubuntu,Fedora, slack all are great OS but unfortunatly I can not stand them any more.

cheers

@kent69

I think you can use Partition Magic, yes. I'm quite sure it's capable of resizing NTFS and FAT32 (windows) partitions, without loosing any data.

Still, I would always back up at least your personal photo's and documents. Just in case.
There is a difference between loosing things that are just a lot work to redownload and loosing things you can never get back.

Also, to move the files around, you will still need some OS environment, either by using a live-cd of some sort, or using one the installed operating systems.

Also, in the future, for those who want to experiment with Ubuntu without having to go through hoops to remove it again, try the wubi-interface.

This allows you to install Ubuntu as an image within your windows partition.
It does not replace the windows bootloader either.

If you install Ubuntu this way, you can uninstall Ubuntu like you uninstall any windows application.
You always need to keep windows though and there might be a slight performance penalty.

But it's a better alternative for those who want to dual-boot and are not running laptops. (hibernation and suspend do not work well this way)

Hello again

I was trying to use the Windows cd and went repair but nothing happened even I couldnt type fixmbr

again I went back to the above your description I downloaded the mbrfix and followed the steps but all my attempted failed

so finally I type the command cd\ it works maybe the above is not correct 100%?

restart the computer and the XP start without going to the GRUB

Now I felt sorry that I can see Ubuntu
Ubuntu is great but it cant recognize the webcam and some time the modem inside the laptop, I had to purchase external modem (Broadband) to let Ubuntu work , it was nice experience.
thank

>
> I was trying to use the Windows cd and went repair but nothing happened
> even I couldnt type fixmbr

I don't have a windows cd to test.
But i'm absolute certain the _official_ windows cd can fix the boot record.
However, most computers that ship with windows only offer a special
oem-branded version of the windows installation cd. (dell, hp, compaq,
etc.). This is not an official windows cd. It does not install windows at
all, it just writes out the default setup as you bought the computer and
will only work on that specific piece of hardware. I doubt it even changes
the boot-record.

again I went back to the above your description I downloaded the mbrfix
> and followed the steps but all my attempted failed

Obviously, not!

so finally I type the command cd\ it works maybe the above is not
> correct 100%?

The cd just changes the current working directory. So i think the mbrfix did
actually work. But you need to go the root of your c-drive. (if that is
where you placed the fixmbr.exe file)

restart the computer and the XP start without going to the GRUB

Exactly what is supposed to happen. If you don't do this, and you remove the
linux partition (it contains grub) your computer won't launch at all. That
is why you need to fix the boot record first.

Now I felt sorry that I can see Ubuntu
> Ubuntu is great but it cant recognize the webcam and some time the modem
> inside the laptop, I had to purchase external modem (Broadband) to let
> Ubuntu work , it was nice experience.

Hardware support is always getting better, but has nothing to do with
windows or linux. Its that your hardware (the modem and webcam) provide
windows drivers that problely came pre-installed. Often then don't offer any
linux driver.

There is lots of compatible linux hardware. The next time you buy a pc, make
sure that the companies that make the hardware support all possible future
decision you would want to make about an operating system.

It's a matter of how well these companies care about their customers. The
companies that do not support Linux are the same companies that waited at
least a year to release vista-drivers. They think 'why support you, if you
already paid us'. You should think 'i will never ever buy from you again'.
You should really care about support, the company that sold you that laptop
is crap. Keep that in mind next time you buy a computer.

Ralf thanks for your patient

actually I used the original xp cd which I brought with me to China , both my laptop should support linux (HP & Dell) because they came with linux Redflag CDs . but again they came with drivers for XP 2 and Visita only.

any way the problem solved thank for you , the computer a little bit slowly starting up, may be because I still have 2 partitions and still keep Ubuntu but not in GRUB.

thank again .

Ralf
I thing my problem have not been solved

the XP started well but slow I clean the D partition formated as NTFS but the system reject to resize it it gives error so the sises still 25 GB , I tried using the new version of magic partition but the error remain, I can see and use the D from windows.
the I boot the XP cd and trying to install the XP again with help to give me option to resize but during the installation windows CD recognize only the C.
I believe some barrier still a live between C and D and dont know how to remove it

in lunch time I will bring the Ubuntu CD and try the resizing, but if you have any idea please reply
Cheers

Hi. I've been trying to do this but I messed up before looking how to do this. I first re formatted the drive via windows that ubuntu was on while my xp was on my primary drive. Ubuntu still comes up as a boot option and grub is still there. I don't know how to remove this.

Thanks

I entered the command MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /yes /vista but it says Error 5: Access is denied

Hi guys
Ok i have a problem with Ubuntu 8.10 :
A lot of times when i turn off my laptop ( hp dv9040: 1.66GHz , 2 Ram, Gforce 7600go ) my laptops freezes and i hae either a raimbo on the scree or a bright light in a corner and the only way i can it will turn off ,even though i did turn it off from the inside of ubuntu, its if i hold down my power button. Can anyone help me pls .

The second problem i have its the fact that i had dual boot on my laptop XP and ubuntu and i did something stupid i went and restored my XP by going in system restore and then i did not have the ubuntu at the booting after that i notice that my hard disk it dose not have the 120 GB its still at 70 and the 50 or so it might be still having ubuntu there so i went with a live cd and erased the ubuntu partition and then i reboot. Well this is where my PROBLEMS STARS i got a message : MBR error and nothing else. Then i had no clue what to do so i freaked out and tried to boot with a XP cd and it will try to install it but it will stop and say that it will not recognize my HDD or it will say there are no HDD or my system. Then i tried to install or reinstall XP with my recovery CDS that i made with my xp and i would get a message like the machine or pc will not recognize the cd then i was more upset. So i installed Ubuntu and that is what i have on right no but I WOULD LIKE TO UN-INSTALL IT SINCE I CAN FIGURE IT OUT JUST YET AND HAVE A VIRTUAL BOX WITH UBUNTU.

So pls is there anyone that can help me to reinstall XP on my laptop pls i have tried a lot of things and nothing worked so far my laptop will not reinstall XP I think i messed up the MBR but its so weird that ubuntu can be installed no problem but XP

Please help me reinstall Windows back