How to remove Linux?

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 10:43

I have Ubuntu 3.4 installed on my 2nd hard drive, but want to completely get rid of it. Last time I attempted, I knackered the GrubLoader or something, so not sure how to do it safely.

Linux keeps giving a crash report with nearly everything so wanted to remove it and start fresh and maybe install another version of Linux like Mint or something but need help.

Any ideas?

Solaris · 24 Jan 2013 at 10:45

Just put the mint disk in, and tell it to use that drive, it will install a new bootloader...

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 10:48

Solaris said:
Just put the mint disk in, and tell it to use that drive, it will install a new bootloader...

And that will install straight over 3.4?

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 12:02

OK, So i've installed Mint 14 over 3.4, set my username and password, rebooted, and then it asks me to type the username in. I typed it in, and my password, and it says they are not recognised :/

Is there a way to check what usernames are set up so I can check I hadn't mistyped anything when setting it up as I cannot log in to Mint 14 without knowing why it isnt accepting my username :/

KIA · 24 Jan 2013 at 13:04

Boot off a live CD, mount the root partition and look at /etc/passwd

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:10

KIA said:
Boot off a live CD, mount the root partition and look at /etc/passwd

How do I mount the root partition??

Solaris · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:16

You said this is a secondary disk right?

mkdir /mnt/hdd; mount /dev/hdb1 /mnt/hdd; cat /mnt/hdd/etc/passwd

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:16

KIA said:
Boot off a live CD, mount the root partition and look at /etc/passwd

Ok I figured out how to get in to that file and I can see my username (which is correct) but can't see why it wouldn't work

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:18

Never mind I'm in and works perfect :-)

thanks

Solaris · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:19

Did you set the password right? That bit is stored in /etc/shadow, but it's encrypted...

Solaris · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:19

.Kencs said:
Never mind I'm in and works perfect thanks

Winning

.Kencs · 24 Jan 2013 at 14:34

Solaris said:
Winning

Trying to find the best Linux for myself as I want to come away from Windows so playing around with Mint 14 for a bit and will just keep putting a new linux on until I find the 1 for me

Thanks for your help

.Kencs · 25 Jan 2013 at 18:46

OK, really sorry but having another problem, still relating to removing linux.
I've had Mint 14 installed for 24hrs, not too impressed with it, also lagging a little, so giving Xubuntu a go. Seems quick running from CD but want to over-write Mint 14 but it's giving the option to erase everything (which will erase Windows 7 as well which I don't want to do), install alongside (which I don't want to do either), or 'Something Else' so I select Something Else and I've got the following:

/dev/sde
/dev/sde1 - Type NTFS - Size 12582 MB - Used 3221 MB
/dev/sde2 - Type NTFS - Size 487522 MB - Used 124185 MB

/dev/sdf
/dev/sdf1 - Type NTFS - Size 286634 MB - Used 146351 MB
/dev/sdf6 - Type ext4 - Size 204773 MB - Used 8615 MB
/dev/sdf5 - Type swap - Size 8697 MB - Used 0 MB

Then I've got 'Device for boot loader installation:

/dev/sde ATA Hitachi HDP72505 (500.1GB)
/dev/sde1 Windows Recovery Environment (loader)
/dev/sde2 Windows 7 (loader)
/dev/sdf ATA Hitachi HDP72505 (500.1GB)
/dev/sdf1
/dev/sdf6 Linux Mint 14 Nadia (14)

Not sure what I'm selecting from any of the above.

Can anyone advise?
I want to keep my Windows 7 but I want to write over Mint 14 with Xubuntu

Thanks in advance

A.N.Other · 28 Jan 2013 at 13:28

So you've got two drives (sde and sdf). sde is your primary Windows drive, so leave that alone. You've got Mint installed in a 200Gb partition on sdf (partition sdf6) with a swap partition on the same drive (sdf5). An install over the top of sdf6 will remove Mint and put on Xubuntu. There's no need to fiddle with the swap.

If you're finding Mint laggy and want to go over the Xubuntu for Xfce, then you can also download Mint Xfce instead. Swings and roundabouts.

Essexraptor · 30 Jan 2013 at 12:20

Surprised that you don't like Mint 14

More radical, and because your going through these distros with so much speed is to have a rethink

If your second drive is a system spare ie has no data used by your Win install consider the following

Do a little research on MBR repair/Bootloaders etc. Google for guides using your Win install disk to keep it simple.

Repair your MBR so you have a safe Win fall back if all goes pear shaped.

DISCONNECT the drive with Win install

Play to your hearts content with Linux installs on your secondary drive. You'll find that the options for Grub/Grub 2/Bootloading multi OS's can be daunting... just feed yourself in at your own pace. Distro forums are really good points for info.

PS

Have a look at Manjaro... a bit of Arch bling ...ready made if your on a Distro whirlwind tour