Quicky - how do I remove GRUB?

MikeHunt79 · 28 Jul 2008 at 23:51

I want ti use syslinux instead, and am planning on using Linux Mint 5.

Now Ubuntu offers the option to not install grub while installing, but I couldn't see this option in Mint... So how do I go about removing it?

gam3r · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:14

You have to insert your windows CD, reboot go into the recovery console by pressing R and then type fixboot and then fixmbr if i remember corectly.

brummie · 29 Jul 2008 at 10:28

The Internet said:
Using Linux

You can also use dd command from Linux itself (it removes partition table):
# dd if=/dev/null of=/dev/sdX bs=512 count=1

Just remove MBR, without the partition table (see comment below):
# dd if=/dev/null of=/dev/sdX bs=446 count=1

Replace /dev/hdX with your actual device name such as /dev/hda. Use fdisk -l command to find out device name:
# fdisk -lOutput:

Disk /dev/sda: 251.0 GB, 251000193024 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30515 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 13 104391 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 14 30384 243955057+ 83 Linux
/dev/sda3 30385 30515 1052257+ 82 Linux swap

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:19

Thanks I'll give it a whirl

I'm not using Windows at all,just 1 partition with Linux on for this machine. I just need to remove Grub so I can install syslinux.

Una · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:27

Depends how quickly you want to remove it really. A strong electro magnet would be the fastest. Otherwise I would just dd it as above.

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2008 at 13:43

I'll try the dd thing.

I want to leave Mint installed, just remove the GRUB bootloader.

Dj_Jestar · 30 Jul 2008 at 14:36

forgive my ignorance, but isn't it just a case of installing syslinux in the usual way?

MikeHunt79 · 30 Jul 2008 at 14:58

Dj_Jestar said:
forgive my ignorance, but isn't it just a case of installing syslinux in the usual way?

Ahh, it might well be. I'll try it. I thought you had to remove grub first for some reason...

sablabra · 30 Jul 2008 at 15:24

syslinux will be installed on another partition. In other words you can simply add an entry to /boot/grub/menu.lst. That way you can choose which distro to start when you boot.