Uninstall Unbuntu

[OldTimer]

I have Unbuntu installed on second hard drive and it runs very well but I would like to uninstall it and use the drive for another purpose. How do I uninstall it and how do I delete the default boot to Unbuntu when booting the computer?

[faulkner132]

You really can't "uninstall" Ubuntu, as it is an OS. All you really need to do is simply wipe the drive. You can do this either by using a DOS utility or by formatting it the OS of your choice.
As for changing the boot order, you can change the option in GRUB's config files. If you are using Windows, you will probably want to repair/reinstall NTLDR (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/318728).

[OldTimer]

I guess I am a little slow as I can't find a way to format the drive with Unbuntu. I am runnig XP Pro S2 with a C drive and a second drive which Windows does not see. The default boot is to Unbuntu and I have to select the Windows XP boot. Unbuntu runs very well but I don't have any real use for it as most of my software is for Windows. The info you gave me was for Windows 2000. I don't know what NTLDR is so I am in trouble.

[faulkner132]

To reformat your Ubuntu drive:
Right click My Computer > Manager > Drives and Storage > Disk Managment
Right click on the partition(s) with your Ubuntu install and select delete partition. Once you have deleted all the partitions, you can create a new Windows partition.

[OldTimer]

When I reached the Disk Management area it showed

Disl 0 C:\

Disk 1 without any iidentity which may be the drive with Unbuntu but I am concerned abut deleting it as I am not sure it is the second drive. Is there a way to idenify it?

Sure appreciate your help.

[faulkner132]

The Ubuntu drive's partition will read something like "Unrecognized Partition" or "Unknown Partition".
Pretty much any partition which is not NTFS or FAT is most likely a Ubuntu partition.

[OldTimer]

I am trouble now - I deleted the "unknown" drives" but when I try to boot I get this error message and can't boot:

GRUB LOADING STAGE1.5.
GRUB LOADING Please Wait
ERROR 17
I tried to boot the XP disk but it does not auto boot - any suggestions?
The C:\ drive is still intact.

[faulkner132]

Hold down the ESC key when GRUB is loading (i.e. when you first reboot your computer) to get to the GRUB configuration screen. There should be an option to allow you to boot to your first disk.

If all this is confusing, you might be best served to reload the Windows bootloader (NTLDR). There are instructions for how to do it in Windows 2000 in the link above. For XP the process should be the same. If you need additional help with this, search these forums or make a new post. I know other members here have reinstalled NTLDR.

[OldTimer]

Teh ESC while booting resulted in the same error message. I can't make a NTLDR boot disk as this computer is not running XP. Do think the only answer for me is a complete format and reinstallation of XP?

[faulkner132]

You said in the above post your were running XP. What OS do you have on your system now that Ubuntu is gone?

[OldTimer]

The problem computer is running XP but when I try to boot I get the Error 17 and nothing further. I booted the computer with a Win 98 startup disk and I can see C:\, A:\ and the CD drives but I can't load windows XP. I am using my wife's computer which is runnig 98. I can't get the XP disk to boot automatically with the 98 start up disk nor alone. There must be a way to reinstall the GRUB. Any other ideas?

[faulkner132]

This should help you out:
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/repa...Boot%20Sector:

[OldTimer]

I solved the immediate problem of not booting by reloading Unbuntu. When I go to disk management I have two choices to delete :


Disk 1 shows 73.18GB and attached 1.35 both as Healthy and Active.

I assume the 73.18 is the main part of the 80GB slave drive with Unbuntu. The 1.35 may be the boot GRUB. Do you think if I delete the 73.18 portion I wll still be able to boot Windows?

[faulkner132]

The problem is the GRUB configuration files are saved in the Ubuntu drives. If you want to get rid of Ubuntu, you are going to have to load NTLDR (the link above explains how).
If you are uncomfortable doing this, make a post in the Windows XP forum and someone can help you out with it.