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    Uninstalling Ubuntu and GRUB

    Discussion in 'Linux Compatibility and Software' started by HerrKaputt, Oct 5, 2009.

  1. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    Hello all,

    I am dual booting Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit and Ubuntu 32-bit. I have decided that for my needs, having Ubuntu in a virtual machine with Vista as Host is enough, so I want to uninstall the Ubuntu system and the GRUB bootloader.

    Is there any safe way to do that, in a way that a) my Windows system is not harmed and b) I can re-allocate the space Ubuntu was using to the Windows partition?

    Thanks in advance!
     
    HerrKaputt, Oct 5, 2009
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  2. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    Absotutely !! Delete the Ubuntu partition to make it free space in Vista or use a Gparted disk.

    Reboot the machine with the vista disk in the drive, and choose autorepair...it won't, the hit the repair myself option (or whatever it is) to go to a command prompt. Then, at the dos prompt type:

    bootrec.exe /fixmbr

    that will restore the vista loader to mbr. Boot back into vista and do what you what with the free space. Many of us have done this over and over and over and over....piece of pie :)
     
    theZoid, Oct 5, 2009
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  3. ohiomoto

    ohiomoto Notebook Evangelist

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    Wow! Thanks for that bit. I'll use that one next time I want to sell a computer.
     
    ohiomoto, Oct 5, 2009
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  4. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    Many thanks for this tip. To delete the Ubuntu partition should I use the Ubuntu CD?
     
    HerrKaputt, Oct 6, 2009
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  5. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    I went into Vista Disk Manager and deleted it from there.
     
    theZoid, Oct 6, 2009
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  6. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    Again, thanks for the tip.

    I have successfully deleted the Ubuntu partitions (main and swap) and turned into free space with Vista Disk Manager. I also fixed the MBR as you suggested, therefore I now boot directly into Vista and kept all my stuff intact, which is pretty good.

    Vista Disk Manager now shows 18.64 GB of free space available. However, I don't know how I can extend the Vista partition to occupy that space. How can I do that?
     
    HerrKaputt, Oct 6, 2009
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  7. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    In vista disk manager, you should be able to right click on your current partition and there should be an 'expand partition' option which should take all that up...
     
    theZoid, Oct 6, 2009
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  8. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    It was greyed out. However, I selected "delete partition" on the free space, and after that the "expand partition" became available on the Vista partition.

    All is back to what it was before installation of Ubuntu. Thanks folks! :)
     
    HerrKaputt, Oct 6, 2009
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  9. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    Yep, that's what I meant.... :p Glad to hear.
     
    theZoid, Oct 6, 2009
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  10. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

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    I've been very happy using Ubuntu under a virtual machine instead. It's much more practical to be able to switch from Ubuntu to Vista in a snap instead of having to reboot.

    Now all I need is to configure my keyboard properly under the virtual machine. That's a different story...

    Thanks again!
     
    HerrKaputt, Oct 6, 2009
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  11. theZoid

    theZoid Notebook Savant

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    I do it opposite...I use Ubuntu for everything, and run Windows in a virtual machine :)
     
    theZoid, Oct 6, 2009
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  12. ohiomoto

    ohiomoto Notebook Evangelist

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    +1 on that, but I always keep a dual boot just in case I need something that doesn't do well on the VM.
     
    ohiomoto, Oct 6, 2009
    #12