How do you remove Linux from a dual boot setup?

Answer 1

You could either: a) just ignore it or b) repartition the Linux partition and format it as ntfs so that windows can see it

AnswerYou'll need:

1. A windows98 boot disc (or windows xp recovery console) 2. A non-destuctive partition editor, such as partition magic or acronis disc suite (both for windows, not free, may not work, I lean toward Acronis) or Gparted (free, live-CD, I will explain the process using gparted, but they are all basically the same).

Steps:

1. Make sure you have a windows98 boot disc or windows xp recovery console (I'll explain both), THIS IS CRUCIAL! (My mom thinks Linux is evil because I didn't have either).

2. After backing up really important data (only if you have any ;) ), boot from the gparted live-CD.

3. If everything works correctly you should have a screen with a multi-colored bar representing your harddrive and all partitions on it (if it's all grey, you need to select your harddrive from a drop down menu)

4. Select your Linux partition (HINT: it's probly formated in ext2 or ext3) from the bar and delete it (don't worry if you mess up, it hasn't been deleted yet). Do the same thing with the Linux-swap and extended partition.

5. Now everything the bar should be grey EXEPT for your windows partition (usually colored cyan). Make sure it's there, if it's not, hit the back arrow.

6. If everything looks good (and I mean EVERYTHING), apply your settings.

7. If you want to resize your windows partition you may want to do it now. Otherwise reboot and......NOTHING! GRUB ERROR! WHAT THE HELL IS THAT! WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO NOW! (that's what happened to me)

8. If you're dumb like I was, call tech support and grovel, otherwise boot up your trusty win98 CD and enter the command "fdisk /mbr" (no quotes don't forget the space)

-or-

Go into your winxp recovery console and type the command "fixmbr"

9. If all went well, good times will be had by all. And if you used the win98 boot disk KEEP IT, those things are worth their weight in gold! As an IT guy, this is by far, my greatest tool EVER, and in some cases, the PERFECT GIFT!

AnswerOr you can just go to your fdisk command or whatever the NTFS command is and delete the ext3 partitions and leave the NTFS

Answer 2

Now why would you want to do a thing like that? Haha, Just kidding!

I'm assuming that you're running a Linux-based OS alongside Windows. If that is the case, removing Linux from the picture is fairly simple. After backing all of your stuff up (in both OS's! Trust me on this!), boot into Windows. Click Start, right-click the "computer" menu item and go to "manage". In the window that appears, click "Disk Management" on the left pane. You should now see your partition table. In the lower half of the window you'll see your C drive, D drive, etc. Simply delete the partitions that hold your Linux OS and backup images (for Linux). Then delete the empty partition. After that, right-click your windows drive and click "extend volume". A wizard will guide you through the process of giving your HD back to Windows.

But we're not done yet! I'm assuming that your Linux distro installed GRUB or a similar program to allow for OS selection on boot. Unfortunately, once installed, Grub becomes a part of your master boot record. Since modern pc manufacturers have opted to save the extra dollar or so and not give a cd containing the OS image, you will have to use system recovery to re-install windows (See why I told you to back up both OS's?), otherwise your system will boot up until it hits GRUB and then stop because GRUB can't handle a hard disk with less than two operating systems. So far I haven't found a way around this short of a re-install OR a small 'placeholder' Linux install just to keep grub happy (wouldn't have to be larger than a gig or two.