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How to evict Linux?

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by lizaleeza

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My friend asked me to fix her computer, but it runs Linux with a Windows option. I know nothing about Linux whatsoever. How can I remove the Linux and preserve the existing WinNT OS and the rest of her programs and data?

10 replies

by thechas

Is this a dual boot setup, or a Windows shell running under Linux?

In dual boot mode, there is normally a boot controller installed. Linux is usually in it's own partition.

If there is only a single partition on the drive, I wouild suspect a Windows GUI shell is running.
If so, the only way back to Windows is to back up data, and start over fresh.

If it is a dual boot, you need to determine what boot manager is in use. Then, you should be able to find a web site with instructions forhow to modify the boot sequence to remove Linux from the boot order.

Next, you will need to remove the Linux partition, or at least change it to either NTSF or FAT.
I believe that Partition Magic can deal with it.
There are also links to freeware tools at both www.bootdisk.com
and www.fdisk.com/fdisk

Chas

by lizaleeza

Thanks for your quick response... I am not sure about the shell issue, or how exactly Linux is configured, but I believe there is a boot manager installed, as a me?u screen appears to select "Linux", "Gold", or "DOS". If I select DOS, it goes to Win NT. How do I determine what boot manager is in use? Aren't there any hot keys or sequences that can be used at the beginning of the boot process to interrupt/cancel Linux?

by naren1983

Hey, don't worry about it. You can rewrite the MBR simply. Either Login in to Linux as root and Run the following command "/sbin/lilo -u". or Boot the system with MS-DOS or WIN boot floppy and run the following command "FDISK /MBR".

2nd problem: Your 2nd problem uninstalling the Linux is not a matter. Simply delete the partion table.

by naren1983

Hey, don't worry about it. You can rewrite the MBR simply. Either Login in to Linux as root and Run the following command "/sbin/lilo -u". or Boot the system with MS-DOS or WIN boot floppy and run the following command "FDISK /MBR".

2nd problem: Your 2nd problem uninstalling the Linux is not a matter. Simply delete the partion table.

by hanes_ray

Before you write over the MBR go into linux and use its fdisk to delete the linux partions. Windows fdisk doesn't always play well with ext partitions. Once you have linux up go to a terminal and type fdisk /dev/hda. Type in "p" to print the partition table. this will show you which partitions are for linux. Then hit d and it will ask which partition to delete. Once you have all of the linux partitions gone "w" will write the changes to the disk "q" will exit back to the shell prompt

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