[Resolved] Remove Linux

I've asked this on nxsupport, but had no luck.

I want to remove Linux from a computer and install windows. How can I remove linux? I tried just popping in a Windows install CD, but I get errors when it tries to format and install.

Any ideas?

I had to get a formatting utility from the HDD manufacturer that wrote zeros to the drive (from the suggesttion of MarkMan I think :p ) to merge my 2 partitions back into one, then I could reinstall Windows.

Create a windows bootdisk.
Put fdisk and format on it.
Boot with the disk
Use fdisk to remove the linux partitions

If you then decide to create partitions with fdisk, use format to format them.

What version of Windows? 2000 and XP should have no program killing off the partitions of a competing OS if you boot of the CDS. For 9x, boot into DOS from the Windows 98 Startup Disk and use fdisk.

I've tried doing fdisk. I'm attempting to install 98, so I have a 98 boot disk. I boot up, get to the prompt, run fdisk off the floppy. Then what? No matter which option I try to go to, it just freezes. :confused:

Um, you're supposed to go to delete a partition.
I dunno - your pc is gay.

Put the hard drive into another computer and fdisk it from there.
Actually what would be easier is if you just installed NT, 2000, or XP instead.

They give you the option to **** around with partitions during setup

Or try making another clean boot disk...fdisk might work correctly then.

PS: I had installed Windows 2000 and the Linux on my computer (partitioned). A few days ago I installed Windows 98 by booting from the CD and then I let it format, install itself (only prompted me that my C: wasn't formatted so I just hit "Ok"[no other option]). I was surprised to see the Linux partition was totally uninfected and it still showed its nifty LILO prompt to let me boot to either Linux or Windows 98.

There's always KaZaA :D

I am stuck with a 56k modem.

Just sticking with a figure of 400mb (since I don't know how large 2k is) and dividing that by an average transfer rate of 3.01/kb per second.

400,000kb / 3.01 = 132890.36 seconds

which roughly = 36 hours

I don't want 2k that bad to download an illegal copy of it for 36 hours then just to find out that it doesn't work properly.

I think 2k is like 450mb but it's worth every one. Just get somebody with dsl or do it at work and then burn it to a cd.

btw, you should use edonkey instead of kazaa for d/ling something like that.

Jesus christ TheHobo - get a grip and calm down.

It's about 369 MB, not that I would know or anything ;)

Why the heck would you want to pirate Windows when you can get perfectly good OSes legally for free?

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Originally posted by plenderj
Jesus christ TheHobo - get a grip and calm down.

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I didn't know I was over-rung and ungripped. Sorry if I seemed a tad pissy.

JoshT - At the moment I'm tried to get rid of one of those "perfectly good OSes" :(

I think I'm just going to give up and throw the whole computer away. It's a piece of crap anyways.

Thanks for all the help.

To get back on the subject... to remove linux from the hard drive to install windows, you will need a linux install disc. I just did this a few days ago, I used a Red Hat 7.3 disc. You need to boot off the CD, and when it asks you to install, you say yes, then go through the steps until you get to the partitioning. Then you use the utilty that is on the CD to remove all the partitions, then exit the setup program. Put the windows 98 cd in, if it's bootable, or boot disk if not, then install windows.

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Originally posted by MidgetsBro
To get back on the subject... to remove linux from the hard drive to install windows, you will need a linux install disc. I just did this a few days ago, I used a Red Hat 7.3 disc. You need to boot off the CD, and when it asks you to install, you say yes, then go through the steps until you get to the partitioning. Then you use the utilty that is on the CD to remove all the partitions, then exit the setup program. Put the windows 98 cd in, if it's bootable, or boot disk if not, then install windows.

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I've tried this once also. I got to the partioning part and deleted them all, but it requires that you atleast have one (using Mandrake, btw) to continue. But it doesn't actually delete the partitions until you continue.

This would be so much easier if I knew what I was doing.

But like I said, I think I'm going to just forget about it and add the computer to my paper weight collection.

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Originally posted by The Hobo
But like I said, I think I'm going to just forget about it and add the computer to my paper weight collection.

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I've got a better idea... stuff it with paper, light it on fire, and throw it off a 40 story building or cliff and watch it smash into all it's fiery glory. That's the American way. :)

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Originally posted by MidgetsBro
throw it off a 40 story building or cliff

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We don't have many of those around here. Would dropping it off a bridge on the express way work?

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Originally posted by The Hobo


We don't have many of those around here. Would dropping it off a bridge on the express way work?

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How high? You won't get as much entertainment from it if the bridge is lower than like 50 or 60 feet, because it won't explode on impact. You can also just try getting some gasoline in a bottle with some gun powder and other highly explosive products and put them inside the case, then run a wick out one of the drive bays and light it. If you get enough explosives inside, it should make a huge mess of metal shrapnel... make sure to hide behind something sturdy, such as an overturned picnic table.


Disclaimer: I have *not* tried these ideas yet, so I will take no responsibility if you blow your arm/leg/other extremities off. If you are arrested, you didn't get the info on how to do this from me... :D

Hmm. Too much liability with all the passing cars and such. I think I'll just make it explode in a big metal dumpster. That might get linux off the hard drive.

Oh! all you want to do is get linux off the hard drive?! Just open the drive up and scratch it off, then close it up and plug it back in. That will fix the little SOB.

Try going to a bootdisk site and downloading one that comes with fdisk. It's worth a try, at least. If it doesn't work (and you don't care about the data on the drive), you'll want to connect it to another PC, and delete the data off there (if your linux is installed on Fat32). If not (and you have a working Windows installation), try this (mine's Win2k so yours may differ...):

1. Start -> Settings -> Control Panel
2. System Administration
3. Computer Management
4. Storage
5. Disk Management
6. Right Click the blank partitions (linux extfs and swap are probably the two blank ones, their volume labels and such can't be read) and click delete/format or whatever you want to do.

If you don't have a Windows installation, I really don't know. It's hard enough uninstalling Win2k (won't let you get into DOS :(:()