Easy to uninstall Ubuntu?

How easy is to uninstall ubuntu?

Main thing I'm worried about is the Grub bootloader. I want to be able to remove grub easily and default back to Windows XP.

iceze

perhaps use the live cd?

but im sure theres thousands of guides showing how to remove GRUB and default back the the default XP loader

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...ows+xp&spell=1

I've tried a few links from that search and nearly everyone recommends fixmbr.

Thing is a handful of people find that it doesn't work. I'd hate it if I had to reinstall windows...

I might take the plunge and hope for the best.

There is no need to worry about uninstalling it if you're putting Windows XP on top of it.

Windows XP suffers from the "there is no other OS in existence" syndrome, and will overwrite everything to do with booting Ubuntu unless you use a separate partition.

If you need to restore being able to boot Ubuntu: http://forums.hexus.net/operating-sy...g-windows.html :)

format every thing from the hard desk would be fine.. im kidding : )

Xp is my current OS and others beside me use it as the main OS. Ubuntu is just a 'side project'.

If i screw up XP, everyone will bug me non stop til I fix the damn thing. Being able to revert back 100% and doing it without being a pita is my top priority. Just hoping to get some reassurances :-)

Also, Grub does have a timer function right? I'm thinking that setting XP to load, say with a ... 2sec delay. Ubuntu should be as inconspicuous as possible.

I'm a bit paranoid like that too Iceze :)

In the end I just went and got another HD for Ubuntu - can pick up 80gig or so for very cheap now :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iceze

Also, Grub does have a timer function right? I'm thinking that setting XP to load, say with a ... 2sec delay. Ubuntu should be as inconspicuous as possible.

---

this is easy enough to do. and every unix i've used with grub has set a timeout by default.

from the gnome desktop, hit alt-f2, and type "gksu gedit". enter your password, and open the file /boot/grub/menu.lst

change the line marked "timeout" to the number of seconds you want before booting the default

then scroll to the bottom - there'll be a paragraph like this one:

Code:

---

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title                Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root                (hd0,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader        +1

---

cut that section, scroll UP to the line BEFORE "### BEGIN AUTOMAGIC KERNELS LIST", and paste it there. save, and that entry will be listed first (the default) and executed after however many seconds you set on the timeout line.

I know if it worked out once I wouldn't have any problems with this multiboot malarky. Its just the fear of reinstalling XP 1am in the morning thats haunting and holding me back :ill:

Getting another hd is a good idea which I didn't really consider so far but swapping between drives will probably make me too lazy to boot ubuntu. lol

I think I might have to drop Ubuntu till I can get another PC to experiment with.

so why not boot the live cd, and work on the basis that if THAT works, it's not likely to be any different once installed to disk?

Thanks for that directhex. Your post has made me want to install Ubuntu again -_-"

I'm too damn wishy-washy with this...

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by iceze

Getting another hd is a good idea which I didn't really consider so far but swapping between drives will probably make me too lazy to boot ubuntu. lol

---

You can leave both installed the system and then use one of a few ways to change between them:

Change the BIOS order of booting HD's
Boot from a CD which then lets you choose which HD to boot from (UBCD for example)
Use a bootloader on one HD that can boot the other disk (Grub may be able to do this, but Ive no idea how)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Agent

You can leave both installed the system and then use one of a few ways to change between them:

Change the BIOS order of booting HD's
Boot from a CD which then lets you choose which HD to boot from (UBCD for example)
Use a bootloader on one HD that can boot the other disk (Grub may be able to do this, but Ive no idea how)

---

trivially.

if the linux disk is the "first" disk, and that disk has grub on it, then simply make sure you have a stanza like the following:

Code:

---

# This entry automatically added by the Debian installer for a non-linux OS
# on /dev/sda1
title                Windows NT/2000/XP (loader)
root                (hd1,0)
savedefault
makeactive
chainloader        +1

---

note the hd1 (second hard disk) instead of hd0 (first hard disk)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by directhex

so why not boot the live cd, and work on the basis that if THAT works, it's not likely to be any different once installed to disk?

---

Not too worried about the whole windows parition itself but more about the mbr and how I can restore that. If fixmbr/fixboot doesn't work I can't think of many other options than a reinstall.

*Edit*

Just saw your new posts.

That code with hd1 seems like a good solution! And it makes sense since I was just reading about hd numbering in linux the other day.