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How to remove linux

Tags:
  • Linux
  • External Hard Drive
  • Ubuntu
Last response: in Linux/Free BSD
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December 31, 2013 12:02:52 PM

When trying to get Ubuntu on a pc without an os I accidentally installed it onto the pc I was using to install it onto an external hard drive.Now I have windows 7 and Ubuntu on the same hard drive I have no idea how to even access windows. If someone could tell me how to access it that would be great.

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a b 5 Linux
December 31, 2013 3:02:28 PM

Boot from Windows DVD, and repair your installation.
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a b 5 Linux
December 31, 2013 11:36:10 PM

If it boots to ubuntu when the ext is plugged in and you see a windows drive while in Ubuntu but not when its not then do as alabacho said to fix the mbr . You'll then have to fix the grub, the Ubuntu loader on the external because you had installed it on the computer drive.

If you can boot Ubuntu without the external then you over wrote windows and have to reinstall after you try to recover files.
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January 1, 2014 5:34:55 PM

Have you tried holding shift at startup? That should open up the grub. Is there a windows option on the list?
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January 7, 2014 12:35:54 PM

Sorry for getting back to this so late. When I open the grub there are no windows options. However I am certain windows is still on there at looking through my files. I also haven't technically install Ubuntu yet since I always click on try Ubuntu instead of install at the set up.
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January 7, 2014 12:38:46 PM

In that case, try what stillblue said.
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a b 5 Linux
January 8, 2014 1:43:59 AM

Hairygoat22 said:
Sorry for getting back to this so late. When I open the grub there are no windows options. However I am certain windows is still on there at looking through my files. I also haven't technically install Ubuntu yet since I always click on try Ubuntu instead of install at the set up.


Where are you running ubuntu from?
Not installed/installed on the external?
Not installed/installed on the internal drive?

If it is not installed on the hard drive then you need to restore your mbr. fixmbr. This can be done from your windows install dvd or a recovery console or other dvds that allow you to fixmbr


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January 8, 2014 4:22:00 PM

Ubuntu is installed onto my internal hard drive. I don't have a windows dvd because when I bought the pc windows 7 oem cam preinstalled.
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a b 5 Linux
January 9, 2014 12:22:29 AM

Quote:
However I am certain windows is still on there at looking through my files.


What I take from that is you are in ubuntu and you see a windows partition listed. If that is correct then install boot-repair
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
and run the default recommended repairs. It will re-install the grub onto the hard drive and should pick up the windows.
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January 9, 2014 8:46:44 AM

"Should" is the key word - a ubuntu grub of mine once didn't recognise a fedora install. If this fails, then you'll have to go into Ubuntu, recover any files worth keeping on the other drive, then delete the partition windows is on, OR if you have another windows disk (no matter what one, as long as it is xp+), you can install that over the windows 7 install and choose to keep files during the installation process.

P.S. once you are done, don't delete Ubuntu, it's very good.
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January 9, 2014 6:15:36 PM

stillblue said:
Quote:
However I am certain windows is still on there at looking through my files.


What I take from that is you are in ubuntu and you see a windows partition listed. If that is correct then install boot-repair
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Boot-Repair
and run the default recommended repairs. It will re-install the grub onto the hard drive and should pick up the windows.

I am in Ubuntu and when I look through my files I can still see the os files on my hardrive. I am not looking at partitions.


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a b 5 Linux
January 10, 2014 2:49:52 AM

With newer versions of Ubuntu your windows partition is automatically mounted and visible. If you are in the default Ubuntu desktop, Unity, they high on the left you see a file cabinet icon that has your files in it. If windows is still on your computer then it will be listed under devices as xxx GB volume. If not listed like that it is no longer there. So, if it is there then install boot-repair. It doesn't cost anything but a few minutes of your time to try.
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January 10, 2014 2:44:20 PM

It is possible Ubuntu auto partitioned your drive. There is an option to do this during install. Install Ubuntu alongside windows is what it says. It is impossible to have two full independent OS's on the same hard drive without partitions. So if windows is still there, and by the sounds of it it is, it is on another partition. Partitions can be viewed from Linux. This is probably how you are seeing your windows files. Using boot repair in this situation should work.

Note: the icon stillblue mentioned is a just a file icon in some versions
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