Ubuntu

Removing Windows from dual partitioned netbook

Asked by Micah Clinton

I installed the netbook version of Ubuntu 10.10 on my netbook (Asus Eee) using a dual partition to keep XP installed in case I didn't like Maverick Meerkat. I do like Maverick Meerkat, and would like to either reinstall Ubuntu or get rid of Windows and free up the disk space in that partition for other use. However, when I boot my computer it gives me the option of either operating system from the hard drive, but doesn't default to the USB like I set up in the BIOS to initially install Ubuntu and set up the partitions. When I hit F2 to get to the BIOS and push the USB to the top of the boot order, it reads it as "any key" and boots in whichever OS is highlighted.

How do I reinstall Ubuntu 10.10 in this case so it is the sole OS on my netbook? (And I'm a bit of a Luddite, so I'll need simple, English instructions.)

Thanks

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actionparsnip
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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Is the Ubuntu a true dual boot or did you use wubi?

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Micah Clinton (micah-sturr) said : 		#2

I don't know what wubi is. I downloaded the netbook edition from the Ubuntu site to my desktop and then followed the instructions for making a USB drive and then followed the dual install instructions from there.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

ok thats cool, if you run:

gksudo apt-get install gparted; gksudo gparted

You can delete the NTFS partition then format it to ext2 (if the drive is SSD based)(advised) or ext4 if it is a standard platter based drive, you can then add the new partition in /etc/fstab and use it as data storage for user data etc. or you can resize the current Ubuntu partition (using the USB you installed with in 'Try without installing mode') so that the space is used for current partitions. Your choice.

Obviously ensure your backups are sufficiently recent in case of catastrophe.

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Micah Clinton (micah-sturr) said : 		#4

And here's where the Luddite is going to reveal himself... What?

I don't need the partitions. I'd like to have one hard drive merrily running Maverick Meerkat. The install process -- when I could access it -- was straight forward and did exactly what I needed at the time. I'd like to simply re-access it and do the whole thing over so I have a clean, new system, but I can't get the machine to read the USB before in jumps into an OS.

I have no doubt your answer will solve my problem, and I appreciate your expertise, but it seems far beyond my anemic capability to implement.

Since I have all of my data backed up on an external hard drive, is there any simple way to just reinstall Ubuntu?

Thanks again.

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Micah Clinton (micah-sturr) said : 		#5

I'm poking around and yes, it looks like it was a wubi.

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Best actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#6

then you have a bit of a pickle as the wubi 'disk' is simply an image sat on the ntfs partition.

You may use this:
http://infoqueue.wordpress.com/2009/01/04/wubi-installation-to-regular-installation/

Personally I'd just make sure my backups were recent then do a clean install on the whole drive. Then restore the backup data

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Micah Clinton (micah-sturr) said : 		#7

Thanks actionparsnip, that solved my question.

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Micah Clinton (micah-sturr) said : 		#8

Ok, I'll keep trying using a non-wubi install. Thanks for the help.