Ubuntu

Missing disk space after Linux Uninstall from Windows

Asked by JoeF

I'm a Windows user experimenting with Ubuntu (very interested in the OS). I installed Ubuntu from within Windows (one of the install options). Recently ran into some problems so wanted to reinstall Ubuntu clean to start playing with it again. After I uninstalled it (from within Windows), I noticed that the 15GB Ubuntu was using was still showing up on the Windows hard drive as being used. I have a 40gb Windows partition using about 16GB of space. When Ubuntu was installed this went up to 31GB. After the uninstall of Ubuntu, Windows still is showing 31GB being used at the drive level. If I do a properties check on all the window files/folders on the drive I get 16GB being used (which was the correct Windows OS size). Partition Magic still shows the Windows Partition as 40GB. Somehow when the ubuntn uninstall was executed the 15GB was not freed up. Don't want to do a reinstall of ubuntu until I straighten this out (currently only have 9GB left) . Anybody have any ideas?

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marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#1

Please boot your pc from Ubuntu live install cd and select first item "Try Ubuntu... " then
Open a Terminal from the menu Applications → Accessories → Terminal and type:

sudo fdisk -l

copy and paste result here.

Thank you

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JoeF (jpfx-yahoo) said : 		#2

Thanks marcobra--here's the info you requested:

Disk identifier: 0xcc4811bf

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2 60801 488376000 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 2 60801 488375968+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8f9c798a

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 30401 244196001 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdi: 300.0 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0b440b43

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdi1 1 32658 262325353+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdi2 32659 36483 30724312+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdi5 32659 36483 30724281 7 HPFS/NTFS
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

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Manish Sinha (मनीष सिन्हा) (manishsinha) said : 		#3

You missed out some information in this output you gave.

Check these 3 lines
Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes

It is for sdc, after which disk identifier comes.

These 3 lines are missing for sdb, means you copy-paste starting from disk identifier for sdb and missed out the 3 lines prior to it. These 3 lines contain the disk size, sectors, cylinders and other physical details

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JoeF (jpfx-yahoo) said : 		#4

here is the info requested:
Disk /dev/sda: 120.0 GB, 120034123776 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 14593 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xa226a226

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 5288 42475828+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sda2 5289 14593 74742412+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sda5 5289 14593 74742381 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdb: 500.1 GB, 500107862016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 60801 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0xcc4811bf

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 2 60801 488376000 f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdb5 2 60801 488375968+ 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdc: 250.0 GB, 250059350016 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 30401 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x8f9c798a

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdc1 1 30401 244196001 7 HPFS/NTFS

Disk /dev/sdi: 300.0 GB, 300090728448 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 36483 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x0b440b43

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdi1 1 32658 262325353+ 7 HPFS/NTFS
/dev/sdi2 32659 36483 30724312+ f W95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/sdi5 32659 36483 30724281 7 HPFS/NTFS
jpf@ubuntu:~$

Please note that I have reinstalled ubuntu on my Windows D Drive so I can continue using it.
However I would still like to solve this problem to free up the 15GB on my Window C drive.

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#5

Please tell have you installed ubuntu using Wubi... and not with a Ubuntu separated ext3 partition (as we usually do) ?

Thank you

Revision history for this message
marcobra (Marco Braida) (marcobra) said : 		#6

Base on original question i think you have installed Ubuntu using Wubi so please simply using Windows file search tools find the files > of 10 gigabytes and refer to Wubi to remove unwanted Wubi file.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Bu i want suggest to you my best solution:

1) - Strongly i do NOT suggest you to install Ubuntu using Wubi. Wubi is Windos Ubuntu Installer.
If you install Ubuntu using Wubi, when a virus or other issue coming into Windows them will affect your Ubuntu too...
Please make a real and separated from Windows Ubuntu ext3 partition on your pc.
To install Ubuntu NOT using Wubi please simply boot your pc entirely from the Ubuntu live install cd... don't run installer using Windows.
You must not see Windows starting when you are about to install Ubuntu using the Ubuntu live cd.

2) - Please install Ubuntu 8.04.1 standard 32 bits:
- it run fine on 32 and 64 bits pc
- it is a LTS (Long Time Support) release, supported for 2 years, and when you will see the Ubuntu 8.10 solved you will easily upgrade your release... from Ubuntu 8.04.1 to Ubuntu 8.10

Hope this helps

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