GPRS on UBUNTU 10.04 LTS

I can tell you how to change the MBR safely, but have no idea how to uninstall Linux.

Insert your XP disk in a cd reader and start the computer

Windows will start a screen (black) with some options.
Choose R for repair and press enter
Next when you are asked to enter something, it will offer '1' (no quotes) on the previous line
Enter 1
Password
A Windows prompt shows, enter help
In the list find FIXMBR at the next prompt you may enter help FIXMBR to find out what it does.
If that is satisfactory, enter FIXMBR at the next prompt.
You must now quit the repair by typing Exit
your next screen will ask you to boot from CD. ignore that and WXP should boot correctly.

Yep, that should fix the mbr to boot into Windows. Too uninstall Ubuntu you'll need to use "add/remove programs" from the "Control Panel" within Windows.

Alternatively it might be better to simply migrate Ubuntu onto it's own proper place on the drive where it doesn' have to rely on and doesn't interfere with Windows at all. Just follow part 8 of section 8 in this guide.
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

Mostly it's good to have a proper dual-boot system so that you can explore Ubutnu at your own pace but still have Windows for when you need to do something you haven't learnt how to setup in linux already. Most of us keep a working dual-boot even a long time afterwards, just for fun and because having two OS's on your system makes it much more robust. Xp is particularly good and works well in conjunction with Ubuntu

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)https://wiki.ubuntu.com/WubiGuide

 Tom's option would work if you "installed" INTO windows.
 However if you did a traditional install follow ealthuis instructions to re-write your MBR. Once you do that you boot directly into your XP(no option to chose the booting OS) and then open "Disk Management" snapin, as administrator, and format the all the partitions that housed your Ubuntu install.

 YOU MUST RE-WRITE YOUR MBR BEFORE REMOVING UBUNTU. This is because the bootloader installed on the boot sector of your root drive. If you format the drive first, to get rid of ubuntu, you also remove the bootloader. Therefore when you boot the root MBR redirects you to a bootloader that IS NOT THERE ANYMORE and you get an error message and you can't boot to anything.

Hey dude,

 Here is a step by step procedure to uninstall Ubuntu.

1. Log on to Windows XP and right click on My Computer and click on Manage
2. Then on the left side of the Manage Window,select Disk Management.
3. Now just right click on the partition in which you installed Ubuntu and click on Delete.Now your ubuntu is uninstalled.
4. Now when you reboot you won't be able to go to Windows as you will get an Error for the grub.
5. Now just insert the Windows CD and change the primary boot settings to CD -Rom.Now you will notice that your pc boots with the CD.
6. Let all the application load.Then you will be asked what you want to do.Then hit the R button on the Keyboard.That will take you to a page similar to a Command Prompt.
7. There you will find a line like this::

    Which windows do you want to choose?
1. C:/Windows

Then type 1 and press Enter.
8. Now Just type FIXMBR
(Note:Type exactly as I typed in the 8th step.)
9. Now your Ubuntu is successfully un-installed.Just remove the Windows CD and reboot.

This should fix your problem.

Good Luck.

I think there are big clues in the question that suggest that Ubuntu was installed inside Windows using the Wubi.

One way of finding out is to see how many options there are for Ubuntu in the bootup menu. If Ubuntu has been installed inside Windows then there will be only 1 option for Ubuntu and 1 for Windows. If installed properly then there would also be options for booting into Ubuntu's "recovery mode", a "memtest" and perhaps allowing a bootup using previous kernels as a backup.

Good luck and regards from
Tom

The proper way of installing Ubuntu, so that it doesn't have to rely on Windows systems working in order to work, is like this

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BootFromCD

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/WindowsDualBoot

which although it initially looks a little more tricky is well worth the effort as it creates a much more robust system, particularly with Xp as the Windows. Each OS would then be able to operate independently of each other and each could be helpful in fixing some problems the other might have from time to time, particularly when new to linux. Installing Ubuntu inside Windows means that both OS's have to work properly in order for Ubuntu to work so it's like building a house on shifting sands. The proper install means that Ubuntu would be on a proper "ext3" rather than "ntfs" (ntfs has been shown to be somewhat problematic with defrags and security and so on) and would use the far more sophisticated grub-boot-loader. Most of us keep a proper dual-boot as per the links for a long time after we've gotten used to Ubuntu and no longer really need Windows at all.

If the proper install had been done then Carl's instructions would make a lot of sense but if they are baffling then you've probably done the Ubuntu inside Windows.

I hope this helps
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

Errr, i have just realised that ealthuis' answers asks for you to use the Windows Cd and that is one of the problems of the Windows world. It's very difficult to get the proper Cd. In Ubuntu any linux distro's Cd can usually do the equivalent tricks.

Really you just need to bootup into Windows, get to a command-line, ususally

"Start" button - All Programs - Accessories - System tools

somewhere like that anyway, probably just in accessories. Then do the "fixmbr" command from there.

If things ever get messed up so bad then please ask us and tell us what's happened and the chances are that we can help you avoid having to reinstall Windows. Things are seldom really as bad as they look when you have linux as an option. I have sometimes repaired "totally dead" machines simply by installing a tiny linux at the end of a drive which has then fixed the mbr to point at grub and then edited grub to default into Windows without even the bootup menu appearing. Effectively 'stealthing' the linux which is then dormant.

Good luck, i hope this helps
Good luck and regards from
Tom :)

S. Thank you, this is exactly the type of solution I was looking for. I do have a "true" dual-boot system. I did not install Ubuntu from within Windows. Thanks to everyone for all your answers!
Peter V.

Hi :)

When you have a new question please try posting it as a new question rather than editing an old question
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+addquestion

People generally don't look in older question threads to find stuff that needs answering so please post a new question so that everyone can see it at the front-desk here.

Also please ask separate questions about each thing rather than lumping so many different issues together in one question. Each person that answers questions tends to have their own favourite/specialist areas and so they tend to focus on those. People are often unwilling to answer questions where they cant address the whole issue so you will get better answers by splitting your various questions up into individual questions.

For the multiple desktops just look at the bottom taskbar on the right-hand side. The default in Ubuntu is to only offer 2 but you can right-click and change that to 4 or wahtever. I tend to find about 3 is ideal for me.

Good luck and regards from
Tom :)