un-installing xubuntu and grub bootloader

Windows system is Seven or an older one ?
Do you have an Ubuntu CD/USB key installer (useful to remove Linux partitions) ?
Do you have Windows repair or installation CD (needed to reinstall Windows bootloader) ?

Windows? I don't have Windows at all - haven't had for years.

Sorry, I'm used to question about Windows and read too fast your question.
Simply boot on Ubuntu and run command:
    sudo update-grub
then use Gparted or System->Administration->Disk Utilities to remove partition dedicated to Xubuntu and extend one dedicated to Ubuntu.

Hi Delance

I booted onto the Ubuntu partition and got rid of the xubuntu installation. I then issued the command (sudo update-grub) and restarted the machine.

The reboot failed and it is telling me....

error: file not found
grub rescue>

I have no idea what it wants from me!

Sorry, I'm not used to dual boot of both Ubuntu. The used boot directory was probably on Xubuntu partition. If you need more help, please provide partition table: https://answers.launchpad.net/grub/+faqs

You have to reinstall Grub2 bootloader: https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Copy_LiveCD_Files

Hi Delance. I hope this is what you wanted

ubuntu@ubuntu:~$ sudo fdisk -l

Disk /dev/sda: 160.0 GB, 160041885696 bytes
255 heads, 63 sectors/track, 19457 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 = 8225280 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000c7905

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sda1 * 1 1245 9999360 83 Linux
/dev/sda2 1245 1494 1999872 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda3 1494 9729 66144256 83 Linux
/dev/sda4 9729 19458 78144513 5 Extended
/dev/sda5 9729 10974 9998336 83 Linux
/dev/sda6 10974 11223 1997824 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda7 11223 19458 66146304 83 Linux

Disk /dev/sdb: 4009 MB, 4009754624 bytes
124 heads, 62 sectors/track, 1018 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 7688 * 512 = 3936256 bytes
Sector size (logical/physical): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
I/O size (minimum/optimal): 512 bytes / 512 bytes
Disk identifier: 0x000ee29d

   Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/sdb1 * 1 1018 3913161 c W95 FAT32 (LBA)
ubuntu@ubuntu:~$

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Copy_LiveCD_Files
If Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1 and Xubuntu is elsewhere.
sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda
sudo update-grub
reboot

I see four Linux partitions. If you don't know if Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1, please run following procedure:
There is a standard script provided to analyse boot configuration. Could you download script at:

   http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/

Then in a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) run command:

    sudo bash [path/to/the/download_folder]/boot_info_script.sh

This will produce a file named: RESULTS.txt. Paste content of this file in http://paste.ubuntu.com/ and provide in this thread the link to Web page. Please don't post file directly in thread, else it will make thread difficult to read.

Thank you for your patience. Each system has its own root partition and
a /home partition - hence the 4 partitions. Ubuntu is on sda1 and
xubuntu is on sda5. The 2 /home partitions are sda3 and sda7

I'm not going to do this right now as I have just come home and my bed
is calling! There is just one question - I see a space in the
grub-install command line between /boot and /dev/sda. Am I reading that
correctly?

Thanks again

Ken.

On 07/10/2011 17:35, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> delance proposed the following answer:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Copy_LiveCD_Files
> If Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1 and Xubuntu is elsewhere.
> sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
> sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda
> sudo update-grub
> reboot
>
> I see four Linux partitions. If you don't know if Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1, please run following procedure:
> There is a standard script provided to analyse boot configuration. Could you download script at:
>
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/
>
> Then in a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) run command:
>
> sudo bash [path/to/the/download_folder]/boot_info_script.sh
>
> This will produce a file named: RESULTS.txt. Paste content of this file
> in http://paste.ubuntu.com/ and provide in this thread the link to Web
> page. Please don't post file directly in thread, else it will make
> thread difficult to read.
>

Yes. There is a space.The best is doing copy/paste instead of retyping. On a terminal, you must replace (for historical reason) Ctrl+V by Shift+Ctrl+V, and Ctrl+C by Shift+Ctrl+C

Hi Delance. The explanation (below) that you sent worked perfectly and I
was able to format the partition that had Xubuntu installed on it.
Xubuntu is history! The Grub bootloader, however, still exists but has
all the unnecessary options removed. Is there a way to get rid of Grub
completely?

Many thanks

Ken.

On 07/10/2011 17:35, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> delance proposed the following answer:
> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/Grub2#Copy_LiveCD_Files
> If Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1 and Xubuntu is elsewhere.
> sudo mount /dev/sda1 /mnt
> sudo grub-install --boot-directory=/mnt/boot /dev/sda
> sudo update-grub
> reboot
>
> I see four Linux partitions. If you don't know if Ubuntu and its /boot folder is on sda1, please run following procedure:
> There is a standard script provided to analyse boot configuration. Could you download script at:
>
> http://sourceforge.net/projects/bootinfoscript/
>
> Then in a terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T) run command:
>
> sudo bash [path/to/the/download_folder]/boot_info_script.sh
>
> This will produce a file named: RESULTS.txt. Paste content of this file
> in http://paste.ubuntu.com/ and provide in this thread the link to Web
> page. Please don't post file directly in thread, else it will make
> thread difficult to read.
>

I don't understand the question. Grub is needed to load Ubuntu.

Yes but does it have to be visible and require input if there is only
one system installed on the machine? On my desktop machine, for example,
Ubuntu loads without me ever seeing Grub. Before I started playing with
other flavours of Linux and installing more than one system on the
machine, the same was true on my laptop.

On 08/10/2011 21:10, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> delance requested more information:
> I don't understand the question. Grub is needed to load Ubuntu.
>

Yes but does it have to be visible and require input if there is only
one system installed on the machine? No, it should not.
Could you run bootinfoscript again.

Good morning Delance

This is the link you required

http://paste.ubuntu.com/705318/

On 08/10/2011 22:35, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> delance proposed the following answer:
> Yes but does it have to be visible and require input if there is only
> one system installed on the machine? No, it should not.
> Could you run bootinfoscript again.
>

I've not received a response to my latest input regarding the Grub problem. Please help.

If you don't hold any key, the boot menu should not be displayed. I see any error in grub.cfg .
Could you paste file /etc/default/grub.
Currently, I see any explanation.

Hello Delance. I have pasted /etc/default/grub as requested at.....

http://paste.ubuntu.com/707478/

I notice that a message appears after the bootloader...

error: no argument specified

I don't know what the significance of that message is.

Cheers

Ken

On 13/10/2011 07:40, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> delance proposed the following answer:
> If you don't hold any key, the boot menu should not be displayed. I see any error in grub.cfg .
> Could you paste file /etc/default/grub.
> Currently, I see any explanation.
>

Please avoid posting with previous message included. It makes Web interface hard to read.
Currently, I see any explanation.
You should convert question into a bug.
You can also ask help on http://ubuntuforums.org/ and http://www.linuxquestions.org

Hi Delance

I will take that advice. Thank you very much for your effort - it is
much appreciated.

Cheers

Ken

Hi Delance. I was in contact with a power user in my own family and he
suggested I try the following....

Go to a terminal and type
sudo fdisk /dev/sda
Then type p and press enter
Press q and enter to get out
sudo grub-install --recheck /dev/sda

I did get a warning message but I ignored it and continued as
instructed. I do not understand what it is all about but it did fix my
problem. My system does not require input from me at boot time.

Thank you very much for your effort.

Cheers!

Ken.

On 13/10/2011 07:40, delance wrote:
> Your question #173450 on ubiquity in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/ubiquity/+question/173450
>
> Status: Open => Answered
>
> delance proposed the following answer:
> If you don't hold any key, the boot menu should not be displayed. I see any error in grub.cfg .
> Could you paste file /etc/default/grub.
> Currently, I see any explanation.
>

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