Ubuntu
ubiquity package

Uninstalling Ubuntu

Asked by Robert Hunt

Three years ago, I purchased a notebook running Ubuntu 8.04. Although I ran updates on a regular basis, these evidently didn't include upgrades for Ubuntu itself. About a year ago, I received word that tech support for 8.04 was being discontinued. So I tried to update to the latest version of Ubuntu. i tried downloading and installing all previous updates, but they didn't go back to 8.04. I tried installing from a disc (even made a donation), but of course the discs were designed for Windows user who wanted to switch to Ubuntu so I couldn't run them... So I'm stuck with an outdated system and more and more plug-ins that will no longer work or can't be upgraded (since i can't open Update Manager any more!). Could someone please tell me how to uninstall Ubuntu and reformat my computer so I can install Windows?

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Danillo (danillo) said : 		#1

I believe you can just put the Windows installer cd in, boot from it and choose to install Windows by wiping out the whole hard drive. Have you tried that yet?

But if you want the latest Ubuntu, all you have to do is go to http://www.ubuntu.com/download, download the latest version and install it over your outdated version.

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Robert Hunt (rghunt57) said : 		#2

No, it doesn't read the discs at all. And as for installing the latest Ubuntu, I tried that but every download I found (including the disc) was aimed for people who aren't already running ubuntu.. i was told that I had to install every successive upgrade from 8.04 to the present...except that there was no longer one from 8.04 to either 8.06 or 8.08 (I don't recall the exact details of the gap.

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primefalcon (primefalcon) said : 		#3

boot into bios (typically by pressing F2 or such during boot) and tell it to boot from cd before hard drive (boot order will be in there somewhere)

and then do it... then during windows installation you'll see a list of partitions (it'll say unknown or something for linux since windows doesn't have any ext4 and such drivers).

Just delete said partitions and create a new ntfs partition and choose to install to that....

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#4

you will need a windows cd and drive. I don't see how this is an ubuntu question. If you cut the question down, user is asking:

how can I install windows on my hardware.

That's it, the fact that ubuntu is presently installed is moot and its a bit cheeky to think that he expects the community to support him.

I suggest you post on a Windows forum.

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Barry Drake (b-drake) said : 		#5

Your original question says that the CD you got was a Windows CD. It isn't. It has a Windows program on it that autoruns under Windows. What you have is also a boot CD. You have to boot from the CD to use it. If you want to try Ubuntu in it's present state without installing anything, download the new DVD iso from www.ubuntu.com and burn a DVD. If you boot from it, you have the option to 'Try Ubuntu'. This is well worth your time and trouble. The new disk also has a Windows program on it. Ignore that.

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Danillo (danillo) said : 		#6

To install Ubuntu, it doesn't matter if you are running Ubuntu already, you can do a fresh, clean install of Ubuntu 12.04 in your system. Just save your files in an external drive and run the installer from the latest Ubuntu cd. When you do this, you will see an option saying "Remove 8.04 and install 12.04" or something like that.

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