On 03/05/13 14:57, Chris Walker wrote:

If you can get into Windows - can you set the relevant partition to be bootable - you can just run 'fdisk /mbr' to wipe out the boot partition and restore it to Windows only.

You can then use Windows to format the linux partition(s).

Well, that's how I would do it ;-)

Thanks, will give that a go.

Cheers Steve

On 01/06/13 18:13, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

On 03/05/13 14:57, Chris Walker wrote:

...

On 03/05/13 11:54, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

...

Hi geniuses :-)

I have a laptop that I purchased with Windows XP installed on it. I installed Ubuntu on it, and then migrated that to Lubuntu, but there's still Windows on a partition of it's own, and it still boots. I'm thinking about giving this machine to my kid who doesn't need linux, just windows.

Is it possible to uninstall Linux and get the copy of Windows to boot correctly again. The problem is I don't have the windows install disk, so I'm reliant on any windows programs that may be installed on the disk, or any genuine tools that may help - I don't want to download a dodgy copy of Windows to do it!

Afaik, if I just format the linux partitions, it will remove most of the initial boot loader, and then it won't boot windows any more. I'm using Grub btw - the old version (V1.??)

Has anyone done this before or have any ideas?

If you can get into Windows - can you set the relevant partition to be bootable - you can just run 'fdisk /mbr' to wipe out the boot partition and restore it to Windows only.

You can then use Windows to format the linux partition(s).

Well, that's how I would do it ;-)

Unfortunately fdisk is not on the disk anywhere. Any ideas where to progress from here?

I answered my own question.

I managed to find an installation disk - Phew. From there I ran fixmbr at the recovery console. And, bob's yer uncle.

Instructions here: http://www.askvg.com/how-to-remove-linux-boot-loader-from-startup-after-dele...

Cheers Steve

Ta!

On 09/05/13 07:30, Steve Engledow wrote:

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Hi geniuses :-)

Not sure you've come to the right list ;)

...

I have a laptop that I purchased with Windows XP installed on it. I installed Ubuntu on it, and then migrated that to Lubuntu, but there's still Windows on a partition of it's own, and it still boots. I'm thinking about giving this machine to my kid who doesn't need linux, just windows.

I'm surprised (and a little shocked) that no-one has given the correct answer to this:

Your final sentence is incorrect and it should read "I'm thinking about giving this machine to my kid who doesn't need Windows, so which distribution should I install for him that's easy to look after etc. and has features x, y, and z?"

Children should always experience disappointment so that when they are presented with something excellent they will appreciate it.

On 9 May 2013 22:08, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

I know what you mean, and TBH he's been using Ubuntu then Lubuntu for a while, but, basically the features he needs are, "to be able to use and run what he's got at school", which unfortunately isn't Linux.

There's an argument for making it dual boot in that case, but I'd hope the same arguments don't apply elsewhere in the school curriculum ("I can't read that book, we're reading a different one at school").

One of the biggest problems with the way schools (ab)use computers is that nobody is taught raw skills anymore. Learning to use a spreadsheet: useful. learning to use Excel 2013 (or whatever the current version is): Useful in a limited way for a year or two then out of date even in a Microsoft-only environment. We learnt to use calculators at school - I very much doubt any two children in the same class had the same calculator model but believe it or not we managed anyway.

But a bigger problem would be if people (like me) who are prepared to fight for "the cause" dragged their kids into the fight (not that I have any). So you're right to do give him Windows. But even so, dual-boot has to be way forward. (And the more books he reads, the better too!)

Mark

-- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) @ 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

On 10/05/13 09:56, Anthony Anson wrote:

Wine or Virtual Box?

Old laptop with limited processor speed, disk-space and memory so TBH I don't think it'll run virtualbox at anything like decent speed. I like Wine, but I don't want to get into the whole getting M$ Office to run under wine/crossover office scenario :-(

That said, he'll still be exposed to Linux as it's on other computers in the house.

Steve

On 10 May 2013 10:31, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

That said, he'll still be exposed to Linux as it's on other computers in the house.

My wife won't use Linux; and it has to be Excel because that's what she's using on the accountancy course that she's on.

So the laptop dual-boots. Mostly its in Linux because it boots quicker and just works, where the Windows install has done it's usual trick of gradually slowing down to treacle speed. So she boots into Windows when she has to, but gets by on Linux the rest of the time. By which I mean that she has no problems doing anything she needs on Linux but the option for Windows is there in case she needs it, which she hasn't in the last year or so.

Not that she'd admit it... :-)

There's a lot to be said for dual-boot. There's no need to be afraid of Linux when Windows is there when needed, and all it means is rebooting the PC. Rebooting is just enough hassle that you don't bother unless you need to, and you quickly realise that you don't need to as much as you expect.

-- Mark Rogers // More Solutions Ltd (Peterborough Office) // 0844 251 1450 Registered in England (0456 0902) @ 13 Clarke Rd, Milton Keynes, MK1 1LG

On 10/05/13 14:41, mick wrote:

I had been completely MS free for many years until I bought a Garmin SatNav with "free for life map updates". It turned out that those map updates could only be obtained if you ran windows or OSX. Bloody silly since the Garmin device itself runs an embedded version of linux. I swallowed hard and bought a crappy old MS box off ebay for £20, just so that I could get my map updates. Garmin also got a snottagram from me.

It's just the same with Tomtom as their boxes run linux. But they insist on using Windows for all updates although I use Windows XP or 7 under VirtualBox to do it most of the time.

Tomtom have had emails from me bemoaning their use of Windows.

I think people have now cracked the protection TT use which enforces the use of Windows and an associated browser but as I'm currently paying for map updates and the speedcam service, I won't take notice of the cracks.

On 10/05/13 14:20, Mark Rogers wrote:

On 10 May 2013 10:31, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

...

That said, he'll still be exposed to Linux as it's on other computers in the house.

My wife won't use Linux; and it has to be Excel because that's what she's using on the accountancy course that she's on.

So the laptop dual-boots. Mostly its in Linux because it boots quicker and just works, where the Windows install has done it's usual trick of gradually slowing down to treacle speed.

/snip/

I bought an elderly flaptop some time ago and it was infested with XP. A Lenny partition (etc) was added, which has been upgraded to the latest, whatever that's called - and XP runs like cold treacle now.

Trouble is, if I reinstall XP, it'll scribble all over debian innit. I only keep Windows so I can run Irfanview, Paintshop Pro and Photoshop. I *do* use The Gimp, but don't like it much.

I did install Virtual box *and* Wine, but VBox is hiding somewhere and I haven't sipped any Wine yet.

There's a lot to be said for dual-boot. There's no need to be afraid of Linux when Windows is there when needed, and all it means is rebooting the PC. Rebooting is just enough hassle that you don't bother unless you need to, and you quickly realise that you don't need to as much as you expect.

This is true, especially if I have to boot into Cold Treacle.

On 10/05/13 08:27, Mark Rogers wrote:

On 9 May 2013 22:08, steve-ALUG@hst.me.uk wrote:

...

I know what you mean, and TBH he's been using Ubuntu then Lubuntu for a while, but, basically the features he needs are, "to be able to use and run what he's got at school", which unfortunately isn't Linux.

There's an argument for making it dual boot in that case, but I'd hope the same arguments don't apply elsewhere in the school curriculum ("I can't read that book, we're reading a different one at school").

*But* it is dual boot already! I don't think there's room to install M$ Orifice, and keep Linux, hence the requirement to go back to vanilla XP.

One of the biggest problems with the way schools (ab)use computers is that nobody is taught raw skills anymore. Learning to use a spreadsheet: useful. learning to use Excel 2013 (or whatever the current version is): Useful in a limited way for a year or two then out of date even in a Microsoft-only environment. We learnt to use calculators at school - I very much doubt any two children in the same class had the same calculator model but believe it or not we managed anyway.

I learned Excel, Word etc, & open Office, Libre office. I can get on with any of them, except the new-fangled ones with that pesky ribbon-bar-abomination!

But a bigger problem would be if people (like me) who are prepared to fight for "the cause" dragged their kids into the fight (not that I have any). So you're right to do give him Windows. But even so, dual-boot has to be way forward. (And the more books he reads, the better too!)

But I need to un-dual-boot it! :-)

Steve