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Operating Systems => Linux and UNIX => Topic started by: bwid_s_01 on 30 August 2003, 00:47

Title: How do you uninstall Linux completely?
Post by: bwid_s_01 on 30 August 2003, 00:47

I recently installed Linux on my laptop for testing purposes but today started to re-install my entire system from scratch. I plan to install Win2000, some data partitions, and add Linux later.

I booted to a MSDOS CD, launched Partition Magic that was on it, and deleted every partition. ALl that was left was one huge unformatted space. I applied the operation. After it finished, I created new partitions the way I wanted and set the one I needed to Active. When it was done I took out the cd and rebooted. And Linux (Mandrake 9) still came up!!, did some stuff, and told me that there were errors and valid partitions not found.
Then I figured that all that stuff was probably installed into the Boot Sector of the hard drive (although I don't see how since I deleted all partitions and reformatted everything). I put in my bootable CD and ran FDISK.EXE /MBR. I rebooted and finally it told me what I wanted to see - that there is no bootable devices.
I'm just wondering still...Was doing fdisk /mbr enough or is it possible that remnants of LInux are still there on my drive?

Title: How do you uninstall Linux completely?
Post by: flap on 30 August 2003, 00:51

No, it's all gone.

Title: How do you uninstall Linux completely?
Post by: Zombie9920 on 30 August 2003, 00:55

Fdisk /mbr is all you need to remove the bootloader left over from deleting the Linux partations. Your done, it's all gone.

Title: How do you uninstall Linux completely?
Post by: gump420 on 30 August 2003, 02:06

If I remember correctly, doesn't Partition Magic have some way to wipe the boot sector that is hidden somewhere in the menu options?  I could be wrong though.

But yeah, Partition Magic rules and is awesome for playing around with Linux on a Windoze box.