If you have a dual-boot system with Linux and Windows, then you probably know that when you start your system first Linux boot loader appears showing Linux as well as Windows boot entries and if you select Windows from the list, it starts Windows.
Suppose a situation when you want to remove Linux from your system and want to use only Windows, then how will you do it?
Many times people delete the partitions having Linux installed from "Disk Manager" but it doesnt remove Linux completely. The Linux boot loader still appears at startup but since you deleted Linux partitions, the boot loader gets corrupted and your system becomes unusable.
So if you are also facing this problem or you faced this problem in past and could not get a working solution, then read this tutorial and you can follow it if you find yourself in a similar situation.
This tutorial will help you in completely removing Linux from a dual-boot system:
STEP 1. First you'll need to boot using Windows setup CD. You can use Windows 98 Setup CD or Windows 2000, XP, 2003 CD or Windows Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7 DVD.
Using Windows 98 CD:
Boot into Command Prompt and provide following command:
fdisk /MBR
Now exit from command prompt by typing Exit and press Enter.
Using Windows 2000, XP, 2003 CD:
Enter into "Recovery Console" by pressing "R", select your Windows installation and enter administrator password. Now provide following command:
fixmbr
Press "Y" to confirm and type Exit to exit from recovery console.
Using Windows Vista, Server 2008, Windows 7 DVD:
Boot using setup DVD and click on "Repair Computer" link, then click on "Command Prompt". Now navigate to your DVD drive using CD command and at last provide following command:
bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr
Exit from Command prompt and restart your system.
Thanks to Ramesh Kumar (Fellow MVP) to provide this trick.
STEP 2. The above commands will remove the Linux boot loader from startup and you'll be able to directly boot into Windows.
STEP 3. If you have not deleted Linux partitions, then you can delete them using "Disk Manager" tool in Windows.
This article was posted by VG in following section: Linux, Troubleshooting, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP.
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to our RSS feed or free newsletter to get all new articles directly in your Inbox. Also check out our popular articles and archive to read other interesting articles.
H V VENKATESH
Sir, I am having dual booting system with windows xp and linux 5.2 installed. When I boot the system, the grub displays both the OS's and i am choosing whichever i want, the default one being windows xp, Now I am encountering virus problems in my windows xp and want to reinstall the windows xp in recovery mode. but grub will not allow to boot from windows xp. how to delete the grub and gain entry into windows xp disc using boot from cd option? guide me. thanks in advance.
VG
^^ You can boot using XP setup disc. Grub loads after that.
paaru
Simply Superb. It worked very well . Thanks a lot.
UFO
you just try this tool EASY BCD 2.0.2 it's free from smartneo cool download it open it click on edit boot menu you should see the boot systems names in the entry list then left click on the one you want to deleet then click on the delete button (hope this fixed)
Comhon
Really thanks. I needed it!
Tanvir
sir, what did u mean by "Now navigate to your DVD drive using CD command"
I noemally opened Command Prompt and wrote the code.bt it did nt worked.
Tanvir
sir, what did u mean by "Now navigate to your DVD drive using CD command"
I noemally opened Command Prompt and wrote the code.bt it did nt worked.
VG
^^ Suppose your cd/dvd drive letter is E:, then use following command:
cd e:
Tanvir
Thanks,hope it will work :)
Uewd
^^ I used to reinstall Windows after deleting the Linux partitions. After seeing this article, I tried to delete the Linux partition using disk management and to use one of the solutions listed here. It worked perfectly, thank you :)