[Solved] Uninstall Grub 2 dual boot Windows XP

[Duderino]

In my zeal to try different Linux distros, I installed OpenSuse in a dual boot with XP. I want to delete OpenSuse and leave XP in place on this machine. It's a family computer and run fine otherwise.

I've booted the machine in recovery mode and ran the FIXMBR command from the DOS prompt. I gives a message that the MBR is written to partition 0 of hard drive 0. When I reboot the Grub menu is still there.

I have not yet deleted or repartitioned the OpenSuse part of the drive. I want to ensure the MBR is restored before doing that. Any suggestions? I can reinstall XP but prefer not to.

[sagirfahmid3]

Easy fix for this issue.

Step1: Go to http://neosmart.net/blog/2010/welcome-to-easybcd-2/ and download EasyBCD.
Step2: Boot into WIndows XP
Step3: Install EasyBCD
Step4: Open the program, go to "Bootloader setup"

Step5: Click on "Install the Windows XP bootloader" and click "Write MBR"
Step6: Go to "Edit boot menu" and delete "OpenSUSE" from the menu.
Step7: Save
Step8: Exit the program

Done. Simple as that.

[oobetimer]

You could remove grub via command prompt

su -

zypper install lilo mbr

lilo -M /dev/sda mbr

Click the picture and watch

[sagirfahmid3]

You could remove grub via command prompt

I would rather he didn't. Lilo is a complicated bootloader. Since he already has Windows XP, he should just use EasyBCD, its much simpler!

Linux is about making things simpler, not harder! Don't hate Windows! I love Linux, and I like Windows too!
Just because people "love" Linux doesn't mean you have to go around and suggest everything Linux-based or open-source.

As a beginner, I would think that most people would rather prefer a good looking GUI program than using the terminal.

[oobetimer]

You could remove grub via command prompt

I would rather he didn't. Lilo is a complicated bootloader. Since he already has Windows XP, he should just use EasyBCD, its much simpler!

Have you ever tried to remove EasyBCD?

[terdon]

Umm.. why do you want to remove grub anyway? Just use grub to boot into windows. Set windows as default if you want. But why spend time and effort replacing a good, graphical bootloader (grub) with a more limited and complex one (win's)?

[linuxviolin]

When you want dual booting Linux with Windows you should always install Windows first and the Linux boot loader in the root or the boot partition of your Linux install then use EasyBCD to add your new Linux install in the Windows boot loader.

Tips for dual-booting Windows and Linux

(...)

When attempting to dual-boot on a computer with one hard drive, always install Windows first, followed by your Linux distribution. Why? Because Windows is intentionally designed to destroy everything in its path. So, if it finds another operating system on the same hard drive it is being installed on, it has no built-in mechanism that allows it to play nice. The foregoing, by the way, is tip number two.

(...)

By default, the boot loaders of operating systems are installed in the Master Boot Record (MBR) of a hard drive. That is the best location for it. However, when attempting to dual-boot Windows and a Linux distribution, you have another option, and this should count as tip number four: When attempting to dual-boot on a single hard drive, it is better to install the Linux boot loader on a separate boot partition, and have the Windows boot loader be responsible for dual-booting both operating systems. Whether you choose to follow this tip or not depends on your tolerance for pain, because the alternative is to follow the default, that is, install the Linux boot loader in the MBR.

The problem with the default location is that if you ever have to reinstall Windows or upgrade it, it will wipe the Linux boot loader and install its own (boot loader). Also, some anti-virus programs have been known to install small files in the MBR, so that could be another source of pain, if you have to install an anti-virus program on Windows.

(...)

Tip number five: If you plan to install the Linux boot loader on a boot partition, be aware that on larger hard drives, there is a limit on how far the boot partition can be located from the start of the disk. On a 1TB hard drive, it is somewhere around the 500GB mark. The solution in such a case is to create the boot partition close to Windows’ System partition.

Tip number six: Even when attempting to dual-boot on separate hard drives, it is best to install the respective boot loaders on their operating system’s hard drive. Keeping them completely apart in that fashion makes troubleshooting and management a bit less of a hassle.

(From LinuxBSDos.com: Tips for dual-booting Windows and Linux)

Everything should work fine until you upgrade Windows, a process that will mess with GRUB, causing you to lose the GRUB menu. To restore access to your Linux Mint 10 installation, the recommended solution is to install EasyBCD, a free application by NeoSmart Technologies, which you may download here. Install it just like any other Windows application.

(From LinuxBSDos.com: How to dual-boot Linux Mint 10 and Windows 7 Look at the second page.)

By the way, you should create the free space for your Linux install inside Windows with the Disk Management tool, at least with Windows 7. You'll save yourself some problem as seen in the LinuxBSDos.com link above about Mint 10 or here: How to install Windows 7 and Ubuntu side by side, read the "Boot Windows" section (Oops, we get this horrible error! etc) For an example, you can read the "Existing Installation of Windows 7" section from here: How to dual-boot Pardus 2011 and Windows 7: How to dual-boot Pardus 2011 and Windows 7.

[sagirfahmid3]

Have you ever tried to remove EasyBCD?

No, I keep it in case I mess up the MBR. And anyways, it only uses 3MB of HDD space.

[terdon]

So, am I the only one who has been dual booting for years (since windows98 that had no bootloader) using grub alone? I just install windows first, then any linux distros I want, have them overwrite the windows bootloader with grub or lilo or whatever they prefer. And then use the linux bootloader to boot my OSs. If I reinstall windows, I then just use ANY linux install cd to boot into a live session and reinstall grub to the MBR. Before live sessions came around I would install my bootloader onto a floppy and have that as a rescue.

OK, it may be a kinda geeky solution (it requires chroot and limited knowledge of mounting disks) but it is not that complex, and it seems easier than using an external program. Plus grub2, or even better burg, is the prettiest bootloader I've ever seen!

[Duderino]

Umm.. why do you want to remove grub anyway? Just use grub to boot into windows. Set windows as default if you want. But why spend time and effort replacing a good, graphical bootloader (grub) with a more limited and complex one (win's)?

I want this particular machine XP only, no options to boot into anything else. From what I've read I it's recommended to restore MBR to do this. Tried the methods posted online (DOS command prompt fdisk /mbr or fixmbr) and those didn't work.

On the brighter side, I've decided to completely abandon Vista on my laptop and go strictly with Katya. So I will have a desktop machine XP for the family, laptop Mint where I can try other distros if I want.

I get your point but prefer to just boot into XP with no other options.

[linuxviolin]

Plus grub2, or even better burg, is the prettiest bootloader I've ever seen!

Personally, I completely don't care this. You see the boot loader for just some seconds before the system. The OS is important, the boot loader no. If it makes correctly its work, i.e. we can choose what we want booting, it's good. A nice wallpaper with beautiful colors is quite useless... But it's me.

[lmintnewb]

Makes note ... LV, doesn't like pretty bootloaders. ... Good 2 know, lol. Just messing round. Don't overly care about having a graphical bootloader either. But admit some of the screenies I've come across showing setups with icons n stuff for em, do look good, shrugs. Nothing wrong with setting things up how ya like em.

OP to me seems like you're on the right track. aka: recovery console, though may want to spend some time reading up on it and its use. More to it than fixmbr ... fixboot/etc perhaps. Don't quote me on it, am not an XP RC expert, only used it one time myself. So some google time will do ya good.

Though see the point the other peeps posting are making too. Does it really matter if you install or use an alternative bootloader ? As long as it works like it's supposed to, is it seriously important what BL is bootin it ? Guessing the main thing is does it work, or doesn't it. Working, is working ... broken on the other hand ... suks, lol. Shrugs.

[terdon]

Personally, I completely don't care this. You see the boot loader for just some seconds before the system. The OS is important, the boot loader no. If it makes correctly its work, i.e. we can choose what we want booting, it's good. A nice wallpaper with beautiful colors is quite useless... But it's me.

Fair enough, I only mention it because OP said he wanted a family machine with no scary linux stuff. I meant that grub or burg are pretty and graphical and not likely to spook sensitive windows users

[sagirfahmid3]

Ok. Can a moderator or admin PLEASE mark this as SOLVED?
Problem solved--case closed.

[linuxviolin]

Fair enough, I only mention it because OP said he wanted a family machine with no scary linux stuff. I meant that grub or burg are pretty and graphical and not likely to spook sensitive windows users

Probably...

Can a moderator or admin PLEASE mark this as SOLVED?
Problem solved--case closed.

Or just the OP... if his/her problem is solved.

[Duderino]

Umm.. why do you want to remove grub anyway? Just use grub to boot into windows. Set windows as default if you want.

If someone can tell me how to set Windows as default I will mark the post solved

Again, this is the family machine. Tried a dual boot with OpenSuse, want to default boot into Windows. I have another machine for playground with Linux distros

[wayne128]

Tried a dual boot with OpenSuse, want to default boot into Windows. I have another machine for playground with Linux distros

Which version of openSUSE you used? Different version uses different grub version.
instruction are different for grub 1.99 and grub 0.97.

Feature factory 12.1 11.4
Release Date 2011/11/22 2011/11/16 2011/03/10
grub (1.99) 1.99 1.99 0.97


you can also find out your grub version from a root terminal with grub-install -v

[Duderino]

Which version of openSUSE you used? Different version uses different grub version.

OpenSuse 11.4

[wayne128]

Which version of openSUSE you used? Different version uses different grub version.

OpenSuse 11.4

it seems 11.4 uses grub legacy.

here, you boot into openSUSU and run , open a terminal, type this command

Code: Select all

cat /boot/grub/menu.lst

hit enter,
then copy the content on terminal, post here.

[Duderino]

I booted into OpenSuse and set the default boot to Windows using the boot manager or whatever it's called. So instead of restoring MBR, Grub defaults to Windows now.