How to revert back to Windows. Not dual boot

[Minty16]

I want to go back to Windows and remove linuxmint. All the guides I can find deal with dual boot systems. I only have linuxmint. I've had rufus and balenaEtcher recommended but I don't know how run exe files or even how to put the Windows os on my usb stick.
I do see the irony of asking linux users how to remove it but I'm at my wits end.
Thank you.

[JoeFootball]

I want to go back to Windows and remove linuxmint.

I've never installed Windows myself, but I'd imagine it's just a matter of downloading the installer ISO, burning it to a USB/DVD, and booting to it.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/softwar ... /windows10

Edit: Noting that page also refers to an additional option for making a "media creation tool" if you have access to another Windows system.

[Minty16]

That's what I thought, Joe, but I just get a black screen.

[JoeFootball]

I just get a black screen.

Sorry, if I knew the answer, I'd tell you. I don't use Windows, let alone install it, but there appears to be several tutorials out there ...

https://duckduckgo.com/?t=lm&q=how+to+i ... windows+10

[Minty16]

Thanks Joe. Just for reference. I was surprised to get through to a human being on Microsoft support. They took remote control of a second laptop that had Windows on it and DL the system to my usb stick for me.

[AndyMH]

Thanks Joe. Just for reference. I was surprised to get through to a human being on Microsoft support. They took remote control of a second laptop that had Windows on it and DL the system to my usb stick for me.

I note that they didn't offer help on how to do it in linux win ISOs used to work with mint's usb image writer (a couple of years ago), but MS did something.

[SimonPeter]

win ISOs used to work with mint's usb image writer (a couple of years ago), but MS did something.

I have manually made a Windows Installation + LinuxMint live USB. (made from Linux, made less than a month ago)

Format the destination USB with an MBR parttable, and :
Make a >3GB FAT32 partition, grub-install --target=i386-pc ....... with /boot on that partition (for Legacy BIOS), extract an LinuxMint iso there (for EFI systems).
Make an exfat partition and extract the Windows ISO there.
(The extra space can be used for some other partition)

Now, modify /media/<username>/<FAT32partition>/boot/grub/grub.cfg to include:

Code: Select all

set WinUUID="<UUID_of_the_exfat_partition>"

if [ "${grub_platform}" = "pc" ]; then

# For Legacy BIOS systems
menuentry " Windows installation (Legacy BIOS mode)" {
insmod exfat
insmod ntldr
search --no-floppy --set=root --fs-uuid $WinUUID
ntldr /bootmgr
}

else

# For EFI systems
menuentry " Windows installation (EFI mode)" {
insmod exfat
insmod chain
search --no-floppy --set=root --fs-uuid $WinUUID
chainloader /efi/boot/bootx64.efi
}

Now, umount both partitions and put "boot" and "ESP" flag on the FAT32 partition.

Now, reboot into Linux Mint live or Windows installation media.

BTW: You can easily use Rufus to make a Windows installation media from another Windows computer.

[SimonPeter]

Thanks Joe. Just for reference. I was surprised to get through to a human being on Microsoft support. They took remote control of a second laptop that had Windows on it and DL the system to my usb stick for me.

Pity that someone needs to remote into a PC just to download and flash an ISO.

BTW: Why would you ever want to leave the freedom of Linux and go back into the M$ jail.
If you want, you can switch between freedom ( parole ) and the jail -- Dual boot.

[AndyMH]

BTW: You can easily use Rufus to make a Windows installation media from another Windows computer.

Or in a VM which is what I did.

[AZgl1800]

Thanks Joe. Just for reference. I was surprised to get through to a human being on Microsoft support. They took remote control of a second laptop that had Windows on it and DL the system to my usb stick for me.

Pity that someone needs to remote into a PC just to download and flash an ISO.

BTW: Why would you ever want to leave the freedom of Linux and go back into the M$ jail.
If you want, you can switch between freedom ( parole ) and the jail -- Dual boot.

Easy now....
not everyone understands what is behind the keyboard.

my sister is one of those: don't even mention Linux to her, I gave her a Dell laptop with Linux 18.3 Cinnamon and she thoroughly hates it.

her win10 laptop started failing; a cat walked across the keyboard, and turned over a glass of Coca Cola....

she ordered a brand new Lenovo desktop 3 months ago, problem solved.
.

[jackkileen]

Thanks Joe. Just for reference. I was surprised to get through to a human being on Microsoft support. They took remote control of a second laptop that had Windows on it and DL the system to my usb stick for me.

So was your issue solved?