How to Uninstall Linux
Support knowledgebase (tg_deinstall)
Applies to
SuSE Linux: Versions since 4.4
Situation:
You want to uninstall Linux completely.
Procedure:
First, make a backup of all your important data! In case DOS or Windows 3.x/95/98/ME
is installed on your machine, too, create a boot floppy of this operating system.
From SuSE Linux 7.3 on:
(Note: If a working SuSE Linux installation is not available, follow
the instructions below in the section Generic Method.)
- Start the YaST2 Control Center and select
- Hardware -->
- Partitioning.
- In the next dialog, delete all Linux partitions including the
Linux swap partition.
The extended partition "Win95 Ext'd (LBA)" can also be deleted if
it no longer contains any logical drives. Confirm the changes with
Next and
the subsequent security advice with Yes. Now the changes will
be applied.
- To remove LILO or GRUB (if it is installed in the Master Boot Record or MBR),
you must rewrite the MBR. Use the program fdisk of your
alternative operating
system for this purpose. If you use DOS or Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, boot with a DOS rescue
floppy and start fdisk with:
fdisk /mbr
The command for OS/2 is
fdisk /newmbr
If you use Windows 2000/XP, deinstall LILO or GRUB as described in the article
"Uninstalling the Boot Manager LILO from the MBR" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html) (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html).
- Then you can boot your operating system without LILO or GRUB and repartition the
new free space accordingly.
Up to SuSE Linux 7.2:
- Boot from the first boot CD as if it were a new installation and select
the item Manual installation from the start menu. If this option
is not available in previous versions of SuSE Linux, enter manual
at the boot prompt. Alternatively, you can also use the included boot floppy.
- Select the language, screen resolution, and keyboard
layout. Follow the new installation
routine until you reach the point where the hard disk is
partitioned. Then select:
- Start installation / system -->
- Start installation/ update -->
- CD-ROM -->
- Yast1 - text based -->
- Installation using expert mode -->
- Installation settings -->
- Configure hard disk partitions.
- Delete all Linux partitions by pressing F4 and confirm with
Continue. A window reading "Writing new partition table ..."
will be displayed. After deleting the Linux partitions, abort
the installation process by pressing Abort and reboot.
- To remove LILO or GRUB (in case it is installed in the MBR), you must rewrite
the MBR. Use the program fdisk of your alternative operating system
for this purpose.
If you deploy DOS or Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, boot with a DOS rescue floppy and start
fdisk with:
fdisk /mbr
The command for OS/2 is
fdisk /newmbr
.
If you use Windows 2000/XP, follow the instructions contained in the article
"Uninstalling the Boot Manager LILO from the MBR" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html) (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html)
to uninstall LILO or GRUB.
- Then you can boot your operating system without LILO and repartition the
new free space accordingly.
Generic Method
- Boot the rescue system (e.g., from the first SuSE Linux CD). Log in
to the rescue system as root (no password is required).
The Linux partitions can be deleted with fdisk.
- First, get an overview of the partitions by entering
fdisk -l
The output might be like this:
rescue:~ # fdisk -l
Disk /dev/hda: 255 heads, 63 sectors, 1655 cylinders
Units = cylinders of 16065 * 512 bytes
Device Boot Start End Blocks Id System
/dev/hda1 * 1 18 144553+ 82 Linux swap
/dev/hda2 19 1655 13149202+ f Win95 Ext'd (LBA)
/dev/hda5 19 22 32098+ 83 Linux
/dev/hda6 23 1655 13117041 83 Linux
- Start fdisk in interactive mode. This can be done by
entering the hard disk's device name as a parameter. For example, if the
hard disk to edit is connected as primary master (see above),
enter the command:
fdisk /dev/hda
- fdisk includes the following options:
m to display a list of the available commands
p to display a list of the partitions
d to delete a partition
q to quit the program WITHOUT saving changes
w to save the modifications and to exit fdisk
You can delete the Linux partitions (ID 83) and the Linux swap
partition (ID 82) with
these commands by pressing "d" then ENTER. The system asks which partition
to delete. To delete the last partition (/dev/hda6) in the example above,
enter "6" and press ENTER. The extended partition "Win95 Ext'd (LBA)"
can also be deleted, if it no longer contains any logical drives.
To save the information, press "w" then ENTER.
- To remove LILO or GRUB (if installed in the MBR), you must rewrite
the MBR. Use the program fdisk of your alternative operating system for
this purpose. If you use DOS or Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, boot with a DOS rescue disk and start
fdisk with:
fdisk /mbr
The command for OS/2 reads
fdisk /newmbr
If you use Windows 2000/XP, uninstall LILO or GRUB as described in the
article "Uninstalling the Boot Manager LILO from the MBR" (http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html)
(http://sdb.suse.de/en/sdb/html/fhassel_deinstall_lilo.html) vor.
- Then you can boot your operating system without LILO and repartition the
new free space accordingly.
Keywords: UNINSTALL, REMOVE, DEINSTALLATION
Categories:
Frequently asked Questions
SDB-tg_deinstall, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany
- Version: 16. Mar 1999
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 30. Jan 2003 by fhassel (sdb_gen 1.40.0)