[2022 Tips] How to Remove Ubuntu from Dual Boot
"I have absolutely no experience with Linux, and I desperately need to get my computer back and running again with Windows. How do I remove Ubuntu and reinstall Windows?"
How to Remove Ubuntu from Dual Boot (2 Steps)
If you have installed Linux on its own partition in a dual-boot configuration, there's usually no easy uninstaller that will remove it for you. Instead, you need to delete its partitions and repair the Windows boot loader manually. Here are the steps to uninstall Ubuntu from dual boot.
| Workable Solutions | Step-by-step Troubleshooting |
|---|---|
| Step 1 - Delete the Linux Partition |
|
| Step 2 - Fix the Windows Boot Loader |
|
How You Install Ubuntu on Your Computer
How you uninstall Linux depends on how you've installed it. If you installed Linux as the only operating system, you have to reinstall Windows over Linux to get your Windows system back. Suppose you install Ubuntu with Wubi. You can easily uninstall it from Windows:
- Boot into Windows and go to "Control Panel > Programs and Features".
- Find Ubuntu and select "Uninstall".
If you installed Linux to its own partition in a dual-boot configuration, you need to follow the steps below to remove Ubuntu.
Step 1 - Delete the Linux Partition (Two Methods)
To remove Ubuntu from dual boot, you need to delete the Linux partition first. There are two ways to make it: using Disk Management or a disk management tool.
Method 1. Delete Your Linux Partition with Disk Management
To run Disk Management, you need to boot into Windows 10/8/7.
Step 1. In Windows 10/8/7, press Windows + R keys to bring up the Run box, type diskmgmt.msc, and hit "Enter". Windows Disk Management window will show up.
Step 2. Locate and right-click the Linux partition and choose "Delete Volume".
Step 3. Select "Yes" to let the system complete the removing partition process.
Method 2. Delete Your Linux Partition with Software
Here is a reliable way to help do this job in just a few simple clicks with the help of professional partition manager software - Qiling Partition Master. This software allows you to delete and remove all Ubuntu-related system partitions with Windows OS running on your PC.
Download, install this software, and activate it for deleting Ubuntu from your computer but keep Windows OS now:
Step 1. Launch Qiling Partition Master on your computer.
Step 2. Select to delete partition or delete all partitions on hard drive.
- Delete single partition: right-click on a partition that you want to delete and choose "Delete...".
- Delete all partitions: right-click a hard drive that you want to delete all partitions, and select "Delete All...".
Make sure that you've backed up the important data on the selected partition because this manner will compeletely remove data.
Step 3. Click "OK" to confirm the deletion.
Step 2 - How to Fix the Windows Boot Loader
After deleted the Ubuntu partition, you need to use a Windows installer disc to overwrite the Linux boot loader with the Windows boot loader. If you don't have a Windows installer disc, you can create a Windows repair disc and use it.
Step 1. Insert CD/DVD into DVD-ROM or connected external DVD drive.
Step 2. Click "Control Panel" on the computer screen, then click "Backup and Restore (Windows 7)".
Step 3. Click "Create a system repair disc" from the left column to open the repair disc creation window. Follow the on-screen instructions to create a system repair disc.
Step 4. Insert the Windows installer or recovery disc into your computer, restart your computer, and let it boot from the Windows installer disc.
Step 5. After booting from your installation or recovery disc, skip the initial languages screen, and then click the "Repair your computer" option on the main install screen.
Step 6. On the Choose an option screen, click "Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt".
Step 7. Type the command below and then press "Enter".
- bootrec /fixmbr
- bootrec /fixboot
- bootrec /scanos
- bootrec /rebuildbcd
You can now restart your computer. It will boot from its hard drive, starting the Windows operating system. If you are not familiar with CMD, you can repair MBR with software.
Bonus Tip - How to Back Up Ubuntu Data Without Booting into System
If you have important data, how can you make a backup without booting into Linux? You can run Qiling Backup. With it, you can back up files without OS. Follow the steps below to back up important data:
* The following backup procedure requires another working computer to create an emergency disk of Qiling Backup. You'll need to boot your unbootable computer through this emergency disk to make a full backup.
Step 1. To make an Qiling Backup emergency disk, you need a USB flash drive and connect it to a working computer. Launch Qiling Backup, click "Tools" and then click "Create bootable media".
Step 2. Switch to the USB option when choose a boot disk location, and then click Create.
Step 3. When it's done, insert this emergency disk to the computer that needs backing up. Restart the PC, and Press F2/DEL to enter BIOS. Change the boot sequence, and then start the computer and run Qiling backup software from the bootable disk.
Step 4. In the Backup and Recovery page, choose the Disk backup mode. Here, select the computer hard drive(s) to make a full backup.
Step 5. Select a destination to save your backup file. It's recommended to save the backup file to external storage media.
Step 6. Click "Proceed" to execute your operation.
Conclusion
You can fix the error if installing Ubuntu on Windows PC as a dual-boot didn't go so well. If you still have problems, you can contact Qiling to get additional help.
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