Ubuntu

Need to delete all previous Linux versions

Asked by Bill Mawby

Attempted to install version 9.04 and it corrupted my previous version. Downloaded version 9.04, burned it to disk, and installed it on dual boot machine. Get message "home" folder low on memory. Tried reinstalling program to resize and reformat all Linux partitions, but alas, it will not work. I can decrease partition size, but cannot increase, so, I assume Linux partition sizes are "set in stone".
I Am also running Windows XP on same machine harddrive is a 100Ghz divided 50/50 between Winxp and Linux KDE.
Appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Bill

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Lawrence H. Bulk
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Best Lawrence H. Bulk (lhbcomm) said : 		#1

You won't like this suggestion but here it is.

Download DBAN ("Darik's Boot and Nuke") and burn it to disk. Use it to completely "wipe" your hard drive (after backing up all important files/folders first).

Then, from your original installation disks, reinstall Microsoft Windows XP and Ubuntu 9.04 'Jaunty Jackalope.' Then you'll want to configure the systems to your liking (it may be helpful to write down just which programs you have installed on both systems so you can easily reinstall them; in the case of Windows, if you have some program[s] for which you have paid, make sure you have the license key[s] written down).

While this will be very time-consuming (I recommend running DBAN to wipe your computer overnight and reinstalling and reconfiguring the operating systems over a weekend), it will ensure an absolutely clean installation of both Windows and Ubuntu.

I hope someone else can respond with a less drastic solution but, if not, what I suggest will definitely work. Just make sure that you have backed up everything of importance to you, both in Windows and Ubuntu, onto an external hard drive so that you can replace this information onto your new installations.

Best of luck.

Lawrence

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Steve (stupendoussteve-deactivatedaccount) said : 		#2

From an installer you can delete the Linux partitions and then recreate them in different sizes (backing up your files first). For a new user I would suggest the all files in one partition option, since you are less likely to be familiar with how much space you actually need for each partition.

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Bill Mawby (mawbyb) said : 		#3

Many thanks, Lawrence. I was looking for an easier solution since I have many important folders and files in the Windows XP system. I have used DBAN on many occasions to wipe private information from hard drives on Windows machines, and may resort to that, yet. I still have some Linux files on the machine that were installed at least five years ago. Each upgrade, on line, has produced another version of Linux, but also left the older versions on the machine.

To you Steven,
I tried that method earlier without much success (using Kubuntu version 9.04), and am wondering if I should revert to an OLDER version of UBUNTU to revise the partitions.

Anyhow......many thanks for your suggestions, Guys.
Bill

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Bill Mawby (mawbyb) said : 		#4

Thanks Lawrence H. Bulk, that solved my question.