Erasing Linux Partition and Giving it back to Windows

[GML3G0]

OK, I have my hard drive partitione for Slackware, Windows, and my Linux swap. Anyway to wipe out the Linux and give that space back to Windows. Due to compatability issues, I won't be keeping it on this machine, but I will keep it on my others. LILO is installed onto my MBR.

 

[bersl2]

Use some tool(s) that can resize partitions and expand filesystems. Partition Magic can do this, but so can Parted or perhaps ntfsresize.

 

[CalvinHobbs]

using disk management you can recover the partition in windows and then repair your boot loader in msconfig but to merge the partitions think partition magic is the best out there

 

[Nothinman]

Remove lilo first, otherwise you'll be looking for a way to make your machine boot again after you remove your Linux partition.

 

[GML3G0]

well, LILO just points to the different partition images, so I don't think removing it first is that big a deal. It just won't load the Linux image if that's what I tell it to boot.

So, is there like a trial version of Partition Magic I can get or something? Also, how do I do that thing in msconfig Under boot.ini, its Windows's own boot loader. Will PM remove LILO as well?

Thanks.

 

[Nothinman]

LILO reads it's config file from the root Linux partition, if you remove that partiton your machine will hang at bootup, most likely all you'll see is LI.

 

[drag]

If you want to get rid of Linux altogether you can boot up with your Windows install cd and get into the recovery console.

From there you can use the "fixmbr" command and restore the NTLDR's control over the boot up stuff.

Then after that you can safely delete the Linux partitions.

Like everything, especially when resizing partitions, you want to backup all important stuff and make sure that you have rescue disks and such.

If you want to add that space back into your windows setup you'd have to use partition magic, or possibly the gtparted from a Knoppix cd. If you want to just have that space avaible to windows and just keep it as a seperate partition you can boot up in Knoppix and format the partition to fat32, then when you boot up in Windows you can convert it to ntfs.

You may be able to do it (reformat the partition to ntfs or fat32) directly from Windows, maybe. From the control panel or something like that. I don't remember that much about it.


At least that's what I understand.

 

[GML3G0]

k thanks. will try that sometime this week.

 

[Nothinman]

Or you could simply boot into Linux and run the lilo command that removes it from the MBR, 'lilo -u' IIRC but double-check the documentation.

 

[Abzstrak]

agree with drag on his assessment... then I would boot of a knoppix CD and go into qtparted and sretch those windows partitions bigger.... or buy partition magic

 

[drag]

oops, I wrote gtparted. Ment qtparted.