How to remove or delete linux from harddisk drive and restore the MBR partition table safely

Removing linux from windows partition - If you have a dual-boot with Linux and Windows, then you probably know that when you start your system Linux boot loader who first appeared to show Linux and then Windows boot entries and if you choose Windows from the list, it starts Windows.

Well now you are in situations when you want to remove Linux from your system and just want to use Windows, then how would you do?

A lot of people delete the Linux partition after installation of the "Disk Manager" can not delete it but Linux as a whole. Linux boot loader still appears at startup and as you remove the Linux partition, the boot loader will be corrupted and your system becomes unusable or being damaged

First of all you need to know where your Linux OS is installed to. that is what drive it is currently living on. Bear in mind that Linux formats the drive as HFS rather than Fat/Fat32 or NTFS. [These are the file systems used by various Operating Systems].

So HFS Partitions are not seen by windows, so its hidden.

To remove the partitions of Linux in WindowsXP go to your 'Control panel' - Admistrative Tools - Computer Managment

Open 'Disk Management' and you will see your Linux drives recognised as 'Unknown Partition' plus the status of the drive. Bearing in mind you know what partition and disk you installed to it will be easier to recognise as the drive/partition where you had installed it to.

Once you have identifed the drives, 'right-Click' on the drive/partiton and select 'Delete Logical Drive'

Once you have followed this through, you will now have free space.

This next part is very important. Once you have formatted the drive, re format it as your required file system type. either Fat32 or NTFS. Now the important part is coming up !

Fixing your Master Boot Record to make Windows Bootable again.

Have a Windows Boot disk with all the basic DOS Commands loaded on to the disk. A standard Windows 98/Me Boot Disk will work too.

Type in the DOS command :

e.g, from your C:\

fdisk /mbr

Or use your Windows XP run the recovery console, pick which xp install you would like to boot in to (usually you will pick #1)

then type: fixmbr , Answer Y to the dialogue.

Your master boot record will now be restored and Windows XP will be bootable once again. Your System will be restored with your original boot loader that you got with Windows XP.