Comment 0 for bug 653474

Revision history for this message
YannUbuntu (yannubuntu) wrote :

Binary package hint: grub2

Many beginners try Ubuntu in dual-boot with another OS. Some of them want to remove (uninstall) Ubuntu from their computer, whatever the reason (don't like Ubuntu, or want to install it on another PC, or because Windows won't start after Ubuntu's installation..)

Currently they can't do it cleanly, whatever the way they choose, they will get one of the following problems :
- if they had installed Ubuntu via Wubi, they will be unhappy because Windows' bootloader will still be visible
- if they installed Ubuntu on a separate partition and then format Ubuntu's partition, they won't be able to access Windows any more ( GRUB won't work any more, as it needs files that are on Ubuntu's /boot folder).
- if Windows was broken by Ubuntu's installation (we see this problem several times per month on ubuntu-fr forum), they currently can't easily restaure the initial situation.

Generally those users will have to re-install Windows and will discourage other people to try Ubuntu.

This bug won't happen if we add a simple way to remove Ubuntu in a clean way.
For example :
1) Ubuntu's installation shall save the MBR and other appropriate bytes before the installer (GRUB, or other if Wubi) writes on them
2) The live-CD (or other appropriate place) shall propose a way to remove Ubuntu by restauring the bytes saved in 1).

- OR from the Administration menu
- OR somewhere more adequate