Removing Ubuntu partitions and GRUB on Vista

In order to remove a Linux parition you need to remove the GRUB loader and fix the master boot record (MBR). The accepted way of doing this is from a Vista install CD but my Asus laptop doesn’t have an install CD.I found a utility you can download from:

http://www.sysint.no/nedlasting/mbrfix.htm

After downloading you’ll need to unzip the files and stick them in a folder somewhere. Next from the Accessories menu run the Command Prompt. You need to run this as administrator, which you do from the right click context menu. First it might be wise to look at your partitions. You do this with

C:\> MbrFix /drive 0 listpartitions

You can then back up your paritions

C:\> MbrFix /drive 0 savembr Backup_MBR_0.bin

And then fix you master boot record with this command

C:\> MbrFix /drive 0 fixmbr /vista /yes

Don’t forget the /vista switch. You can now reboot and you should boot straight into Vista with no Grub loader. Next job is to get rid of the Linux partitions. Got to Computer from the windows menu and right click on computer in the left hand tree view. Select manage  and in the snap in that load select disk management. You should be able to indentify the Linux main and swap partitions.

Select the larger non-swap partition. Right click and select delete volume from the menu. It should say something about it not being a windows partition. This is good as it shows you’ve got the right one. If you get an error you are probably trying to delete the swap partition and this doesn’t work. Close and restart the computer management snap in and you’ll see both the paritions now show as free space.

You can now either create a volume out of the free space (right-click and select New Simple Volume..) or expand one of your existing NTFS volumes into the free space.