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Uninstalling RedHat 9, how do you do it?

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  #1  
Old 01-07-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Uninstalling RedHat 9, how do you do it?

Hi all

I want to try installing RedHat again, but I need to uninstall it first.

1. How do you uninstall it?

2. Where exactly is the GRUB boot loader installed?

3. If I remove the Linux partition, will I still be able to use XP?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!
  #2  
Old 01-08-2004
Nodsu's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
System specs
1. You don't have to uninstall to get a clean start with RedHat. You can decide during the install process whether you want to leave your old installation intact or to reformat/repartition. Depending how you configured your bootloader you may not be able to boot Windows after wiping the Linux partition and you have to use the Windows Recovery Console to fix it if you don't intend to put Linux back.

2. GRUB is smeared all over the place really.. The code that starts GRUB is either in the Master Boot Record of your HD (a special place where the computer looks for something to run when it has started up) or the boot sector of your Linux partition (a special place where some program from the Master Boot Record may instruct the computer to look for something else to run). GRUB configuration is stored in the /boot directory of your Linux installation. Other GRUB utilities (for installing and configuring it) are on your Linux system partition.

3. Yes
  #3  
Old 01-08-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Reply

Okay. So, I've used PM8 to format the Linux drive.

I then reboot to check if everything is okay, but I am now presented with the GRUB command line:

boot:

So this, to me, is a real pickle. How do I get back into Windows?
  #4  
Old 01-08-2004
Nodsu's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
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I said you wouldn't be able to boot if you wiped the Linux partition..

You can reinstall RedHat and Grub.
You can boot your XP CD, go to Recovry Console and run fixboot. this will wipe out GRUB and replac it with the generic Windows bootloader.
You can issue commands to GRUB manually. It went something like this:
rootnoverify (hd0,1) <-- this is the location of your Windows partition, numbers may be different
chainloader +1 <-- you tell it to boot from the first sector of the partition
boot
  #5  
Old 01-08-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Reply

Okay thanks, I've got it all figured out

Now I'm trying to install my NetGear MA111.
There are people who said they installed an RPM which helped them get it to work in Linux. I know where to get it, but I have these questions:

1. What exactly is an RPM?

2. How do I use it?

Thanks again in advance!
  #6  
Old 01-08-2004
Nodsu's Avatar
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Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
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1. RPM (=Redhat Package Manager) is a program used to install software. Programs come in .rpm packages that contain all the data needed to install them, also you can cleanly remove the program later if you don't like it.

2. You can install rpms using the GUI (KDE and Gnome in RH have RPM handling built in) or shell prompt. You can save yourself a lot of trouble if you use the command line. Navigate to the directory you downloaded the file to and issue a "rpm -i <.rpm file name>" command.
  #7  
Old 01-08-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
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Oh I see now, thanks!
  #8  
Old 01-08-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Reply

But wait, the only way I can download the RPMs is in Windows, in which Linux can't access it's partition. Or am I missing something here?
  #9  
Old 01-08-2004
Nodsu's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
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You are absolutely correct. :P Your best hope is that the files fit on a floppy or that you own a CD burner.
  #10  
Old 01-08-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Reply

Yep, I'll burn the files and bring them into RH.
It seems the guy in that site you gave me is having a bit of trouble himself, but I'll see if I get the same thing.
  #11  
Old 01-10-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Jan 2004, 19 posts
Reply

Okay. Now another problem.

The RPMs do nothing after I've installed them.
  #12  
Old 02-04-2004
Newcomer, in training
 
Member since: Feb 2004, 1 posts
Why can't you download straight into Linux?
  #13  
Old 02-04-2004
Nodsu's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Estonia
Member since: Feb 2002, 9,431 posts
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Come again?
  #14  
Old 02-04-2004
NoisySilence's Avatar
TechSpot Enthusiast
 
Location: Why do you wanna know ?
Member since: Oct 2003, 184 posts
Quote:
Originally posted by KatanaSam
Why can't you download straight into Linux?
Maybe because without the drivers that he's trying to install ( read previous posts carefuly ) he can't connect to the net.
  #15  
Old 02-04-2004
Phantasm66's Avatar
TechSpot Evangelist
 
Location: Glasgow, Scotland
Member since: Feb 2002, 6,504 posts
As far as an above question goes, you should have uninstalled grub first.

Quote:
To remove LILO or GRUB (if it is installed in the Master Boot Record or MBR), you must rewrite the MBR. Use the program fdisk of your alternative operating system for this purpose. If you use DOS or Windows 3.x/95/98/ME, boot with a DOS rescue floppy and start fdisk with:
fdisk /mbr
source: http://sdb.suse.de/sdb/en/html/tg_deinstall.html

Quote:
Procedure with Windows XP
Under Windows XP, you can restore the original MBR (thus uninstalling Lilo) as follows:
Boot from the Windows XP CD, press the key "R" in the setup in order to start the restoration console. Select your Windows XP installation from the list, and enter the administrator password. Enter the command "FIXMBR" at the input prompt and confirm the next question with "y". Finally, use "exit" to restore the computer.
source: http://sdb.suse.de/sdb/en/html/fhass...tall_lilo.html
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