Uninstall Linux Mint (Ubuntu) & choose another distro

Hey guys,
I've tried out my first Distro Linux Mint, and it was a pleasant experience. However, I'd prefer to get an 'original' distro such as Ubuntu, Fedora or maybe Pclinuxos.

First off, I want to uninstall Linux Mint so that my computer effectively runs as before, i.e. no Grub either. How do I do this?
Secondly, is an RPM based distro such as Fedora more difficult to install programs. In .deb there is offcourse synaptic which makes installing/uninstalling very easy. How is RPM compared to this? Generally, how would I install in Fedora?
Also, Linux Mint/Ubuntu has a Gnome desktop. Is KDE a lot different to this? Which is suited to which user? I've seen KDE and it seems more like Windows?? - is this true?

Thanks guys,
jam.

 

I'd say download the live cd & see for yourself, thats the only way to explore th OS to your leisure with out installing it, & other peoples experience can be different. Personally, KDE is great for me, but on the level of windows-likeness there about the same, except in Gnome the start menus on top(usually).

 

For uninstalling, I'd use a Gparted LiveCD. There are other ways of course, but it's so handy to have one of these around for partitioning and other disc management. It's an .iso download, you burn it to a CD just like you would a Linux .iso. GParted can be downloaded as a stand-alone, or with Clonezilla combined.
Here's the Gparted .iso without Clonezilla:

http://gparted-livecd.tuxfamily.org/

Here's Clonezilla:

http://sourceforge.net/projects/clonezilla/

For some reason I'm not finding the combined CD. Anyway, download/burn gparted, boot from the CD, then once you've familiarized yourself a bit (tutorials on the web) you can wipe the drive clean, format as ext3, create partitions, pretty much whatever you want to do.

As far as your Gnome vs. KDE questions, it's been discussed over and over. I don't think either DE is intrinsically inferior. It's a matter of taste and familiarity. Some say KDE is more like Windows but after a little bit of time spent familiarizing yourself as to where things are who cares if it's "like Windows"? Is Windows the gold standard? I don't think so. A lot of people hear the words "like Windows" and think KDE must be easier or less technically challenging. That's a misconception.

I went back and forth and thought the Gnome DE made more sense. But that's just me.

 

Once I've deleted the Linux partitions with Gparted, how do I completly get rid of GRUB?
I've seen this tutorial on youtube using paragon partition manager however paragon isn't free. Though, I remember in the tutorial you had to update the MBR? Can this be done with Gparted?

And about KDE and Gnome, I think I'll stick with Gnome. To me KDE is more like Windows, however I got Linux in the first place because I wanted a different OS inc interface to windows.

Thanks, jam.

 

I use GAG to clear my MBR. Just use the live cd and go to uninstall GAG and it will clear grub.

 

I know what you mean about an original, however Mint KDE CE is a reworked Kubuntu original. It really does need it....if you go KDE, Mint KDE CE is really great for a KDE distro. Kubuntu has one of the KDE developers on it's team which is good, but the problem is that he is the only one. Mint is a good idea when it comes to KDE in this regard. Just my opinion.

 

rpm/yum is very easy to use. if you need a gui, there is yumex. however, synaptic and yumex really bug the hell out of me for some reason. i dunno. they just make me feel...dirty.

 

I think I'm gonna stick with Gnome tbh. I'm either gonna install Fedora or Ubuntu. RPM or DEB then - I'm used to DEB now though but there is many good things said about Fedora.
I'm still a bit puzzled about how to get rid of GRUB though - I just googled GAG and it just seems an alternative to GRUB. I want to get rid of any boot manager so Vista starts automatically. Anyone give a few easy steps to do this?

 

The official M$ way for a Vista repair would probably be to use bootrec.exe /FixMbr

Look at the M$ support page for further details (it is on that page somewhere)

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/927392

 

Why do you want to remove GRUB if you are going to install Linux again? You are looking for trouble. Just let the next version of Linux you overwrite GRUB. This is much easier and less dangerous (if you don't know what you are doing).

As for KDE vs Gnome, I highly recommend that you test KDE on PCLinuxOS. PCLinuxOS now has a GNOME version too. I like PCLinuxOS, it has worked the best for me on my hardware and I love the quality and simplicity of the distro. But, all the distros mentioned on this thread are great. I want to strongly encourage you to download 4 or 5 distros in LiveCD form and play with them. How much is a CD nowadays any way, 30 cents? By all means, make an informed decision rather than a blind one.

 

GRUB will only mess up the boot if you change your hard drive directories.. I know this first hand because i deleted my Linux, and Linux Swap, merged them and spent hours trying to figure out why i got a GRUB error message, and how to fix it.

 

I know what you mean but I hate overwriting things . Its just one of those things that I wanna to have everything done 'properly' .
Was wondering, will fdisk /mbr do the trick? It seems that I need to boot with the vista installation disk > recovery options > command prompt. Thing is, sony doesn't give a vista installation disc, only recovery dvd's. I'll have to see if these give the same options.

 

Kubuntu is the way to go - I don't know what all this Linux Mint hype is about, (K)Ubuntu is about as easy as it gets.

 

I'm going to throw in Zenwalk 5.0....it's really improved with this last release, and it's based on Slackware. Easy, bleeding edge and works with everything I've got in sig out of the box. It's worth looking into. fwiw. btw, it's faaassssssssttttttttt

 

I haven't used the Super Grub Disk to repair vista mbr but have heard people report success...

http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=724992

 

I would get a Vista install disc either way, just in case something goes horribly wrong. I'm surprised your using the factory install with a Sony - with their notorious reputation for bloat. Heres a link where you can order it. I think its also for the 64 bit version but I think you can get 32 also.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

 

fyi, apt-* is available for fedora.

 

They're disks. They're supposed to be overwritten. Am I missing something?

Use GAG to clear mbr, works like a charm.

 

As far as "original" Mint is more like Ubuntu with the problems fixed imo, but ymmv.

 

That's what I was saying in post 6 above, but I believe it applies more to Mint KDE CE vs. Kubuntu. I'm using Kubuntu 8.04 beta now and it seems very stable.

 

Yeah, I've always liked Gnome so I don't see the point of Mint.

 

Hmm, I think that seems to be a good easy solution. Thanks.

Sony's sold in the UK have no where near as much bloatware as reported in the US. Although yeh, there is still some pathetic bloat installed but as much in giving you a headache uninstalling so much.
This link, what product key do I enter - the one under my laptop? Also, the disc sent, will this be an official working disc of vista home premium? I.E. I'll be able to install vista without any pre-installed programs?

AND, when I've deleted linux partitions, but yet to touch the mbr, will GRUB still appear and will vista still be an option to boot into?

 

Your system will become unbootable. GRUB is a multi-stage bootloader, as you've deleted the linux partitions, GRUB stage1 code installed in the MBR will be unable to load the other parts of the GRUB program.

 

I haven't tried EasyBCD but have heard good reports. Once the OP gets his vista MBR straightened out, would EasyBCD be a good tool for keeping the laptop functional while installing/removing/experimenting with Linux distros?

I'm not sure how EasyBCD cooperates with GRUB. I'm guessing that when you use EasyBCD as your bootloader you would instruct GRUB to install to the Linux partition instead of the MBR?

http://neosmart.net/dl.php?id=1

 

Oh.....that means I have to find a suitable method to fix the mbr before I carry out deleting the linux partitions.
Thanks guys,
jam.

 

You just recover windows is all.

 

I recover windows with my windows disk, either my selecting 'repair my computer' or going to a command prompt (for Vista) and typing, c:\bootrec.exe /FixMbr That's per MS, works everytime in about 1 second! Then start over with your dual boot....now, I do have a retail copy of Vista as always. Hey guys, did I get the slashes right? long day....lol

 

Wait a minute, fixmbr?? When do I use that?
I downloaded super grub and burned it onto a disk, booted it and it seems very good imo - it has the fdisk /mbr option too. After I've done this, should vista boot?

And last of n00b questions, instead of using gparted via a cd, can't i use windows partition tool to delete the linux partitions?

 

Gparted is much more efficient. Also, Vista may not be able to merge it with your Vista partion.

 

the bootrec.exe /FixMbr is from M$ tech notes....I do that just before I Linux reinstall to put the system back to a single Vista Boot like nothing else was there, the let Linux set up grub or whatever....works for me.

EDIT: Btw, Zenwalk 5.0 is the one I've decided to stick with.....Kubuntu worked well, but the 'cool' factor just wasn't there. Zenwalk is compatible, bleeding edge and easy to use not to mention fast.

 

Ain't it da truth, ain't it da truth....lol

EDIT: Wait, if I have a VirtualBox usb passthru problem, shucks, I'll have to go back to 'buntu 8.04 LOL

 

I was in Kubuntu 8.04 KDE 4 for a bit & it was extremely unstable.

 

So, fdisk/ mbr and bootrec.exe /fixmbr do the same thing? i.e. get rid of GRUB records and make vista boot like usual. (usual in terms of linux never being on a system)

I decided to go with either Ubuntu or Kubuntu and depends on what I like over the next few days . I've seen on the ubuntu website that the new version of it is available in 22 days - shall i wait untill then to install it or is it easy to upgrade within ubuntu?

Thanks, jam.

 

yes....actually, fdisk command didn't work for me....so looked up ms website tech notes for vista and they say bootrec.exe /FixMbr....an easy way to delete a linux install is go to Vista Computer management, delete those 'weird' partitions (to Vista lol), then put the CD in reboot and do the bootrec.exe /FixMbr and your back to normal. You can do it all with nothing but the Vista disk (retail type), and your bare hands, quickly and easily...

 

Ah right, thanks dude!! I'm just gonna use the Super Grub disk since that has all these commands in a one-click format.
I've decided to go with Kubuntu. KDE imo, looks amazing and lot more stylish than Gnome. I prefer blue to but its all individual liking I suppose. About KDE 4.0, can I install this in the latest release of Kubuntu? (not beta).

When you say vista disk management, thomas said that vista may not be able to merge the partitions. If it is able to however, is basically doing the same job as Gparted? i.e. gparted doesn't do a better job than vista's partition tool does it?

I'm pretty excited now actually about installing a new distro - Mint seems so dull compared to Kubuntu.

 

No, I'm not sure you can, it's unstable enough right now, trust me just wait a little while.

 

Merge? not sure about that ....see, before linux I already had a Vista C and Vista D....I have a 250 gig hd in this notebook....so, the way I say, I have it back to normal in 5 to 10 minutes with those two original partition....wait, yes you can.....delete the linux partition in Vista...then go and expand the C drive in vista to take up all the free space....so, sure you can. Requires a Vista Retail Disk...Recovery Disks will NOT work.

 

For most things Gparted is better, but if you follow theZoid's instructions, it should work fine.

 

I'm not sure that jam12 is clear on this, so wanted to make sure - a genuine retail vista CD will let you do things that you can't do with the typical recovery CD. As far as I know most if not all CD's that you burn from the recovery partition won't let you do repairs or fix the mbr. Well, maybe you could if you knew some tricks.
So, jam, if you only have your recovery CD's and don't know anyone with a retail vista disc you're probly gonna have to try something different. Super Grub or other.

I don't know the limitations of vista partitioner but if in doubt I'd use gparted for anything beyond what Zoid describes.

I read that KDE4 won't be ready for Kubuntu 8.04 so the Kubuntu developers are using some sort of hybrid - KDE 3.5 if you will. KDE4 will probably be ready for Kubuntu 8.10. I'd wait if it was me but you might be the adventurous sort.

 

@Telkwa....I edited my posts for posterity reference a Vista Retail Disk is needed.....thanks

 

Nah guys, I know that a recovery disk ain't gonna work - I mentioned in my previous post I'm gonne use my Super Grub disk to sort out the mbr.
About Kubuntu, I was asking about this: CLICKY.
Doesn't this mean I can install KDE 4 into the latest stable Kubuntu available? And also, I'm not gonna install a beta - I don't want to go through the hassle of continuely installing the OS's. And therefore, some of you are mentioning 8.10 - will this be a 'proper' version? Anyone got any idea's on how long it will take for Kubuntu actual 8.0 to get released?

Thanks guys, jam.

 

I suggest Kubuntu 7.10 for now. Let's wait & see about KDE 4, it's unstable right now.

 

Understood. I changed it because this stuff shows up in google searches to non forum members, just wanted to be more precise for the good of the 'nethood at large

 

Alright then, probably install that on the weekend. Wish me luck!!

Thanks for all the help guys,
jam.

 

Good luck!

 

And oh, on the Kubuntu download page, it gives 2 options of two downloads. Just wondering, are Santa Rosa processors based on the EM64T architecture? I think they are but just want to check.

 

64 bit? Yes, but get the 32 bit, a lot better & more applications......for now.

 

Ah right, I'll get the 32 bit version.
Thanks again.
Jam.

 

Your welcome, I too have a 64 bit proc. but, I'm in 32 bit.