Remove Grub - Restore Windows 7

[iseeuu]

You are dual booting with a Linux OS, using the Grub bootloader menu, and now you want to remove Linux and Grub and restore your Windows 7 boot manager.

Here's how:

This screen shot shows Windows XP, Vista, Windows 7, and my Ubuntu 9.10 installed on logical partitions (volumes) in an extended partition. The two partitions on the end are for Ubuntu and its swap partition. Windows does not recognize the file system used by Ubuntu, so you see no data.



This is the same hard drive viewed from Ubuntu using GParted. Ubuntu does recognize the Windows NTFS file system and correctly labels the partitions. Again for verification, the last two partitions (volumes) are for Ubuntu and its swap partition.



From Windows 7 Disk Management, remove (delete) the last two partitions or, if your installation is different, the Ubuntu partitions.

Boot to your Windows 7 install DVD (or the System Repair CD) and navigate to the Command Prompt option.





Type: diskpart
and press enter.

Type: select disk 0 (zero)
and press enter

Type: list volume
and press enter

and identify the drive letter of your CD/DVD drive.

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7100]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

X:\Windows\system32>[FONT=Arial Black] diskpart[/FONT]

Microsoft DiskPart version 6.1.7100
Copyright (C) 1999-2008 Microsoft Corporation.
On computer: VIRTUAL-7

DISKPART> [FONT=Arial Black]select disk 0[/FONT] 
Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART>[FONT=Arial Black] list volume[/FONT] 
  Volume ###  Ltr  Label        Fs     Type        Size     Status     Info
  ----------  ---  -----------  -----  ----------  -------  ---------  --------
  [highlight][COLOR=red]Volume 0     D                       CD-ROM          0 B  No Media[/COLOR][/highlight]
  Volume 1     S   System Rese  NTFS   Partition    100 MB  Healthy
  Volume 2     E   Virtual-XP   NTFS   Partition     11 GB  Healthy    System
  Volume 3     C   Virtual-7    NTFS   Partition     20 GB  Healthy    Boot

DISKPART>[FONT=Arial Black] exit[/FONT]

Type: exit
to close Diskpart.

Using the drive letter you identified, type: D:
and press enter.

Type: cd \boot
and enter

Type: bootsect /nt60 SYS /mbr
and press enter



This command should find the "Active" partition with the System files and boot code and restore your Windows 7 Boot Manager.

Type: exit
to close the Command Prompt
then restart.



If Windows 7 is the only OS, you should boot directly to it and not see any Boot Menu.


Other links:

http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/51100-repair-cd-system-repair-disk.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2083-system-repair-disc-create.html

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/668-system-recovery-options.html

How to Boot to the System Recovery Options in Windows 7

How to Boot to the Advanced Boot Options in Windows 7

 

[gregrocker]

This is working in cases where Startup Repair can't. Thanks.

 

[Halesk]

Just made an account just to say a big "THANK YOU"!

 

[iseeuu]

Just made an account just to say a big "THANK YOU"!

Thank you for letting us know, Halesk. And welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

 

[ryan2332]

I aswell just made an account to say THANK YOU!

 

[1pnoe]

Thank you!

Thank you so much man! - Like the two before me I only made an account to thank you. I cannot express how much of a relief it is to finally be able to get my PC booting correctly.

Keep up the good work.

 

[llewchey]

You're a life saver!!! Thank You very much indeed! I registered for the same reason as the guys above. I'll be back soon probably. Thanks Again!

 

[LittleJay]

Very nice! Thanks for the awesome tutorial!

 

[iseeuu]

I aswell just made an account to say THANK YOU!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums ryan2332. Thank you for taking time to let us know!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[iseeuu]

Thank you so much man! - Like the two before me I only made an account to thank you. I cannot express how much of a relief it is to finally be able to get my PC booting correctly.

Keep up the good work.

You are most welcome 1pnoe! Glad you found a solution that worked for you and for letting us know. You are very much appreciated!

And welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[iseeuu]

You're a life saver!!! Thank You very much indeed! I registered for the same reason as the guys above. I'll be back soon probably. Thanks Again!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums llewchey. Looking forward to hearing from you.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[newbieuser]

I as well, had to fix a botched install of Ubuntu 11.10 and these instructions worked perfectly. Thank you so much iseeuu!

 

[iseeuu]

I as well, had to fix a botched install of Ubuntu 11.10 and these instructions worked perfectly. Thank you so much iseeuu!

You are most welcome. Thanks for letting us know you found a solution that worked for you!

Welcome to Windows Seven Forums!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[GeneO]

Nice post. Suggested this be added as a short tutorial.

 

[iseeuu]

Nice post. Suggested this be added as a short tutorial.

Thank you GeneO! You are appreciated.

Cheers!
Robert

 

[jagooch]

I've used these instructions several times as I "trial and error" multiboot configurations. My last trial was Linux Mint 12, which decidedly took over my system and your tutorial helped me get control back.

 

[iseeuu]

I've used these instructions several times as I "trial and error" multiboot configurations. My last trial was Linux Mint 12, which decidedly took over my system and your tutorial helped me get control back.

Thanks for letting us know you found the thread useful, jagooch!

Cheers!
Robert

 

[Golden]

Good work. This should be a little tutorial - it woudln't take long to do. Give me a shout if you would like to do it and need any assistance

 

[iseeuu]

Good work. This should be a little tutorial - it woudln't take long to do. Give me a shout if you would like to do it and need any assistance

Thank you Golden. You are appreciated!

With the exception of the images of the drive maps ( Windows and Ubuntu ) at the beginning of the thread, the same info can be found in this Tutorial:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/20864-mbr-restore-windows-7-master-boot-record.html

Cheers!
Robert

 

[hitchup]

Thank You. This saved my day after start up repair decided I no longer needed a debian partition. No more dual-boot on the same drive for me. I'll use a virtual machine or separate box for linux.

Thanks again. It is a excellent write up.