Ubuntu 11.04 !

[aquapiranha]

So, the new Ubuntu is here. I have been messing with it on the PC for a couple of hours, and it isn't bad! There are of course some behind the scenes changes over 10.10, the biggest being the GUI. I quite like it, but time will tell...

http://www.ubuntu.com/

http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb256/aquapiranha/Screenshot.png

[Batty]

Always wanted to try going linux, I think I'll burn to CD hand have a play.

[Welder]

In case anyone else is thinking of trying out Ubuntu or any other Linux operating system, either on its own or in dual boot configuration you should know before you install it it’s a bit of pig to remove.
The problem is that Linux installs “grub”, the Linux version of mbr which controls what your operating system uses to start up. Even after deleting Ubuntu from your hard drive using say a partition manager, grub won’t let you reinstall Windows while it controls boot.

I found this on the web having made a bit of a pigs ear of partitioning on one of my computers. It might save some tears. I’ve used it a few times now, it’s a lot easier than trying to repair mbr and a damaged installation and I found it to be one of the less geeky explanations of how to remove a Linux OS.

“Well, not many of you would want to do this but about a week ago I was reading a forum post that had someone ask how do you uninstall Ubuntu? I was left wondering because so few people would want to do it. But, I found an easier way than deleting partitions blindly and rewriting a windows mbr which is no fun at all. To do this you need to be in windows (its an exe) download this file http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootitng.html You do not need to buy it. Just scroll to the bottom to download from their link. When downloaded run the exe in there. You then may make a bootable floppy or cd your choice. This puts the program on you choice of media so your ready to go. (the cd option makes a cd .iso so you will need a program to burn it.) Both the floppy and cd contain the same program. Next you will restart your computer with the cd or floppy in the drive. Once you boot into the program do not install it to your HDD. Just click cancel to just run it off the cd or floppy. Then go to partion work. Click the oval on the left side of the window (yes you can use your mouse!) to go to your primary hdd. Select and delete every partition except for your standard windows partition. Now you should have a formatless partion that says free space after it. Then select your windows partion and click resize. It will run an error check which may take a while depending on your partion size. Once that finishes type in the largest size in the prompt unless you have other plans for some of that space . Once you do that it will allocate all that space back to your primary partion. Next, if you installed grub the bootloader you will need to reset you mbr or else you can't boot up because grub will crash. To do this select you windows partion go to view mbr on the left. When in there select your windows partion and click std mbr. This will take grub off and set your mbr back to the way it was before. Click apply and the changes will be made. Then eject your media and use the file option at the top left to reboot. Your computer should restart normally into windows . You just uninstalled Ubuntu. This saved you so much pain. You would have had to rewrite the mbr by hand to do this the other way and then have had to figure out a way to delete the linux partions. It is not a bad idea to back your stuff up before doing this because stuff happens and you don;t wanna lose everything. Hope this helps you. ”

I can’t find the page any more so I cant attribute this to the right person.

[keiths]

I too am playing with 11.04 on my laptop. Rather impressed with the Unity interface so far and even quite like the new 'disappearing' mini-scroll bars that have been widely ridiculed elsewhere.

I only use the LTS versions on my server and music PC (music PC is running XBMC as player software and has pulse audio removed and other tweaks to get bit-perfect playback) but I would imagine by the time 12.04LTS comes out, it should be quite polished.

[goraman]

Dose the new Ubuntu let you watch DVD's?

[keiths]

Like all Linux distros, it doesn't come with de-css etc installed by default, so you need to install it by typing the following at the terminal:

sudo apt-get install libdvdread4
sudo /usr/share/doc/libdvdread4/install-css.sh

[Tim]

In case anyone else is thinking of trying out Ubuntu or any other Linux operating system, either on its own or in dual boot configuration you should know before you install it it’s a bit of pig to remove.

Easy peasey, I will be trying it out, but in a Virtual machine and for those that have never tried a Virtual Machine, it really has never been easier than the current version of VMware Player. It's free, dead easy to set up and you can try Ubuntu without upsetting your Windows Install. :) I use Virtual Machines all the time for testing, I keep a copy of the VM on another drive, so if anything goes funky I just delete the machine, drag a fresh one over from my backup and start again. Good for on-line banking and keeping things secure too.

http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

. . . and as John says, doing it the other way can be a pig :(

[Batty]

I have downloaded the image and burnt to cd, I boot from the CD hopefully this will not cause problems with win 7.

[makruiten]

If you run Windows 7, it might be easier to boot from your Windows 7 install dvd and choose for "repair". Choose repair boot problems and you're all set. I believe this works for Vista as well.

[MartinT]

Windows 7 installer will let you wipe all existing partitions and perform a clean install over whatever was previously on the hard disk. It won't care if it was Ubuntu or anything else. With HDs being so cheap these days, I would not advocate installing multiple OS on a single drive. Just buy another £30 HD and you're away.