Uninstall Suse 9.3 - No Ms Windows

Folks,

I have searched the forum and Wiki to no avail. I cannot find a way to uninstall SuSe 9.3 Professional. I abandoned Windows ages ago, but I'm no more than an end user: there are no complications with XP or other bloated MS OSes. A number of my Suse programs are bug-ridden and, while I have found work-arounds, I wanted a clean installation. Indeed I am flirting with a number of options, especially seeing KDE 4 has been released. I have been running 9.3 Professional since 2005.

I downloaded directions for uninstalling Linux, but either I have stuffed something up or my 9.3 Pro has developed a strong sense of preservation. I'm calling it HAL [but, if I have to buy a new HDD I shall, Hal!]. I cannot get into my system to change set-up on booting [shift-F10] for some reason, so that I can boot from DVD - that's screwed me up a bit. I went into YAST and attempted unsuccessfully to delete the partitions even after lying to <strike>YAST</strike> Hal that I was an expert, and I am still stuck with Hal. My system is at least 5 years old: I have a 1.3 Duron - that's how old it is - with 1G memory and an 80Gb Maxtor HDD. Any ideas short of taking Hal to the recycling bin? [You see, I'll get you in the end, Hal.... What? "Daisy, Daisy..." I'll give you a daisy-cutter...]. My data [that which I didn't delete when too tired the other month!] is backed up on an external mini-drive.

Looking forward to your help here.

Thanks,

Jim

Folks,

I have searched the forum and Wiki to no avail. I cannot find a way to uninstall SuSe 9.3 Professional. I abandoned Windows ages ago, but I'm no more than an end user: there are no complications with XP or other bloated MS OSes. A number of my Suse programs are bug-ridden and, while I have found work-arounds, I wanted a clean installation. Indeed I am flirting with a number of options, especially seeing KDE 4 has been released. I have been running 9.3 Professional since 2005.

I downloaded directions for uninstalling Linux, but either I have stuffed something up or my 9.3 Pro has developed a strong sense of preservation. I'm calling it HAL [but, if I have to buy a new HDD I shall, Hal!]. I cannot get into my system to change set-up on booting [shift-F10] for some reason, so that I can boot from DVD - that's screwed me up a bit. I went into YAST and attempted unsuccessfully to delete the partitions even after lying to <strike>YAST</strike> Hal that I was an expert, and I am still stuck with Hal. My system is at least 5 years old: I have a 1.3 Duron - that's how old it is - with 1G memory and an 80Gb Maxtor HDD. Any ideas short of taking Hal to the recycling bin? [You see, I'll get you in the end, Hal.... What? "Daisy, Daisy..." I'll give you a daisy-cutter...]. My data [that which I didn't delete when too tired the other month!] is backed up on an external mini-drive.

Looking forward to your help here.

Thanks,

Jim
[/b]

the reason you may not be able to boot from dvd may be down to old BIOS, only allowing you to boot from cd (my old desktop was like this, it could read dvds etc i.e. had a dvd drive), but it could only boot from a cd, thus installing the later suse's was a problem. however, there is a work around. you could try downloading and burning smart boot manager. burn the .iso to CD, boot from it, it will recognise your dvd drive and allow you to boot from it.

http://paulski.com/utilguides/sbmiso.zip

regarding uninstall, you can just reinstall a new suse over it. or format your drive with a 3rd party partitioner such as GParted, which i have found invaluable.

any more help needed let us know.

Ross.

You could also download the CD version of SuSE Pro??

What message do you get when you try and go into the BIOS setup? If you have forgotten the password, open up the case and pull our the BIOS battery (or download the manual off the internet which will explain how to reset it).

As for installing, if you have backed up your data, I would do a complete install (i.e. delete all partitions and re-create them). Download "hiren's boot cd" which has all the partition tools...

Hope it helps.

Thanks, Ross, but the original installing was from a DVD. Ah well. Jim

You could also download the CD version of SuSE Pro??[/b]

That might do it....

I'll let you know.

Jim

Thanks, Ross, but the original installing was from a DVD. Ah well. Jim
That might do it....

I'll let you know.

Jim
[/b]

a few options still available, if you have a spare portable usb hard drive, you can save the dvd install .iso file to the root folder of it, then if your BIOS doesn't allow usb boot, then download smart boot manager .iso file and then smart boot manager will allow you to boot from the usb drive. this is one good option. or, if confident, do a network install if you have an ethernet cable handy? or the above method, but cd obviously doesn't come with all packages.

if i were you try the usb option.

How have you got on?

How have you got on?
[/b]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I wasn't really able to internalise the options or couldn't find the mentioned files. I converted to CD etc. Copied program to external USB drive. None of it worked. It's time I updated anyway, so I've ordered a new MB, etc. So, HAL: you're dead, pushing up daisies.... When the stuff arrives....

Thanks everyone for your suggestions. I wasn't really able to internalise the options or couldn't find the mentioned files. I converted to CD etc. Copied program to external USB drive. None of it worked. It's time I updated anyway, so I've ordered a new MB, etc. So, HAL: you're dead, pushing up daisies.... When the stuff arrives....
[/b]

hmmm very surprised the usb (with smart boot manager didn't work), anyway, good luck with your new set up.

Since you're installing windows, just boot from the installer CD, remove all the partitions from the drive, create a new partition for windows and crack on.

If you can't get into the BIOS through the keyboard shortcut - possibly yoiu're using a USB keyboard with no support in the BIOS - use a PS2 keyboard.