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superbriggs
Asked: 2013-03-02 08:23:41 +0800 CST

Installing Ubuntu so that it can be removed without trace [duplicate]

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I would like install Ubuntu on a laptop in a way that if I was to remove it, there would be no trace that I had installed it. I would dual boot it with Windows 7. Please could someone provide details of how I would go about removing it.

dual-boot

3 Answers

  1. Best Answer

    I think the other 2 answers are incorrect. Because when you install Ubuntu, a bootloader called GRUB (offers which OS to boot) is written to the MBR of your hard-drive. And even if you wipe the ubuntu partition, GRUB will remain as a clear sign of that you installed another OS!

    1. best option: Using usb-flash-drive-boot (almost as fast as from hard-drive, silent, help here: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/create-a-usb-stick-on-windows) or a liveCD (slow and noisy).
    2. 2nd best option: Backup the whole hard drive as it is, or at least the 2 system partitions of windows 7 (windows 7 has a 100MB reserved partition hidden from you), and restore it bit-by-bit. But for that you need an external storage drive possibly as large as the one in your laptop. (you can ask another question about the details of this)

    3. bad option: The answer you actually seek is very complicated, error-prone, and I am not sure I could do it right the 1st time, and I AM POSSIBLY WRONG ABOUT THIS, so I do not recommend such, but here it is:

      1. if you do not already have a 3rd partition available for ubuntu, than you must shrink the one windows 7 is on
      2. back up the MasterBootRecord (MBR) of your hard-drive
      3. install ubuntu on that new partition, which installs a boot-loader (called GRUB) onto the MBR (thats why backup is needed)
      4. use it
      5. recovery1: delete ubuntu partition from windows7
      6. recovery2: re-grow the windows7 partition to "eat-up" ubuntu's (if you did step-1)
      7. recovery3: restore the MBR (dangerous, expert needed)
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  2. If you delete the partition where Ubuntu was installed (from windows) Ubuntu would be deleted without a trace.

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  3. Find/buy a Windows application that can "shred" the partition where you installed Ubuntu. Proceed to shredding it how many times over. Have Windows re-claim those partitions afterwards. Oh, have Windows manage bootloading instead of Grub when you install Ubuntu.

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