Removing Debian GNU/Linux from my Trisquel Machine

3 replies [Last post]
Embracer245
Offline
Joined: 08/24/2015

As you can see, One day, my GRUB 2 F***** up and it needs to be repaired. Unfortuantly, the only way i know how is to install debian on the same hard drive. Now that my GNU grub is repaired, how do i remove debian without Screwing up the Grub?

strypey
Offline
Joined: 05/14/2015

I'm assuming you want to delete the partition Debian is on, and give that space back to another partition? There is documentation in the Trisquel manual for doing this with Parted (https://trisquel.info/en/wiki/how-format-external-storage-device-using-parted) but you can also use GParted, which provides a GUI for Parted. GParted can be installed in Trisquel from the repos (using 'sudo apt-get gparted' or Synaptic or Add/Remove Applications), but I find it's less complicated to use GParted by booting from a Trisquel liveCD/DVD/USB (eg the one you installed from). GParted is under 'System Settings'.

Be *very careful* with GParted! Make sure you know exactly which partitions you want to remove, and which ones you want to keep, and resize. It's a good idea to back up any mission critical data first, on a drive which isn't going to be in your computer when you used GParted.

For next time, there are a few ways to repair GRUB, other than installing another version of GNU/Linux. If you can boot into the install you want to keep, it usually works to do that, login, open a terminal (CTRL + ALT + T) and run this command:
sudo update-grub

That command will instruct GRUB to re-check your hard drive for OS partitions and add them to the boot menu (it also removes any OS no longer present).

If you can't boot even far enough to enter commands in a terminal, you can fix GRUB using the same liveCD/ DVD/ USB you used to install your GNU/Linux system (or another one will usually work too). I found these instructions very thorough, and easy to follow:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1581099

BTW There's an ongoing thread on GRUB issues here, which covers other problems such as random GRUB passwords stopping you getting into pre-existing OS after a Trisquel install:
https://trisquel.info/en/forum/grub-issues

moxalt
Offline
Joined: 06/19/2015

> As you can see, One day, my GRUB 2 F***** up and it needs to be repaired.

At which point I would have chrooted in with a live CD and done a
grub-install /dev/sda + update-grub.

> Unfortuantly, the only way i know how is to install debian on the same hard
> drive.

So in order to fix your faulty GRUB inside your Trisquel installation, you
installed Debian over it! This just.. it exceeds my comprehension.

> Now that my GNU grub is repaired, how do i remove debian without Screwing up
> the Grub?

I... words fail me.

Install Trisquel.

Could you please explain yourself more clearly from now on? Also, couldn't you
have just asked the forum from another computer (or from a live CD on the same)
as to how to resolve the problem? You didn't need to drag yourself through all
this.

SuperTramp83

I am a translator!

Offline
Joined: 10/31/2014

^ lulz..