I have a single installation of Ubuntu 11.10. How do I remove it and install Windows 7? Have tried from the Windows boot disk but I dont know what my drive letter is as Ubuntu does not name it????

If there a corruption on the hard drive you might not be able to boot up on it. Instead try downloading Ubuntu for the desktop. This should allow you to boot up using the CD, don't install the software just use it from the cd, it should give you access to the hard drive.
http://www.ubuntu.com/download

Assuming you have your windows 8.1 on disks, make sure your HP is set to boot from disk and put disk in and boot your computer up. The windows install should start and you can choose to delete Ubuntu and install windows. Remove any partitions that it displays and choose to install windows on the entire disk. After that just follow the prompts and windows will install.

I hope that you stored the download on something else. If you wipe that drive it will erase the download. Anyway you need to get a boot disk to load first and then try the install. Hirons boot disk. Look here: http://www.hirensbootcd.org/download/ dont click on the advertising.

When the pc boots up look in the lower leeft and right corners to see which key will allow you to got to boot device order and then after you find it out press it on boot several times until it shows them all then use arrows and enter to select your device. Keep in mind Ubuntu relies on ext2 filesystem instead of NTFS file system. Windows xp may not work so use a 7 or 8 disk. You will most likely have to format your HDD to NTFS.

probably the hard drive in your laptop is gone.
try booting ubuntu in live mode, so without installing it.
when the boot is completed, launch the tool gparted and see if it detects the hard drive: if it doesn't, you need to change the hard disk..

To re-install Windows Vista please do the following:
Put the disc in and restart the computer
Boot from the disc
Do a full system install
Delete your partition [contains Ubuntu(Linux)]
and install.

I recently did this last week, went from Ubuntu back to windows 7, and currently I duel-boot both Operating Systems. I hope this helps!
Please don't forget to rate :), Thanks!

Relax Sairam -- you don't have know all these answers.

First step, download Ubuntu and burn to a CD .

Second adjust your bios if necessary to change the boot preferences on your machine, so that it will try your CD/DVD device first before trying to boot from a hard disk.

Third, let the Ubuntu Live CD execute and bring up a desktop. On the desktop, there should be an icon to actually install Ubuntu. It will guide your through all the decisions that you need to make.

You may find it advantageous to have a "dual boot" configuration on your machine... i.e., having the choice of running some windows operating system, or ubuntu.

How to remove Ubuntu from a Vista dual-boot config

On my new PC I wanted (still want) to have toa go with Linux. I chose to experiment with Ubuntu. I downloaded thedesktop CD, burned it, freed up some disk space (inside Vista) andloaded up Ubuntu from the CD. After some experimenting I figured outhow to install Ubuntu in the empty disk space and it all worked fine(GRUB took over my booting (recognized Vista automatically!) and Ubuntuloaded up fine).

Then I tried to install my GPU drivers andeverything went wrong.. For some reason Ubuntu wouldn't boot anymore(failed to load X-Server or something). I was completely lost andwanted to remove Ubuntu.

This is where things start to get really messy!

Ifyou simply remove the Ubuntu partition, GRUB (Linux boot loader) willstill be on your PC (in control). It will trip out, as the Ubuntupartition will be removed.. Bad thing!

So you need to restore your Master Boot Record (MBR) for Vista (so that Vista will handle the booting, not GRUB).

Googleonly pointed me to sites that explained how to REMOVE VISTA, whichisn't what I wanted. Many sites talked about the 'fixmbr' command, butthis is really only available in Windows XP.

So how do you restore your MBR for Windows Vista?

1. Put the Windows Vista installation disc in the disc drive, and then start the computer.
2. Press a key when you are prompted.
3. Select a language, a time, a currency, a keyboard or an input method, and then click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer.
5. Click the operating system that you want to repair, and then click Next.
6. In the System Recovery Options dialog box, click Command Prompt.
7. Type Bootrec.exe /FixMbr, and then press ENTER.

That'sit. Now when you reboot your PC, Vista will load automatically... Youcan now safely boot using your Ubuntu desktop CD, to use the built inGnome Partition Manager to remove your Ubuntu partition!

that happens because you didn't delete your original install of xp. basically you are dual booting operating systems. the best way to recitify this is to reinstall wndows seven and do whats called a destructive install. You should be prompted as to whether or not you want to do an upgrade or a custom install. choose custom and install. this should completely remove xp from the system. if you need any existing data from xp be sure to save it prior.

Hello,

It sounds like UBUNTU formated your hard drive where xp does not reconized the drive. When you go into BIOS setting, do you see your hard listed? If so, you should be able to put a clean install of XP to the drive. When you start the install, you must select REFORMAT drive and install XP. If this still fails, you may need to fdisk your drive first using DOS command and reinstall XP. Let us know if you incounter any more problems after doing this. Good Luck.