[SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

geekosupremo · 2016-10-26 21:18:35

So, to make our intra office server, I took one of the existing Windows boxes and repartitioned the drive, and dual booted it.

It has been and continues to be fine.

But our little company is growing and we need to put the server back into service as a Windows workstation. Thankfully I have another box that doesn't have an active windows license which I can dedicate to the purpose of server (yay).

So besides using the windows partition tool to turn it back into a strictly windows box, is there anything else to do?

Do I need to do anything to Grub?

---- EDIT ----

See @Head_on_a_Stick and @Bearded_Blunder posts for the answer.

I'll edit again later with the results.

Last edited by geekosupremo (2016-10-26 23:50:24)

Head_on_a_Stick · 2016-10-26 21:27:01

geekosupremo wrote:

put the server back into service as a Windows workstation

I've never tried putting a box back to Windows before...

In the absence of any personal experience (sorry), does this link help?

https://lifehacker.com/how-to-uninstall … -508710422

EDIT: should this go in Help & Support (Other)?

I'm not sure...

Last edited by Head_on_a_Stick (2016-10-26 21:28:11)

pvsage · 2016-10-26 22:54:23

^ Agree; should be in (other).

geekosupremo wrote:

our little company is growing and we need to put the server back into service as a Windows workstation.

I don't understand how the former necessitates the latter.

Bearded_Blunder · 2016-10-26 23:04:53

geekosupremo wrote:

So besides using the windows partition tool to turn it back into a strictly windows box, is there anything else to do?
Do I need to do anything to Grub?

If you're doing a fresh windows install, no nothing else to do, I'd recommend picking a custom install and telling setup to delete existing partitions till you have a drive showing all as "Unused space" then telling the install to target "Unused space". Windows will overwrite Grub with it's own boot-loader, no issues there.

If you want to turn it back to strictly windows *without* a reinstall, you can use diskmgmt.msc to delete the non-windows partitions, grow the windows partition to fill the drive, then use install media or a rescue disk (you did make one?) to run a startup repair, which will get rid of Grub and put the Windows boot loader back in place.

geekosupremo · 2016-10-26 23:40:19

Head_on_a_Stick wrote:

EDIT: should this go in Help & Support (Other)?

Descent chance it should. I wasn't sure, either so I stuck it here. -_-;

And yas that link is very helpful. It basically restates what I believed to be true in the first place.

My google-fu failed when I was looking this up before.

geekosupremo · 2016-10-26 23:45:24

pvsage wrote:

I don't understand how the former necessitates the latter.

Some of our essential business software is Windows only and since the comp that currently also houses our server has a good/active Windows 7 Pro license, it would be better served as a workstation. Also the costs of Windows licenses being what they are, money and time would be saved by putting it back to a workstation rather than a linux server.

geekosupremo · 2016-10-26 23:47:16

Bearded_Blunder wrote:

If you're doing a fresh windows install, no nothing else to do, I'd recommend picking a custom install and telling setup to delete existing partitions till you have a drive showing all as "Unused space" then telling the install to target "Unused space". Windows will overwrite Grub with it's own boot-loader, no issues there.
If you want to turn it back to strictly windows *without* a reinstall, you can use diskmgmt.msc to delete the non-windows partitions, grow the windows partition to fill the drive, then use install media or a rescue disk (you did make one?) to run a startup repair, which will get rid of Grub and put the Windows boot loader back in place.

Thank you for the help! That is what I'll probably end up doing.

You all have been very helpful thank you!

pvsage · 2016-10-27 07:32:37

geekosupremo wrote:

pvsage wrote:
I don't understand how the former necessitates the latter.
Some of our essential business software is Windows only

'Nuff said. I haven't had Windows on a desktop at home since 2009, but if you need it, obligatory tautology.

I'm glad we have some users here who were able to point you in the right direction.

martix · 2016-10-28 09:07:19

Probably it's evident, but it's always good to point out how important backups are. Especially before making such changes to an OS, it's good to make a backup before every step. Just in case. Even if the method with the install or rescue disc should work.

#1 2016-10-26 21:18:35

[SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#2 2016-10-26 21:27:01

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#3 2016-10-26 22:54:23

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#4 2016-10-26 23:04:53

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#5 2016-10-26 23:40:19

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#6 2016-10-26 23:45:24

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#7 2016-10-26 23:47:16

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#8 2016-10-27 07:32:37

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

#9 2016-10-28 09:07:19

Re: [SOLVED] A slightly "backward" change

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