How do I reformat just my Linux partion on the hard disk and not my Windows partition? I want to change from Fedora to Ubuntu.

[EvanStudent]

Formatting a Linux partition on a Windows dual boot machine

 

[ddpruitt]

You can use gparted for a graphical solution, or man is your friend. Keep in mind that unlike Windoze GNU tools will let you create pretty much any type of a filesystem.

man mkfs

mkfs [-V] [-t fstype] [fs-options] filesys [blocks]

http://linux.die.net/man/8/mkfs


<edit>
I just noticed you want to install Ubuntu, usually the installer can take of this without doing manually.
</edit>

 

[maxwellmelon]

if I remember right (someone needs to back me up) u can boot into windows and use partition manager to delete non windows partition then when u install Ubuntu It will use the free space automatically. My only concern is I don't remember if the boot manger is stored on the Linux partition or the MBR.

 

[Alabalcho]

Boot your Ubuntu CD, and during installation you will see a screen asking how you want your disk to be partitioned. Choose "manual", and select your old Fedora partition (it will be labeled something like "ext4"). Make this partition "/", and choose to format it during installation. Don't touch your Windows partition!

 

[stillblue]

Boot your Ubuntu CD, and during installation you will see a screen asking how you want your disk to be partitioned. Choose "manual", and select your old Fedora partition (it will be labeled something like "ext4"). Make this partition "/", and choose to format it during installation. Don't touch your Windows partition!

What he says but trying to be more explicit, when you get to the partition screen where it offers, "Side by Side" at the top you select "something else" unless it offers to erase Fedora and replace with Ubuntu, if it does select that. On the next screen you select to modify the partition that has fedora on it and that is where you select / (that tells Ubuntu "INSTALL HERE"). You don't need to format although it's OK to and a better practice, it'll give you a warning that Ubuntu will write over what is there so that's fine. Also you don't need to change the swap partition either. Like he says though, don't touch the windows partition.

 

[Alabalcho]

@StillBlue - thanks for clarification (I was writing out of memory).

I would still choose "format", to get rid of old /home folder. There's good chance OP will enter same user information as before, and will land on same /home/user home folder as previous install, which would make KDE/Gnome act strangely 😉