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Asked: 2024-09-24T04:35:16+05:30 In:

How can I completely remove all partitions from my disk and start with a clean slate on Ubuntu?

I’m in a bit of a bind here and could really use some guidance. So, I’ve had this laptop for a few years, and I’ve been running Ubuntu on it, but I feel like it’s time for a fresh start. The problem is that I want to completely wipe the disk and remove all partitions like it’s brand new. I’ve done some tinkering with my system and ended up with a convoluted setup of partitions that I don’t even remember what they all were for. It looks pretty messy, and I want to make sure there’s no leftover data.

I’ve looked up a few methods online, but nothing seems straightforward or clear enough for me. I know I could do a simple format, but I want to make sure I’m doing it right. I really want to just start from scratch—no remnants of old files, programs, or partitions messing things up.

Also, I’ve heard about this thing called GParted and some terminal commands, but honestly, I’m a bit intimidated by it all. I don’t want to accidentally delete my whole system or make things worse than they already are. The idea of messing around in the terminal makes me a bit nervous!

I’m hoping someone out there can break down the process for me step-by-step. Can I do this all from a live USB or do I need to be booted into another OS? And like, how do I make sure nothing is going to come back to haunt me later? Any tips on backup too? I want to make sure I don’t lose anything important that I might need later—like, I have some important documents that I need to safeguard before diving headfirst into this.

If anyone has been in a similar boat or just knows how to execute this without risking everything, I’d really appreciate your help! How do I safely wipe my disk and get everything set up as if it were a brand new machine? Looking forward to your insights!

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    2 Answers

    1. To completely wipe your disk and remove all partitions on your laptop running Ubuntu, you can use a live USB containing a Linux distribution, such as Ubuntu or GParted Live. Start by creating a bootable USB drive. There are many tools available, such as Rufus or Etcher, that can help you with this process. Once you have the USB ready, reboot your laptop and access the boot menu (usually by pressing F12, Esc, or another key specified by your manufacturer). Select the USB drive to boot from it. This is safe as it doesn’t involve booting into your existing OS.

      Once you are in the live environment, open GParted (you may need to install it via the terminal using `sudo apt-get install gparted` if it’s not available). In GParted, you will see a graphical representation of your disks and partitions. Select the disk you wish to wipe, right-click on each partition, and delete them one by one. After removing all partitions, you can format the main disk as ext4 or any filesystem you prefer. If you’re uncomfortable using GParted, you can also use terminal commands like `sudo dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/sda bs=1M` (replace `/dev/sda` with your actual disk identifier), which wipes the disk entirely, but be very cautious with this command as it will remove all data irreversibly. Backup your important documents before proceeding. You can use an external drive, USB flash drive, or cloud storage for the backup. Once everything is wiped and you have formatted your disk, you can proceed to install a fresh copy of Ubuntu.



    2. Wipe Your Disk and Start Fresh

      Wiping Your Disk and Setting Up Fresh

      Alright, let’s break this down step-by-step. Don’t worry; you got this!

      1. Backup Your Important Stuff

      First things first, make sure to back up anything you don’t want to lose. Stick those important documents on an external hard drive or a cloud service like Google Drive or Dropbox. Seriously, don’t skip this step!

      2. Create a Live USB

      You’ll need a Live USB with Ubuntu (or any Linux distro you want). You can create one using a tool like Rufus (for Windows) or Etcher (for Windows, Mac, and Linux). Download the Ubuntu ISO and use one of these tools to make your USB bootable.

      3. Boot From the Live USB

      Plug in your USB and restart your laptop. You’ll need to enter the boot menu (usually by pressing a key like F12, ESC, or DEL right after turning on your laptop). Select your USB drive from the list and hit Enter.

      4. Open GParted

      Once you’re in the live environment, look for GParted in the applications menu. It’s pretty user-friendly! If you don’t see it, you might need to install it using the terminal:

          sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install gparted

      5. Wipe Your Disk

      In GParted, you’ll see all your partitions listed. It’s a bit scary, but don’t panic! Just select your disk (make sure it’s the right one!).

      1. Right-click on each partition and select Delete.
      2. After deleting all partitions, you’ll see unallocated space. Right-click on it and choose New to create a new partition (you can format it as ext4 or whatever you prefer).
      3. Once done, click the green checkmark to apply all changes.

      6. Reinstall Ubuntu

      Now that your disk is wiped and set up fresh, you can install Ubuntu. Just follow the prompts like you normally would and choose your newly created partition to install it on.

      7. Done!

      After installation, your laptop will reboot, and you’ll be greeted with a shiny new Ubuntu setup, just like it’s brand new!

      Bonus Tips:

      • Stay calm! Mistakes can happen, but that’s why we backed up first.
      • Don’t rush through the prompts during installation. Make sure to read them!
      • Feel free to ask for help if you’re unsure about something!

      You’re gonna do great! Just take it one step at a time. 😊


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