I've finally got a long weekend (and the time), so I want to stop dual booting, and only run Zorin on this, HP Pavilion laptop.
If there is a guide, or video tutorial that can save me some stress, I'd really appreciate links.
I'll need to disable WiFi, because I know there will be some Windows updates that will automatically start up, as I've not booted into Windows for a long time, so please give me a heads up... I don't want to get this HP "bricked", like my bosses' old HP was during an update. I'll do my homework before I start the process.
One thing I would like to add in this guide, in the Step 1, it is mentioned to "Boot Into Linux installation". However, I will suggest boot into Zorin's live environment as the partitions need to be in unmounted state during the removal and resize process. Rest of the processes Step 2 onwards will remain be same.
And in Step 4 you need to boot into your Zorin installation.
In short, processes that you need to do in -
Step 1 - Step 3: Under Zorin's live environment
Step 4 - Step 5: Under your Zorin installation
Some things to remember and my suggestions:
The guide I shared uses GPT partitioning scheme, while most of the process remains the same for MBR partitioning scheme it might get little confusing if extended and logical partitions were present. So, first you need to identify your disk partitioning scheme and get some basic idea how your disk partitioning layout is. Use Gparted for this process.
In Step 3, the unallocated free space you got after removing the windows partition, add it to your /home partition (if you have it separate) instead of / partition.
Most importantly Take a backup of your important data before proceeding the removal of Windows, nothing is 100% sure in this world. There will always be 1% chance where something might go wrong or the user might perform a wrong operation which may screw things up, so a backup is must just in case.
And just as mentioned in the guide, don't delete the /boot or EFI partition. Only remove the Windows partitions and not to remove the Zorin(Linux) partitions.
Well ... You could make Tabula Rasa. So, save the Data that You need create a bootable USB Stick with Zorin on and then start the Installation and choose the Option ''Erase Disk''. Then all Stuff on the Drive will be erased and Zorin will be installed.
If You only want delete Windows and keep Zorin on, you could use GParted. With that you delete the Windows Partition and the Windows Recovery Partition. And then add the free space to Your existing Zorin Partition. Then, you have to delete the Windows Boot Stuff. To do that open Nautilus and go to:
Other Places > boot > efi (here You have to type in 2 Times Your Password) > EFI
And there You have to look for a Folder called Microsoft and delete that - only that Folder. After that open the Terminal and type sudo update-grub to affect the Change. When You reboot Your System and the Grub Menu should still appear, You can turn that off. To do that open the Terminal and type sudo nano /etc/default/grub and in the Line GRUB_Timeout set the Value to 0.
Before you do that, You should save Your Data and create a bootable USB Stick with Zorin for the Case that something should run well and You have to make a complete fresh Installation.
I am a little confused about what "Zorin's live environment" is, a search of the forum and internet didn't come up with anything, so I'm guessing that it is Zorin on the USB bootable drive?
The good news is that if I do mess it up, there's no data I'm bothered about losing. The only PTA will be reinstalling Surfshark, and customising things back to the way I like them.
There have been some updates to Zorin since I first made my bootable USB and installed it, so I might just do a fresh install... I'm still debating this with myself.
I have read the guide @littlekun posted - thank you, I'll read it a couple of times more before I make my final decision.
First, to install Gparted and redo the bootable USB.
GParted comes with the live iso. When you boot into Zorin you have two options, install Zorin or Try Zorin. Selecting Try Zorin takes you to the live environment. You can also run GParted as a live .iso separate from Zorin.
Gparted installed, Ventoy USB, with the latest Zorin ios installed and ready to go. Just creating a new Timeshift snapshot ,and back up with Déjà Dup, and I'm ready to delete Windows X forever off this machine, although I'll do it tomorrow now as I'm tired.
It's not going to plan... When entering Gparted there was no option for Zorin Live Environment. I can't unmount the partition containing Zorin because (of course) it's being used, so I can't use the space that was the Windows partition. I'm stuck, not sure what to do. I'll check on YouTube for a tutorial, hopefully I can find one!
No. You start the USB Stick with Zorin on it. When You come to the Choice ''Install Zorin'' or ''Try Zorin'' then You choose Try. Then Zorin runs on the USB Stick where it is on. There You go to the Startmenu and search for GParted in the Search Bar.
I've followed the instructions carefully but the permission has been denied. I tried adding "sudo", to see if that would work but it didn't, so I'm kind of stuck again until anyone can tell me what I should do next.
I'm sorry, I forgot about that... I was just trying to follow the webpage and not get lost.
"Then, you have to delete the Windows Boot Stuff. To do that open Nautilus and go to: ...".
I'm ashamed to say that I don't know how to do that. I can't even find the file manager to open in the first place. I've tried searching for it, without success. I've even tried the software store, and YouTube for help with that.
So now I'm totally confused as I have Core, not Lite, yet searching only shows Thunar. I tried to make a screenshot, several times, but the search result disappears before I can make it
Do I just click on the "file tab" on the tool bar to open the "file manager"? Honestly, I don't know how to "launch the file manager" - what action? I feel so stupid at the moment.
Could someone, please, make some screenshots from the start of "launching the file manager" because I can't understand what, or where, it is.
I know it is stupid, me not knowing how to "launch the file manager", but I've been at this all day. I've managed to achieve everything except the last two steps. Windows has been deleted and Zorin is still intact, and they are the main objectives. I'm off to watch something mindless and unwind. I'll try again tomorrow.
When a person writes instructions, they tend to take for granted terms that are familiar to them, but not familiar to the reader.
This makes writing instructions very tricky. Even trying to write in great detail can always leave room for confusion.
When a reader is uncertain of the instructions and fearful of making a disastrous mistake; they will read more into instructions and likely over-analyze them.
At no point in this is there a lack of intellect.
What there is is a lack of confidence and security.
Launching the file manager is to launch the GUI application that you run to access your files. This is commonly done using the App Menu and navigating to "Files" or the pinned Folder icon on the panel.
But from terminal, it is launched by entering the name of the application to launch.
For Core users:
nautilus
For Lite users:
thunar
For us rebels that use Nemo:
nemo
I can only conclude that you are on Lite since you show only Thunar. I strongly prefer Lite over Core, so I would consider that a win.
That is all no Problem. We all started at one Point with that Stuff. And to be honest: How Gnome treats his Program Stuff isn't the best Way, too.
Nautilus is the File Manager in Gnome (Zorin Core). It is the Aequivalent to the Windows Explorer on Windows. Because You are using the Standard Zorin Icon Set here is the Symbol where You have to looking for (the red marked One):
Before I go further, I totally fortgot one Thing to do. To use Nautilus with Admin-Rights, there is a little Add-on to install. That is easy. Simply type in the Terminal sudo apt install nautilus-admin and it will be installed. But please don't wonder. That doesn't have a Symbol or something. It is directly put in Nautilus as a Function. So, you don't have that in Your Software List as a seperate Program.
Now I can bring you with Pictures trough the Folders. When Nautilus is open, you see this depending on Your used Theme:
There you click on the red marked efi Folder. Here is a Thing: You see that red Cross? that means that it is a secured Folder. So, when you want to open it, you have to type in your Password. You must do that 2 Times. So, don't wonder when the Password Field appears a 2nd Time. In that Folder is another EFI folder what you open and then it looks like the Picture abouve with the BOOT and the ubuntu Folder - but in Your Case there should be a Microsoft Folder, too.
EDIT: @littlekun wrote something important. So, I add it here: when that Stuff is done, open the Terminal and type sudo update-grub to update the GRUB Menu so that the Microsoft Entry is gone.
I had assumed that you already knew how to boot into Zorin's live environment, when I was writing this
So, it's basically Boot using a bootable pendrive > Try Zorin
I get it, as it's your first time doing these stuff you got little confused over the terms used here but I'm glad you are figuring out and learning stuffs.
Learning new stuffs is a great experience, isn't it?
@Ponce-De-Leon has shared a great user-firendly guide for you to get into /boot/efi/EFI. You can follow it and carefully remove the Microsoft folder only.
And don't forget to run sudo update-grub after removing the Microsoft folder.
-x-
@Aravisian , thank you for the understanding and kind words. As a teacher, I often have to write instructions and guides; things often get missed. @littlekun , it's normal to assume prior knowledge, and I really appreciate your guide and the link you posted - it got me 90% of the way through. @Ponce-De-Leon , your screenshots saved the day! Perfectly!! I've completed the whole process, including updating the Grub, and rebooted straight into Zorin for the first time.
This long-weekend has been a difficult one... there has been a catastrophic, natural disaster an hour and a half up the road, where extreme flooding has killed at least 211 people, and entire communities and towns are still cut off, with no electricity, water or mobile / cell phone service. Roads and bridges have been washed away and the armed services are trying to rebuild ways to reach people still trapped.
On top of that, it was the anniversary of my Mum's death on Friday, so I've been a bit "out of sorts" for many reasons... it probably wasn't the right time to try doing this, but well, it's done successfully now, and I'm very grateful.
Thanks again!!!
