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I updated to 13.04 from a wubi install 12.04 updated to 12.10 a few days ago but something failed 75% of the way through.

I was able to cancel as I didn't understand the prompt. It said I was running 13.04 but articles like the user accounts were missing.

Upon reboot and now every time I get dual boot option. But hangs with ubuntu and won't boot.

What are my options? How do I uninstall it or fix it?

I don't need anything saving from ubuntu. I'm happy to wipe everything/ uninstall and try again. I just need Windows untouched as its not my laptop.

nathan
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2 Answers2

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Summary of the comments as solution

You have a WUBI installation that was initially 12.04. It was upgraded from within WUBI to 12.10. However, while upgrade to 13.04 the upgrade failed. Now Ubuntu is unbootable. Windows is bootable. There is no valuable data in the Ubuntu.

Note: The way WUBI works is cumbersome and prone to breakage. It was meant for short term use to try out Ubuntu. It does not work with newer computers. So it was taken out of 13.04. That is, one cannot do a fresh WUBI install with 13.04. I am not sure if that is the reason your upgrade failed or not. In any case, upgrading WUBI install fails sometimes.

First, backup all the important (and not so important) files in Windows. To be safe, make a recovery disk for Windows as well. Even though, nothing should happen, mistakes do happen, power goes off, a cat walks over the keyboard...

Second, Uninstall the WUBI version of Ubuntu. Boot Windows and delete the WUBI installation using Add-Remove in the Control Panel. This will remove almost all of Ubuntu except the boot menu choices. The space that you allocated to Ubuntu during WUBI install should be returned to Windows. If after the uninstall disk space is not freed, remove the contents of C:\Ubuntu. See How do I uninstall Ubuntu Wubi? for full description.

Third, Install Ubuntu in its own partition as dual-boot with Windows. See the official documentation on how to install. Make sure in Step 4, you choose "Install Ubuntu alongside Windows." This will keep your Windows installation and all the data in it. This will also make next step (partitioning the hard disk) easy. Also see How do I install Ubuntu?

Finally, Some of the things may not work in a new install of 13.04 (chrome, Skype). See 7 things to do after installing Ubuntu 13.4. for some help with those.

Best of luck.

Community
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user68186
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I don't know what failed, but easiest way is to boot using LiveDVD or LiveUSB, copy your important files from Ubuntu partition to a safe place and make a clean install (overwriting the current Ubuntu).

But better wait a bit, maybe someone with better ideas will come here and help you.

user31389
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  • I don't need anything on ubuntu. I'm happy to wipe it and try again. I just need Windows untouched as its not my laptop!! (Yes I'm a super noob) I installed ubuntu as windows is full of bugs and can't stream the football. It was great and I was loving it until the update failed... – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 14:49
  • I updated from 12.10 . – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 15:02
  • Do as I said, but if you are unsure about something during installation, please take a screenshot and post it here with a question. – user31389 Apr 29 '13 at 15:04
  • You are telling me to install fresh again? From where? You mean I should back up Windows data? (i don't care about ubuntu data as there is none) I just want it replaced/ deleted so I can start again. – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 15:05
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    If you boot from the install CD the same way you did when you first installed it, it should give you an option to "replace existing Ubuntu installation" That's the one you want, and it should fix all your woes ;-) – Freedom_Ben Apr 29 '13 at 15:06
  • Installation of Ubuntu shouldn't do any harm to Windows, but you should back up any important data from Windows every time you install Ubuntu, just to be sure. To install from scratch, download Ubuntu 13.04 iso, burn it to pendrive (for example using this: http://www.pendrivelinux.com/universal-usb-installer-easy-as-1-2-3/ ) or to DVD. Then boot the PC using this pendrive or DVD, click "try out" (this will allow you to for example run firefox during installation) and click "install Ubuntu". This will run an installer, which will guide you. – user31389 Apr 29 '13 at 15:12
  • look at this if you are not sure: http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/install-desktop-latest – speedox Apr 29 '13 at 15:12
  • I didn't install from a CD to begin with. :-\ Thanks all. Is there not a thanks button here or something? – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 15:15
  • Did you install from within Windows using WUBI.EXE? This is not supported in 13.04 any more. – user68186 Apr 29 '13 at 15:17
  • Yes originally a month ago. For 12.04. Then I updated to 12.10 a week ago then 13.04 from inside ubuntu updater – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 15:20
  • So what does this mean? How does wubi.exe affect me? – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 15:35
  • The way WUBI works is cumbersome and prone to breakage. It was meant for short term use to try out Ubuntu. It does not work with newer computers. So it was taken out of 13.04. That is, one cannot do a fresh WUBI install with 13.04. I am not sure if that is the reason your upgrade failed or not. In any case, upgrading WUBI install fails sometimes. Solution: Download the 13.04 ISO, and do a full install. Your question is a possible duplicate: http://askubuntu.com/questions/285418/upgrading-from-12-10-wubi-install-to-13-04 . It may be deleted. – user68186 Apr 29 '13 at 15:49
  • See How do I install Ubuntu? – user68186 Apr 29 '13 at 15:53
  • What about the option of deleting ubuntu in windows in the C drive?? Is this an option? What do i need to know alt this? – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 16:15
  • You should be able to boot into Windows, and then go to "Add/Remove Programs -> Ubuntu" That worked for me back in the day when I used Wubi – Freedom_Ben Apr 29 '13 at 16:23
  • Yes. Boot Windows and delete the WUBI installation using Add-Remove in the Control Panel. See How do I uninstall Ubuntu WUBI? – user68186 Apr 29 '13 at 16:23
  • Ok thanks. As long as it's safe I'll do this then do a fresh install. Thanks all. :-) – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 16:26
  • Is it still a wubi installation even though I have (partially) updated to 13.04??? Ubuntu in control panel is showing as 2.99GB. Will the partition memory return?? – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 16:49
  • Yes, it is still an WUBI installation. Your Ubuntu (virtual) partitions are big files in C:\Ubuntu\disks. A full installation will create two partitions. / and swap by shrinking the Windows partition. – user68186 Apr 29 '13 at 17:18
  • I'm installing fresh using disk. It says I'm running something else. But no option for run alongside is present. Just erase disk and install ubuntu by default! Or something else. – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 22:05
  • (I have vista on it as well) – nathan Apr 29 '13 at 22:15