Removing Boot Camp and Windows XP from a Mac

If you decide you no longer want the Windows installation you created using Boot Camp (perhaps you'll decide that you prefer the virtualization option you'll learn about in Part II), you can remove the Windows installation and the Windows partition by performing the following steps:

Caution

Before removing the Windows installation, make sure you've backed up any data you created while running Windows. When you use the Boot Camp Assistant to remove Windows, it will destroy all the data that is saved on the Windows partition. What you don't have backed up, you'll lose.

1.	Make sure important Windows data is backed up on a CD, DVD, or hard drive that you can access with your Mac. (OK, I covered this in the preceding note, but it's worth repeating.)
2.	Launch the Boot Camp Assistant. You'll see the Introduction screen, and because you've installed Windows, there will be an additional option (see Figure 1.9). Figure 1.9. To leave the Windows world behind, choose the Restore the Start Disk to a Single Volume option.
3.	Click the Restore the Startup Disk to a Single Volume radio button.
4.	Click Continue. If you are running other applications, you'll be prompted to quit them.
5.	Quit any other open applications and then click OK to close the prompt. You'll see the partition selection screen, except this time there will be only a Mac partition.
6.	Click the Restore button.
7.	Authenticate yourself and follow the onscreen instructions. The Boot Camp Assistant will remove all traces of the Windows installation from your Mac and you'll have the entire startup disk available for Mac OS X.