Uninstall Windows 7 from Your Computer
Your computer needs an operating system installed in order to function, so if you are using Windows 7 as your only operating system, the only way to delete it is to install a new operating system over it. If you have multiple operating systems installed on your computer, you'll need to reconfigure your boot manager so that your computer starts up properly.
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[hide]Steps
Replacing Windows 7
- Backup any data that you want to keep. When deleting Windows 7, you will lose all of the data that is stored on the same drive. Make sure that you backup any important files so that you can restore them after installing your new operating system.
- Insert the installation disc for the replacement operating system. Make sure that you have the Product Key handy as well, as you will need it during the installation process.
- Reboot your computer.
- Rapidly press your BIOS setup key. This varies depending on the system, but is usually F2, F10, or Delete.
- Open the BOOT menu. This menu allows you to change the boot order for your installed devices. Change the order so that your optical drive boots first. This will allow you to boot from your installation disc.
- Reboot your computer again after resetting your boot order. You will now be prompted to boot from your inserted installation disc.
- Follow the prompts to install your operating system over your existing Windows 7 installation. The process varies depending on the operating system you are installing:
- Windows 8
- Ubuntu Linux
- Windows 7
- Install-Linux-Mint
Deleting Windows 7 from a Multiboot Environment
- Boot into the operating system you want to keep. When deleting Windows 7 from a multiboot environment, you'll need to make sure that your boot manager is copied and configured to boot from the remaining operating system. This is typically only necessary if Windows 7 was the first operating system installed on the computer.
- Download EasyBCD. This is a boot manager configuration tool that will allow you to adjust your boot manager while deleting Windows 7. You can download the Non-commercial version for free from neosmart.net/EasyBCD/#comparison.
- Click the Start menu and select "Run". You can also press the Windows key + R.
- Enter "diskmgmt.msc" and press Enter. This will open the Disk Management window.
- Find the volume that has the "System" status. You can expand the Status column if you can't see enough. The volume with the "System" status is the volume that contains the boot manager. If your Windows 7 volume is the one marked "System", read on to the next step. If the volume for your other operating system is marked "System", skip down to Step 10
- Start EasyBCD.
- Click "BCD Backup/Repair".
- Select the "Change boot drive" option and click "Perform Action".
- Ensure that the drop-down menu says "C:\" and click "OK".
- Return to the Disk Management screen. Now that the boot manager has been copied, you can safely start the deletion process.
- Right-click on the volume that contains Windows 7 and select "Delete Volume". You will be asked to confirm that you want to delete the volume.
- Right-click on the newly-deleted volume and select "Delete Partition".
- Right-click on the volume to the left of the new Free Space. Select "Extend Volume" and add the newly created free space to it.
- Open EasyBCD if it isn't already. You'll now need to reconfigure your boot manager so that it boots properly into your remaining operating system.
- Click the "Edit Boot Menu" button.
- Select Windows 7 from the list and click "Delete".
- Click "BCD Backup/Repair".
- Select the "Reset BCD Configuration" and click "Perform Action".
- Click "Add New Entry" and select your current operating system from the Type menu.
- Ensure that the Drive drop-down menu is set to C:\ and then click "Add Entry". Your system will now boot properly to your remaining operating system.
- Repeat this for any additional operating systems you still have installed.
