How to Uninstall Windows 7 on a multiboot system

If you are running a multiboot system with Windows 7 and an earlier version of Windows, such as Windows Vista, you might be able to safely remove Windows 7 from the computer, depending on how the computer is set up.

To do this, you need to format the partition containing Windows 7, or delete it entirely. This allows you to reclaim the disk space and use it with the earlier operating system.

A multiboot disk configuration

To format or delete the Windows 7 partition, you need to start (boot) your computer using the earlier version of Windows.

Warnings

• Do not format or delete the earlier version of Windows in a multiboot configuration. Doing so could render your computer inoperable. This is because the computer uses the startup files from the earliest version of Windows that is installed on the computer.

• If the earlier version of Windows was somehow installed after Windows 7 was installed on the computer, deleting Windows 7 in this case could render the computer inoperable.

• Before you begin, back up your programs, files, and settings. Formatting or deleting a partition deletes all of the data on the partition. For information about backing up data, search Help and Support for "back up."  
  
  
  
  

  To format or delete an existing partition (volume)

  
  
  Formatting a partition deletes the data on the partition but keeps the partition on your computer's hard disk. Deleting a partition results in unallocated disk space on the hard disk. You can create additional partitions from this space, or expand an existing partition so that it can make use of the space.
  Note
  • Quick format is a formatting option that creates a new file table, but does not fully overwrite or erase the volume. A quick format is much faster than a normal format, which fully erases any existing data on the volume.
  1. Click to open Computer Management.‌ ‌  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  2. In the left pane, under Storage, click Disk Management.
  3. Right-click the volume that you want to format, and then click Format to format the partition, or click Delete volume to delete the partition.
  4. To format the volume with the default settings, in the Format dialog box, click OK, and then click OK again.

   To remove Windows 7 from the multiboot screen

  Even if you delete or format the partition containing Windows 7, it still appears as an operating system option when you start your computer. You can remove Windows 7 from the multiboot screen.
  1. Click to open System Configuration.‌ ‌  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  2. Click the Boot tab, and then click the listing for ‍Windows 7‍‍‍.
  3. Click Delete, click OK, and then click Restart.

  Even if you delete or format the partition containing Windows 7, it still appears as an operating system option when you start your computer. You can remove Windows 7 from the multiboot screen.
  1. Click to open System Configuration.‌ ‌  If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
  2. Click the Boot tab, and then click the listing for ‍Windows 7‍‍‍.
  3. Click Delete, click OK, and then click Restart