Delete and merge unallocated Ubuntu partition in Windows

Delete and merge unallocated Ubuntu partition in Windows

Users who have deleted the Ubuntu or Linux partition from Windows have faced a problem with extending their hard drive to merge that unallocated or free space which was previously occupied by Ubuntu or other Linux operating system. In most cases the option to “extend” a primary hard drive is greyed out. Fortunately, after a lot of searching, I have found a sure fix for this issue.




Since you are about to delete the Ubuntu or Linux partition, I am assuming you are trying to completely remove Ubuntu or Linux and just want to boot from the Windows 7,8 OR 10 operating system. To do this in a safe manner, follow the below steps:

How to remove GRUB Ubuntu/Windows dual boot

Before deleting the Ubuntu or any Linux partition you need to make sure your boot loader is repaired via Windows.Here are the steps for it:

• For this you will need to boot into Windows setup via DVD or a bootable USB. You can easily create bootable USB using a program called Rufus.
• Insert the bootable DVD or bootable USB. Press F10 or F12 to boot from USB/DVD.
• After booting into Windows setup via DVD or USB,, select the language
• Click on “repair your system”.
• Now find and open command prompt and type bootrec /fixboot >> Press Enter
• Again type bootrec /fixmbr then hit enter.

You’ve successfully remove the Ubuntu-linux/ Windows GRUB boot loader and you will boot directly into Windows 7. Now, to safely delete the partition occupied by Ubuntu follow these steps :

Delete Ubuntu/Linux partition in Windows and merge it with primary drive

1. First Download & install  MiniTool Partition Wizard Free Edition
2. Open the MiniTool Partition Wizard
3. Then right click on the unallocated or ubuntu partition and select wipe partition/delete >>  Click on “Apply” (top left )
4. Close Minitool Partition Winzard
5. Now press windows key + R and type diskmgmt.msc >> press enter
6. Alternately, press windows key and search for disk management and select “create and format hard disk partitions”
7. Now the disk management utility will open
8. Right click on the unallocated or free partition >> Select “Delete Partition”
9. Now right click on the disk drive you want to expand and select “extend” and then choose the unallocated space. Now the unallocated or free space will be merged to that drive. In the third image below, C: is the drive I extended after deleting  the unallocated/free Ubuntu partition. 

Deleting Ubuntu partition with MiniTool Partition Wizard 

Running Disk Management Utility in Windows

Deleting Ubuntu Partition to merge it with Drive C:

If youve followed the above steps correctly, all of the free space previously taken by Ubuntu or Linux will be  allocated to your primary Windows drive.

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Is it safe to delete Windows old folder in Windows 10

Is it safe to delete Windows old folder in Windows 10

The Windows.old folder in Windows 10 contains installation files of your old Windows 7, Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 version. As you know Microsoft has given you one month to revert back to your previous OS after Windows 10 upgrade. If you press Start (windows key on the keyboard) >> Settings >> Update and Security >> Recovery, you will see an option to go back to your previous operating system. With all the cool UI improvements and performance enhancements in Win 10, I don’t think most users will roll back to their previous OS. If you are absolutely sure that you are going to stick with Windows 10, you can safely delete Windows.old folder which is sitting in your Windows installation drive and taking up huge chunk of Hard Drive space.


However, deleting this Windows.old is not straightforward because Windows won’t let you manually delete some system files inside that folder. You’ll have to use the “disk cleanup” utility to delete folders like windows.old, $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS. If you were wondering what is eating up so much space in your HDD after the Win 10 upgrade, its these folders. Here are the simple steps to delete these folders and free up lots of of storage :

How to delete Windows.old folder in Windows 10 

• On the windows search box (in the task bar) type “Disk Cleanup” and press enter 
• Select the Win 10 installation drive which has the Windows.old folder (example: C:) 
• Click “OK” 

• Now from Disc Cleanup box (above), select “Clean up system files” 
• You will again be prompted to select the drive >> Select the drive and click "OK". 
• Wait for few seconds for Disc cleanup to check your drive for system files 

• In the new box (above), scroll down and check “Previous Windows Installation(s)” 
• Also check “Temporary Windows installation files” if you want to delete the $Windows.~WS folder. 
• Now select "OK" 
• A new dialogue box will open >> Click “Delete Files” 
• Another box will open >> Click “Yes” to confirm that you don’t want to restore back to previous Windows version 
• After few seconds, your windows.old folder will be deleted. 

If you also selected the option to delete the “Temporary Windows Installation Files” in the disc cleanup, your $Windows.~BT and $Windows.~WS will also be deleted. By now you will have freed a lot of space. In my case I managed to free over 55GB GB using disk cleanup to remove system files.

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