Destroy the system on your computer. Removing old Windows after installing a new one - step-by-step instructions

Every day Windows XP becomes more and more outdated and is increasingly used only on low-power computers. Microsoft updates operating systems to provide improved security and the latest features for users quite frequently. Each updated system is almost always poorly compatible with previous software for various reasons: lack of free hard drive space, lack of RAM, etc.

There are different cases when you need to remove Windows XP:

If you want to install a newer system or, conversely, return to the familiar old one;
When a computer has several operating systems at once. They can be the same or different, located on the same disk or in different partitions.

Removing Windows XP and installing a new Windows 7

You can remove unnecessary Windows XP without installation, during or after installing another version. If you have a boot disk with any OS, you can completely remove Windows XP through the BIOS. To do this you need to complete the following steps:

In the “BOOT” section, select the “CD-ROM” boot priority and press “F10” to save the settings.

After a few seconds, system files will begin copying from the disk. After installing temporary files, the system will prompt you to select a partition to install the OS.

At this moment, you can delete unnecessary partitions, change their size and number, and format the disks. For each action, the system will prompt you to press the corresponding letter. Formatting will allow you to wipe Windows XP clean.

How to remove extra Windows XP

The easiest way to remove Windows XP is to format the partition containing the operating system. Only if the version is not installed on hard drive C - in this case, formatting can only be done through the BIOS system.

If two or more Windows were installed on your personal computer, and you do not know where the one that needs to be removed is located, you can find out the partition in several ways:

Open “My Computer” → in the address bar we type: %SystemRoot% → press Enter → we get to the section containing the folder with our working OS;
Click “Start” → Run → Paste into the address bar or write: %SystemRoot% → OK → look at which section you are in.

To remove an unnecessary OS version, we perform formatting. To do this, open “My Computer” → hover over the partition with the system that you want to delete, right-click → Format

Confirm deletion → Start

Removing unnecessary Windows XP without formatting

If you only need to delete system files without formatting, you can use the following option.

Files related to Windows XP:

Section letter: Documents and Settings – contains profiles of all users of the system;
Section letter:Program Files – programs installed in the OS;
Section letter: RECYCLER – basket;
Section letter: System Volume Information – various files for system recovery;
Partition letter:WINDOWS – Windows;
Partition letter: Temp – various temporary files;
Partition letter: Temp – pagefile.sys – used by the operating system when there is insufficient RAM;
Section letter:Temp – hiberfil.sys – carries out the “Hibernation” process.

In almost all cases, some or all of these files are hidden. To be able to see them, you need:

Open “My Computer” → At the top of the window, click “Tools” → Folder Options

If you are currently working with Windows 7, then click Start → Control Panel → Select “Appearance and Personalization” → Folder Options

Click the “View” tab → Uncheck “Hide protected system files” → Click the “Show hidden files and folders” button

Now we go to the section with Windows XP and delete all of the above files, except for System Volume Information. Removing it gives an error.

To delete this file when working in Windows 7, you need to additionally go to “Folder Options” → uncheck the box “Use simple file sharing”

Right-click on the “System Volume Information” folder → Properties → Security → Add → Check the “Allow” checkbox

In the “Enter names of selected objects” window, write the user name. Click OK.

Select the user name in the “Groups or Users” window with full access allowed and click “Advanced”

Click the “Extensions” tab → put 2 checkboxes at the bottom → OK

Now the folder can be deleted. All that remains is to remove the remote OS from the boot.

For Win 7: press 2 buttons on the keyboard “Windows” and “R” at once → in the address bar of the window that appears, write: msconfig → click OK.

In the “System Configuration” window, click the “Boot” tab and delete the line of the unnecessary system.

For Windows XP, you need to edit the system file “boot.ini”. You can find it on the system disk or follow these steps:

Right-click “My Computer”;
Select “Properties”;
Click the “Advanced” tab;
Click “Options”;
“Edit.”

timeout – time in seconds to select the OS;

- operating system;

default – the system set to boot by default is indicated by the number in:(0)partition(Number)WINDOWS.

We remove unnecessary Windows XP and put the required OS to boot into the “default” line.

We remove the system through the “Control Panel”

You can uninstall Windows XP through the Control Panel. To do this you need to take the following steps:

We restart the computer by quickly pressing “F8”, thereby entering safe mode;
Click “Start” → “Settings” → “Control Panel”;
Select the line “Add and remove programs”.
In the menu, select and click “Remove Windows XP”.
We confirm the removal of Windows XP.

Remove from the command line

You can also uninstall the Win XP operating system from the command line. To do this you need to complete the following steps:

We restart the computer by pressing “F8”, thereby entering safe mode. After the computer boots, select “Start” → “Run” → enter “CMD” without quotes → then press “Enter”;
Next, enter “Enter” on the command line – CD. Then we write: cdwindowssystem32, then confirm – “Enter”.
Enter the command: osuninst.exe → press “Enter”.

The Windows 7 removal process has many nuances and features. As well as further installation of a newer OS from Microsoft. To carry out this activity, you must not only have the distribution kit, but also have the ability to make changes to the BIOS settings.

What is needed for removal?

In order to completely remove the OS from a laptop, you must first save all important files to some kind of media (USB flash drive, portable hard drive). Since complete removal will require a formatting procedure. It involves erasing all data present in the PC's permanent memory - regardless of its type.

To perform the removal you will also need:

ability to configure Bios;
the presence of a USB port for running software from external flash memory;
the presence of a drive for working with CDs for launching programs and further installation of another OS;
software that allows you to format your hard drive.

When all of the above is available, you can begin to “erase” the seventh version from your computer’s hard drive. This is the only way to completely get rid of fragments of the old operating system on a laptop or regular computer.

Video: Uninstall Windows 7

Sequencing

The first step in uninstalling the OS is formatting the disk. In order to do this before installation, you must first edit the Bios.

This is done as follows:

immediately after starting the PC, you need to quickly press the F8 or Delete key several times (depending on the Bios model and PC type);
A blue screen containing a table will appear on the monitor;
we find a list of parameters that look something like this:
1. 1st boot device;
2. 2st boot device;
3. 3st boo device;
edit 1st boot devi so that the desired device (CD/DVD-ROM or USB-FDD) appears on the right side of the line;
We find the line “Save and Exit Setup”, click on it, agree to make changes and perform a further reboot.

After setting up the launch, you need to use a storage medium with software designed to work with a hard drive. There must be a formatting function available.

The best choice today is the Acronis Disk Director application. A version that supports operation outside the operating system is required.

Photo: Acronis Disk Director application

Formatting is done as follows:

After completing all the above steps, the formatting process will start. When finished, the application must be closed. All data on the hard drive is permanently deleted. And you can safely start installing the new version.

Removing Windows 7 from a laptop during the installation of Windows 8

This requires the skills of an experienced user. As well as basic knowledge of the internal structure of a PC. Since otherwise, deletion can lead to disastrous consequences, damage to the laptop and the need to call a repairman.

A safer and easier way to remove Windows 7 via BIOS on a laptop is to format it during the installation process of the eighth version of the operating system from Microsoft.

To perform this action you must do the following:

This way you can format and remove the old version of the OS from your computer with minimal risk. This method also makes it possible to save some time - there is no need to remove a disk with additional software, configure the BIOS, and perform other similar actions.

Installation

The installation itself of the new version of the operating system from Microsoft is quite simple and takes a minimum amount of time. Especially if installed from a USB flash drive.

The installation is performed in the following order:

update;

OS setup

When installation is complete, the system will provide the opportunity to perform initial setup.

This is done in several stages:

protection and privacy: enable or disable the Do Not Track system (prohibiting tracking of visited pages) and Smart Screen (protection from potentially dangerous programs and data).

It is also very important to pay attention to the settings section called “sending data to Microsoft and other services.” Since the level of confidentiality of use depends on this.

This page allows you to enable or disable:

automatic use of the Bing system;
automatic loading of predicted pages;
permission to use personal personal data (name, avatar);
requesting information about the location of the device.

The last step is to set up your account..

Three options are available:

It is very important to choose the original distribution - the success of the subsequent installation greatly depends on this. Since various kinds of pirated assemblies are often simply non-working. You can purchase the OS at any computer store.

If possible, it is necessary to carry out a “clean” installation of the operating system - format the hard drive before starting installation. Because otherwise, there is a high probability of all sorts of errors, as well as the appearance of difficult-to-delete files.

Installing a new operating system is not a difficult process; it is only important to be as careful as possible when setting up the BIOS.

There are two ways to get rid of Windows 10 after upgrading to it from a previous version of the operating system: rollback and complete removal of the system. The first method involves returning to a previously installed OS, and the second, discussed below, will help erase all references to the system from the hard drive without installing another version of Windows.

Removing Windows 10 system

Removing a system from a hard drive can be done in three ways:

via BIOS and bootable media;
through command execution;
through a third party program.

You can save documents and other items not stored on the main partition of your hard drive using any method. You just need to determine in advance which partition carries the operating system and which contains all the other files.

Because the drive names required to work with them in the command line may differ from those you see on the main Explorer page, you need to know the correct names in advance:

Removing Windows 10 by running commands

Using Microsoft's official Windows 10 upgrade tool, create a bootable USB flash drive. We will not install the system using it, but will use it to go to the command line.
Create a bootable USB flash drive with Windows 10
Insert the created media into your computer, reboot the machine and go to the BIOS settings.
In the BIOS, change the boot order so that the name of the installation media you created comes first. This is necessary so that when you turn on the computer again, it will start booting not from the hard drive, but from the flash drive, entering the OS installation program.
Move the bootable flash drive to the first place (1st Boot Device)
Save the changes made to the BIOS and exit it.
Save the changes and exit the BIOS
Once Windows 10 Setup loads, use the Shift + F10 key combination to load Command Prompt.
Press the key combination Shift+F10 to go to the command line
Since you know the number of the partition to be deleted in advance, use the sel part 2 command to select it. If you don't know which partition you need to delete, then go back to the instructions above and find out the name of the partition on which Windows 10 is currently installed.
Execute the command sel part 2
Run del par override to erase the partition you selected in the previous step. Done, the system is removed, now you have a hard drive filled only with files located on additional partitions.
Execute the command del par override

Uninstalling Windows 10 via BIOS

This method is similar to the previous one, since the first three steps are repeated.

Create a Windows 10 installation flash drive using Microsoft's official OS installation tool.
Insert the flash drive into the computer, reboot and go to BIOS.
Change the boot order of your computer, putting the created installation media first, save your changes and wait until the computer starts the system installation program.
In the BIOS, move the installation flash drive to the first place in the list
In the first step of installing Windows 10, select the language and other options that suit you.
Select the required language settings
In the second step, confirm that you want to start the installation. We will not install the system, but use this program to clean up the disk.
Click the “Install” button
Skip entering the license key; activating the system is useless now.
Skip the step of entering the key
Select any OS version.
Select any version of the operating system
Skip the license agreement by accepting it.
We accept the license terms
Select the manual installation type to be able to work with the hard drive.
Choosing manual installation
A window will open with a list of hard drive partitions; click on the “Disk Setup” button to see additional buttons.
Click the “Disk Setup” button
Select the partition with the system installed and use the "Format" button to erase all data located on the selected partition.
Select the partition and click the “Format” button

Done, the system is completely deleted, and partitions with backups, third-party files and other elements remain intact. If you want to clean your hard drive completely, then format it right there. After finishing working with disks, you can close the program and start using the cleaned disk to your advantage.

Through a third party program

To edit disk partitions, a third-party program, EaseUS, will be used, which you must download and install from the developer’s official website. There is no Russian language in it, but all actions will be described in detail below. Please note that after deleting the main partition using this program, the computer will enter reboot mode to make all changes, but will not be able to exit it because the system will deleted. Instead, it will display an appropriate error confirming that the disk is empty.

Removing a previous installed system

By default, when migrating from an old operating system to a new one, the Windows.old folder is created, which contains all the necessary files to restore the previous installed OS. It is needed so that, if desired, the user can easily return to the old version of the system, using standard Windows capabilities and without resorting to reinstalling the system. The folder is automatically erased after 30 days from the date of switching to the new OS, but you can delete it earlier by following these steps:

Using the Win+R key combination on your keyboard, launch the Run window.
Press the Win+R combination to open the Run window
Use the cleanmgr command to go to the disk cleanup program.
Run the cleanmgr command
Click on the “Clean up system files” button. Please note that for this action you must be logged into the system under an administrator account. Click on the “Clean up system files” button
Check the box next to "Previous Windows installations". Don't forget to uncheck all other checkboxes so you don't accidentally delete unnecessary files.
Deleting restore points
Restore points are created by the system automatically and manually. They are needed so that it is always possible to roll back the computer to a certain state when all functions and processes worked fully. Over time, there may be too many points, and they take up some of the disk memory, so they should be deleted:

What to do if an error appears during deletion
If, when you try to delete a system or a folder located on it, an error with code 0x80004005 appears, then the reasons for this may be the following:
- virus;
- failure of system files or registry data.
File recovery

Repairing the registry
By default, the system stores files of the initial version of the registry, intended specifically for recovery in case of malfunctions. They are located along the path Primary_disk:\Windows\System32\config\RegBack.

What to do if nothing helps
If none of the above methods help, roll back the system using restore points or returning to the original settings. Please note that some personal data will be lost, so please back it up in advance.
There are several ways to remove a system from a disk, using bootable media or a third-party program. Getting rid of Windows will lead to the fact that you will get a hard drive that is clean of systems, but with the presence of user files on it, unless you erased them separately. You can also delete restore points and the folder with the previous version of Windows. Uninstallation problems can be resolved by checking for viruses and restoring system files and the registry.

Instructions

If you decide to update your operating system and need to remove the existing version, do this during the installation of the new OS. Insert the Windows archive disc into the DVD drive and turn on the computer.

Press F8 to open the device selection window. Highlight the desired DVD drive and press Enter. To start the operating system installation process, press any key after the message Press any key to boot from CD appears.

Start installing the operating system as usual until the process reaches the point of selecting a local disk. If you are installing Windows XP, then specify the hard drive or hard drive partition on which an existing copy of the operating system is installed.

In the next window, select formatting to the desired file system. Press the F key to confirm formatting the partition.

If you are dealing with Windows 7 or Vista operating systems, click the “Disk Setup” button after the list of existing partitions appears.

Select the hard drive or partition on which the current version of the operating system is installed. Click the Format button. In standard mode, the program will format the volume into the same format in which it was previously located.

If you need to change the file system type of the volume, click the “Delete” button and confirm deleting this partition. Now click the “Create” button. Enter the size of the future partition (it is equal to the size of the remote volume) and select its file system type.

If you need to remove an operating system without installing a new one, use the Partition Manager utility. Install the program and restart your computer. Launch Partition Manager.

Right-click on the desired partition and select “Format”. Specify the cluster size and file system type of the future clean volume. Click the "Apply intended changes" button. The computer will continue executing the process in DOS mode.

Sources:

how do I get Windows?

Microsoft releases new operating systems at regular intervals. Unfortunately, not all users liked the latest Windows 7 OS. The reasons for abandoning the new operating system in favor of the familiar Windows XP can be very diverse. The only important thing is how to install Windows XP on a computer with Windows XP installed.

You will need

Windows XP installation disk;
Acronis.

Instructions

Unlike previous operating versions, Windows 7 very carefully protects everything from being deleted. Those. Even when working in Ms-DOS mode, some elements are not always possible. If no problems arose when installing Windows XP over a previous similar one, then the “seven” refuses to give way to a new OS, even if it is exactly the same.

Today there will be a post on how to remove the old Windows and cleanly install the new operating system. I'll tell you how to completely remove Windows. For some reason, many people don't understand this.

What does it mean to demolish Windows?

Removing Windows means formatting the disk with Windows installed and installing it on a blank disk. In simple terms, demolishing Windows means correctly removing the old Windows.

Windows installers are divided into 2 types.

The first ones write it to disk. Launch the disk from under the old Windows and begin the installation. This WRONG SOLUTION installation of any Windows.

To properly install Windows Xp, 7, 8, 10, you will need to run the disk or bootable USB flash drive AFTER restarting the computer and BEFORE loading the old Windows.
First, you need to restart your computer and go into bios. In some cases, you need to set support for a USB adapter in the BIOS settings (if the keyboard and mouse do not respond to pressure and the disk with the Windows installation does not start)

After this, you need to set either disk loading or flash drive loading (depending on what you are doing the removal of Windows and a clean installation of Windows)

If the key is not pressed, then you should set usb support (this is written above)

So, the disk began to load. We wait and press Further. We need a moment when we can delete partition C:

Windows is demolished after deleting the C: partition (most likely Windows is installed there)

Now, select the unallocated area and install Windows there.

This way you will remove ALL operating systems from your computer and install just one. This method is suitable for any Windows Xp/7/8/10. Now you know how to properly remove Windows and install a new Windows Xp/7/8/10, as I advise you to do in every manual!

P.S: This method is suitable for installing any builds of Windows. It is recommended to install any build of Windows according to this manual. Do not run the disk under Windows, load it correctly!
All the best