This will show you how to delete a hard disk partition or volume using Disk Management or Diskpart in Windows 7 to create empty unallocated space that you can use to create new partitions with.
You also can't delete the system partition, boot partition, or any partition that contains the virtual memory paging file, because Windows needs this information to start correctly.
Warning
You must be logged on in an administrator account to be able to do this tutorial.
When you delete a partition, all data on the partition is erased.
If you disable the Disk Defragmenterservice, then you will get the error below when you try to do anything in Disk Management. If you get this error, then make sure that the Disk Defragmenter service is set to only Manual.
OPTION ONE
Using Disk Management
1. Open the Control Panel (All Items view), and click on the Administrative Tools icon. then close the Control Panel window.
2. Click on Computer Management in Administrative Tools, then close the Administrative Tools window.
3. In the left pane under Storage, click on Disk Management. (See screenshot below)
4. In the middle pane, right click on the partition that you want to delete and click on Delete Volume. (See screenshot above) NOTE: If the partition is a logical partition, then you will need to delete the free space again to have it as unallocated space.
5. Click on Yes to confirm deletion. (See screenshot below)
6. The selected partition (step 4) is now deleted and is now unallocated space on the disk. If not, then delete the partition again until it displays as unallocated space like below. NOTE:You can use this unallocated space to create a new partition with, or extend another partition on that same hard disk into it.
7. Close the Computer Management window. (See screenshot above)
2. In the elevated command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
3. In the elevated command prompt, type list volume and press Enter. (See screenshot below) NOTE:This will give you a list of volume numbers to select from to delete.
4. In the elevated command prompt, type select volume # and press Enter. (See screenshot below) NOTE:You would substitute # for the volume number listed that you want to delete. For example, I want to delete the listed volume 3, so I would type select volume 3 and press Enter.
5. In the elevated command prompt, type delete volume and press Enter. (See screenshot below) NOTE:If it fails to delete, then use type delete volume override and press enter instead.
6. In the elevated command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
7. Close the elevated command prompt.
8. The selected partition (step 4) is now deleted and is now unallocated space on the disk. NOTE:You can use this unallocated space to create a new partition with, or extend another partition on that same hard disk into it.
I currently have a partition labeled as a system partition by the command prompt. It is the recovery partition that was originally on my laptop but which has since been wiped. I have now installed windows 7 and would like to know if I should, or can, delete that partition
System Manufacturer/Model Number Acer Aspire Timeline X 5820TG OS Windows 7 home Premium x64 CPU Intel Core i5 480M 2.66Ghz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93Ghz Memory 4.00GB Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD 6550M 2651MB HyperMemory/Intel HD Graphics Sound Card Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221 Monitor(s) Displays 15.6" HD LCD Screen Resolution 1366x768
Without that OEM recovery partition, you would not be able to reinstall your previous operating system that came with the computer unless you created a set of recovery discs from it.
If you have create a set of recovery disc, or have no plans of ever reinstalling the OS that came with your computer, then yes you can delete it. However, I would recommend leaving it unless you just really needed the hard drive space back.
Thanks mate, I dont particularly need the space, It has just been annoying me to have it there when I dont think there is anything in there. My harddrive had to be wiped, so I dont think it has anything in there despite it saying it has about 8gb taken
System Manufacturer/Model Number Acer Aspire Timeline X 5820TG OS Windows 7 home Premium x64 CPU Intel Core i5 480M 2.66Ghz with Turbo Boost up to 2.93Ghz Memory 4.00GB Graphics Card AMD Radeon HD 6550M 2651MB HyperMemory/Intel HD Graphics Sound Card Conexant High Definition SmartAudio 221 Monitor(s) Displays 15.6" HD LCD Screen Resolution 1366x768
Stuck with one simple problem: how do i reallocate space between two partitions? I have shrunk one already - but it just created an empty volume on the same partition. How do i move it to another partition, which I want to become bigger?
Thanks for your help.
PS
Yep, it's russian OS in the screenshot, sorry
PPS
Oh, and BTW - I don't want to delete data on partitions! I just need to reallocate free space.
In your case, it would need to use a 3rd party program like Partition Wizard Home Edition to move free space around. Disk Management is limited and will not do that for you without having to delete the partitions.
Information
Note
Warning
OPTION ONE 
Clicked Delete Volume on wrong partition in Disk Management 
