Partition or Volume - Delete

Page 1 of 17 12311 ... LastLast
    Partition or Volume - Delete

    Partition or Volume - Delete

    How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7 and Windows 8
    Published by
    Designer Media Ltd


    How to Delete a Partition or Volume in Windows 7 and Windows 8


       Information
    This will show you how to delete a partition or volume on a hard disk using Disk Management or Diskpart in Windows 7 and Windows 8 to create empty unallocated space that you can use to create new partitions with.

       Note


    • You will not be able to delete the Windows partition that you are currently logged in to. The only way would be to delete it at boot or during a Windows installation.
    • 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 startup and run properly.

       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 Defragmenter service, 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.

    Partition or Volume - Delete-error.jpg




    OPTION ONE

    To Delete Partition or Volume using Disk Management

    1. Press the Windows + R keys to open the Run dialog, type diskmgmt.msc, and Press Enter.

    2. In the middle pane, right click on the partition of a disk that you want to delete, and click/tap on Delete Volume. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: If the partition is a logical partition, then you will need to delete the free space again to have it as unallocated space.
    Partition or Volume - Delete-delete_step1.jpg
    3. Click/tap on Yes to confirm deletion. (see screenshot below)
    Partition or Volume - Delete-delete_step2.jpg
    4. The selected partition (step 2) is now deleted and is unallocated space on the disk. If not, then delete the partition again until it displays as unallocated space like below. (see screenshot below)
    NOTE: You can now use this unallocated space to create a new partition with, or extend another adjacent partition on that same hard disk into it.
    Partition or Volume - Delete-delete_step3.jpg
    5. You can now close Disk Management if you like.



    OPTION TWO

    To Delete Partition or Volume using Diskpart Command

    1. Open an elevated command prompt in Windows 7 or Windows 8, or a command prompt at boot in Windows 7 and Windows 8.

    2. In the command prompt, type diskpart and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
    Partition or Volume - Delete-cmd_delete_step1.jpg
    3. In the 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.
    Partition or Volume - Delete-cmd_delete_step2.jpg
    4. In the 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.
    Partition or Volume - Delete-cmd_delete_step3.jpg
    5. In the 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.
    Partition or Volume - Delete-cmd_delete_step4.jpg
    6. In the command prompt, type exit and press Enter. (See screenshot below)
    Partition or Volume - Delete-cmd_delete_step5.jpg
    7. Close the command prompt.

    8. The selected partition (step 4) is now deleted and is 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.
    That's it,
    Shawn







  1. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 home Premium x64
       #1

    Removing an old recovery partition


    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
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Hello Rurik,

    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.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 29
    Windows 7 home Premium x64
       #3

    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
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #4

    You're welcome. :)
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 13
    Windows 7
       #5

    Hello everyone, hope you can help.

    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.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Partition or Volume - Delete-discmanagement.jpg  
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Hello Lec, and welcome to Seven Forums.

    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.

    Hope this helps,
    Shawn
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 13
    Windows 7
       #7

    Thanks for help, Brink, I've already downloaded that wizard - will try it tonight.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 71,975
    64-bit Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Ok. Please let us know how it went for you. :)
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 13
    Windows 7
       #9

    Sorry, forgot to answer on time.

    Partition Wizard Home Edition did the job well, thanks a lot! :)
      My Computer


 
Page 1 of 17 12311 ... LastLast

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:24.
Find Us