Solved Dual-boot Win7 + Linux, now want to UNinstall Linux

[Gene Poole]

I installed PCLinuxOS on a second partition on my SSD boot drive. The drive is a mess of various partitions from the Linux and before that from installing Win8.1 and Win10. It does do a nice problem-free boot up of Linux but I'm bored with it, never use it, though I might have a go at a different Linux later. Now I want to clear everything except my trusty old Win7 but don't have a clue about the best approach. I do have Minitool Partition Wizard. Here's a small grab of it:

 

[townsbg]

You can reformat and use minitool partition wizard to delete and reformat the other partitions and then combine it with the OS partition. What's tricky is restoring the 7 bootloader. You can use easy bcd EasyBCD - NeoSmart Technologies or a repair with a windows disk to do that. I wouldn't touch Linux until you get the bootloader restored or you won't be able to boot windows. Take care when using easy bcd.

 

[Megahertz07]

Is your drive a Legacy-MBR or UEFI-GPT?
If it's a Legacy-MBR, if you delete the Linux partition you'll will also delete Grub boot loader and then you won't be able to boot Win 7.
I can also see:
- 500M G: System R... (Why it does have a letter assigned? What is in it?
- 562M partition. Was it the recovery partition of Win 10?
- Other 50.3G, 4G Swap and other 123.9 G (These are probably Linux partitions.

Please post a whole Mini Toll partition Window with all columns expanded so we can read them.

 

[Gene Poole]

Here's the whole Minitool info. Meanwhile, I guess you mean get the bootloader to only show Win7 on booting, via EasyBCD? I do have v2.3 but that may be over my old head, I don't want to ruin my Seven. I also have Teamviewer.

 

[Megahertz07]

Your C: partition is set as active.
- When you boot you are transferred to Grub boot loader or you go directly to windows?
- 500M G: System Reserved. Why it does have a letter assigned? What is in it?

With Mini tool, assign a letter to the 562M partition on the right side of C: partition.
What do you have on it?

 

[townsbg]

Here's the whole Minitool info. Meanwhile, I guess you mean get the bootloader to only show Win7 on booting, via EasyBCD? I do have v2.3 but that may be over my old head, I don't want to ruin my Seven. I also have Teamviewer.

Worse case scenario with EasyBCD is you can't boot Windows but the data will be there. Fact of the matter is you will have to restore the 7 bootloader as part of your linux uninstall process. You can either use EasyBCD or do a repair from the 7 installation disk to put it back. The dangerous part will be in consolidating partitions. If possible you might want to image the entire hard drive before you proceed further.

 

[Gene Poole]

Hmm gents, I'm intimidated now, maybe I'll just leave well enough alone. Sorry to trouble you.

 

[townsbg]

I didn't mean to freak you out but partition changes can always result in data loss, hence my recommendation to image the drive, although likely you won't experience any issues. Messing with the bootloader is really nothing compared to that because the data will still be there. If nothing else you'd be able to access the hard drive from a bootable linux disk and get your data off.