Computer

Removing Windows xp. Removing old Windows after installing a new one - step-by-step instructions. Removing system files

Greetings, dear readers.

There are several ways to clean your computer from the old operating system. So, for example, a new one can be installed on another hard drive, and the old one can simply be deleted manually. Or, during installation, simply specify the same partition, and later also try to deal with the previous OS manually. All this usually leads to early failure of the new version.

But how to remove Windows xp correctly? By and large, the most effective method is to format the HDD. If you decide to take this step, then most likely you want to install a newer version of the OS from Microsoft - the seventh. Therefore, I will tell you how to do this from under the installation process of this particular operating system.

It is necessary to say right away that we need a plastic disk or flash drive with the Win 7 distribution. Next, we follow the simple step-by-step instructions:

    We connect the portable memory or install it in the appropriate reading device.

    Reboot the computer and go into the BIOS. To do this, immediately after the first characters appear on the monitor, you need to press the “ Del" Sometimes it can be " F2, F11"and some others - it all depends on the motherboard manufacturer. In any case, a hint should appear on the screen as to what exactly needs to be done.

    Afterwards we find the section responsible for the loading order. More precisely, we indicate which component connected to the motherboard will be read first. Usually in the title of this item you can find the word “ BOOT" By the way, you can read in more detail about how to properly configure the BIOS to boot Windows OS from a flash drive or disk.

    We go into it and indicate the element we need - USB or CD-ROM.

    Afterwards, a black screen will appear with an inscription that informs you that you need to press any key to start the installation.

    Then we get to the menu. Using the prompts, we reach the point where we are asked to select a partition to install the OS. We indicate the one where the old system is located.

    We look for the line "". Click it and confirm. After some time, the disk will be completely cleaned.

    After this, you can continue the installation, or simply get a device with the Win distribution.

It’s worth noting right away that along with Windows, other files that were on this partition will also disappear, including the desktop and “My Documents”. As a result, you will get a completely clean disk.

Uninstalling Windows 7( )

If you don't take the Vista version, the next successful OS after XP can safely be called the seventh. Usually it is installed on the computer, and for some reason users want to say goodbye to it. In most cases, it is proposed to install a newer modification - 8 or 8.1. Therefore, I will tell you how to remove the old option from the installation menu of the new operating system.

In addition, you can completely delete the disk on your computer and then create it again - the essence will not change, and the system will automatically split it into sectors and tracks.

Uninstalling Windows 8( )

After Microsoft released the tenth version of the operating system to the market, which is suitable not only for laptops and computers, but also for mobile devices, many began to switch to it. Others were skeptical about the new product. But after several major updates, Win 10 was able to win over most of the users. And at the same time, there was no need to purchase new equipment - all software is perfectly suitable for devices that previously had earlier versions installed.

If you decide to uninstall Windows 8, it’s worth noting right away that in general the process is exactly the same as in previous versions. The only difference is that when you select a partition to install, there is no button “ Formatting" For it to appear, you must click "". And then select the section and format it. Here you don’t even need to watch the video - everything is clear.

It is important to remember that it is advisable to first find out where exactly the previous version of the system is located, so as not to accidentally say goodbye to personal information. By the way, if you are wondering how to remove Windows 10, do the same.

Using a third party program( )

Another very popular method used by professionals is to connect a separate utility. There are a lot of such programs, but Acronis Disk Director can easily be called the highest quality and most effective. The program has a wide range of functionality, including the ability to work with hard drive partitions without loading the operating system. However, I have already talked about the operation of this program. You can find all the necessary information by clicking on.

In addition to the above, you can also use ERD Commander. So, the application suggests creating a boot disk. There's nothing complicated about it. Just use the tips that will appear as you work.

Then insert the prepared disk or flash drive and restart the computer. Again, go to the BIOS and indicate booting from the location we need. We save and exit. Next, at startup, a menu will appear where we need to select “”. A new window will open. Requests will appear in it one after another. Users just have to press the button " Further" This must be done before the menu appears " Disk Cleanup" Here we select the desired area and confirm the actions.

It is important to note that without a disk or a separate flash drive you will not be able to do anything, since the OS is located on the HDD - it simply cannot remove itself. This is why you need to use separately prepared portable devices.

Well, as you can see in general, removing different versions of Windows on a computer comes down to the same simple principles. Therefore, everyone can perform all the necessary actions.

I hope you found the answers you needed to your questions and learned new information. Subscribe and you can solve any computer-related problems.

Often, when installing a new operating system, users forget to remove the old one or format the disk. In such cases, when loading the operating system, a window appears on their screen with a choice of operating system, which is very inconvenient, since it only confuses the user. Moreover, in most cases one of the presented operating systems is not working.

How to remove a second Windows 7 from a computer

In such cases, you should remove the unnecessary distribution from your hard drive. This task is completed in several stages:

  • removing the operating system from boot options;
  • deleting the Windws.old folder from your hard drive.

Note! These actions are relevant for bothWindows 7 and later versions (Windows 8, 10).

Let's look at each of the processes in more detail.

To remove the reflection of a non-working distribution from the loading screen, the user will need to perform the following steps:

After correctly completing all the above steps, the system will ask you to restart your computer. The user must click on the button labeled “Reboot” and wait for the system to restart.

During the next boot, the system will not provide a choice of OS, but will automatically download the working distribution.

Removing the Windws.old folder from your hard drive

A directory called Windows.old is created automatically by the system when installing a new OS if the installation was carried out without formatting the hard drive. This folder is used by the system to restore the previous distribution. The directory size in most cases ranges from 2 to 15 GB, which is very unpleasant. To free up disk space, the user must perform the following manipulations:



If all steps were completed correctly, the folder occupying space will be deleted.

Read effective ways to delete an old folder in the article -

Alternative ways to remove a second Windows 7

It is worth noting that the second folder with old Windows 7 can be deleted in another way. To do this you need:


Important! Without emptying the Recycle Bin, the deleted file will still take up space on your hard drive.

To delete the folder with the old distribution, you can also:

  • select a folder;
  • Press the key combination “Shift+delete”.

In this case, the folder will be deleted permanently, bypassing storage in the trash. It is important to note that this removal method will never allow you to restore the previous version of the distribution.

Conclusion

The process of installing the Windows 7 operating system over the previous version is necessary only if the user wants to keep all the programs and settings installed earlier, or use the second OS as an additional one and use it freely, switching between OSes. In other situations, it is better to format the disk during installation. This will reduce the effort and time required to perform the above operations. It is also possible, when reinstalling the OS, to format the disk partitions, thereby deleting the .

Video - How to remove a second Windows 7 from a computer

In the boot menu when the computer starts, the second operating system is displayed if several working operating systems are installed, for example, Windows 7 and XP, or if Windows 7/8 was reinstalled without formatting the system partition. How to remove the extra (unnecessary) OS and remove or configure the selection option, read this article.

How to remove the second OS from boot?

1. Open the “Start” system menu (Win key).

2. In the line “Search for programs...” type - execute.

3. Click on the “Run” icon that appears at the top of the menu bar.

4. In the new window, in the “Open” field, enter - msconfig. And then click on the “OK” button or press the “Enter” key.

5. In the “System Configuration” settings, open the “Download” tab.

6. Select the Windows you want to get rid of from the list.

Note. When choosing, pay attention to the labels. Next to the working OS (current) the status “Current operating system” is indicated. And next to an inactive one, as a rule, there is no additional information (explanation).

7. Click the “Delete” button, and then “Apply” and “OK”.

8. After closing the “System Configuration” window, in the additional “System Settings” window, select “Reboot”.

If all operations in the instructions were completed correctly, when the PC is restarted, neither the boot menu nor the other OS will be visible.

Using the Command Line

If you are an experienced computer user and know how to work with the command line (CMD.exe), you can use the integrated software tool BCDEdit.

The /deletevalue parameter to this directive removes the selected item from the load. More details about BCDEdit parameters and its capabilities can be found on the official Microsoft website - technet.microsoft.com/ru-ru/library/cc709667(v=ws.10).aspx.

How to delete a second Windows folder?

If for some reason there are two Windows folders on the system partition (one working and the other not) and the boot menu is not displayed at startup, to remove the operating system, follow these steps:

1. Determine which Windows folder belongs to the working OS (currently active):

  • press Win+R;
  • in the “Open” field enter - %windir%;
  • Click “OK” (the contents of the Windows folder will open, which does not need to be deleted);
  • remember this folder (additionally, look at its properties - creation date, size, number of files).

2. Go up to the directory above: click on the top line of the “Disk C” window (system partition).

3. Find the old or broken Windows folder. Once again, additionally compare its properties with the working one (so as not to confuse it!): Right-click → Properties. And then drag it to the trash or delete it through the context menu (right button → Delete).

How to customize the boot menu?

1. Press the Win+Break key combination.

2. Go to the “Advanced options...” section.

3. In the “System Properties” window, on the “Advanced” tab, in the “Boot and Recovery” block, click the “Options” button.

4. In the settings panel, you can change the OS that boots by default and the time the boot menu is displayed when the PC starts.

» How to remove the Windows XP operating system?

How to remove the Windows XP operating system?

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 demolish 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:

  1. Right-click “My Computer”;
  2. Select “Properties”;
  3. Click the “Advanced” tab;
  4. Click “Options”;
  5. “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:

  1. We restart the computer by quickly pressing “F8”, thereby entering safe mode;
  2. Click “Start” → “Settings” → “Control Panel”;
  3. Select the line “Add and remove programs”.
  4. In the menu, select and click “Remove Windows XP”.
  5. 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”.

There are different ways to remove an operating system from a computer's hard drive. All of them depend on the specific features of the installed OS and the desired final result. Below we will look at the most common tasks when uninstalling Windows 7.

Removing Windows 7 from a computer when installing another system

If you are going to part with your current OS, wanting to change it to another, you will not need special tools to remove the existing one. Almost all distributions have a function to format the hard drive before unpacking new files onto it. Let's look at this process using the example of installing Windows 8 from external media:

  • exit the running operating system by clicking “Start” -> “Restart”;
  • We connect a flash drive with a system image, a disk or any other distribution media to the computer;
  • before the “Windows” logo appears on the monitor, press the hotkey to select the device from which we want to boot (specifically, our OS media);
  • depending on the manufacturer, this menu can be called up using the F2, F8, F12 or other buttons;
  • if you don’t want to experiment with buttons, go to the BIOS and on the “Boot” -> “Device Priority” tab, select the drive that the PC will access first;
  • when the installation menu for a new operating system appears, specify your preferred language, click “Install”, enter the license key, accept the use agreement;
  • the next window will ask you in which partition you need to install the new system;
  • select the partition on which Windows 7 is located (labeled “System”);
  • Click the “Format” button under the selection menu;
  • The partition will be cleaned automatically;
  • when the process is complete, the installer will notify you (to continue the installation, just click on “Next” and follow the recommendations on the screen).

How to remove Windows 7 from a computer - removing one of several operating systems

In cases where the computer has more than one operating system, the removal process is a little different. To launch it, we will perform the following sequence of actions:

  • press the “Win ​​+ R” buttons to open the “Run” window;
  • enter the “msconfig” command into it, send it for execution with the “Enter” button;
  • The “System Configuration” window will open, in it go to the “Download” section;
  • Below we see a list of operating systems installed on the computer;
  • click on the one you want to erase;
  • under the selection menu, click on the “Delete” button;
  • To confirm the changes, also click at the very bottom “Apply” and “OK”;
  • The OS will be completely removed.


Removing Windows 7 without formatting

When installing new versions of Windows, if the partition has not been previously cleared, the previous version of the OS (in our case, Windows 7) can be stored in the Windows.old folder, taking up a decent amount of space on the hard drive. It can be easily removed using standard means of a functioning system. For this:

  • go to “Computer”;
  • select the disk on which Windows.old is located;
  • right-click on it and select “Properties” from the context menu;
  • in the properties window, on the “General” tab, click the “Clean up disk” button;
  • when the computer finishes analyzing, click “Clean up system files” at the bottom left;
  • in new search results, leave a checkmark next to “Previous settings”;
  • Click “Ok”, the deletion will happen automatically.


It should be remembered that the methods proposed in some guides to remove Windows 7, by renaming folders or opening access to them, are not correct and can cause instability in the current OS.