Question Delete all partitions?

[RenTheReaper]

Generally speaking I don't believe I know a lot on partitions aside from that they can potentially help a computer run faster. On the other hand, I just upgraded a computer from windows 8.1 to windows 10. Should I really delete all the partitions including the ones that say recovery?

 

[TerryLaze]

You should never delete anything if you don't know 100% what it does and if you need it.

 

[PaulDesmond]

I have used partitions for decades and swear by them. It will not make your PC run faster. I use it for separating windows from my documents. C: is for Windows, D: is for my documents E: is for my installed software. If Windows goes A over TIT as it can do, I can use an image to get it back.

Without knowing the setup you have, I would just format the partitions that say recovery (Quick format should be fine SEE NOTE), install windows in its own partition.

NOTE: You might have some valuable documents in the un-readable partition which could be recovered by some software but it is a difficult process and may not work.

If you want to delete them though then just go ahead. You will need to do a format afterwards. Go to Control Panel, Administrative tools, Computer Management, Disk management.

 

[USAFRet]

Generally speaking I don't believe I know a lot on partitions aside from that they can potentially help a computer run faster. On the other hand, I just upgraded a computer from windows 8.1 to windows 10. Should I really delete all the partitions including the ones that say recovery?

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

 

[RenTheReaper]

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

https://imgur.com/a/Y4kRJGW

 

[RenTheReaper]

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

https://imgur.com/a/QR62yzN

 

[USAFRet]

So this is already running WIn 10, or are you still installing it?

And I meant Disk Management. Not the place where you choose where to install to.

 

[RenTheReaper]

Ah, I decided to reinstall to fix something when I installed it the first time, but since I had the opportunity, I decided to show the partitions listed.

 

[RenTheReaper]

So this is already running WIn 10, or are you still installing it?

And I meant Disk Management. Not the place where you choose where to install to.

So reinstalling.

 

[SkyNetRising]

So reinstalling.

If all your data has been backed up and you want to reinstall windows, then delete all partitions.
Note - all previous data on your drive will be lost.

 

[Lafong]

If your intent is to do a clean install of Windows, you would manually delete ALL of those partitions in your picture, using that red X.

Windows will make new partitions as it sees fit.

If you have some other intent, say so.

 

[USAFRet]

So reinstalling.

As above...if your critical personal data lives elsewhere...delete ALL those partitions, and continue with a single blank space.

 

[USAFRet]

aside from that they can potentially help a computer run faster

And no, multiple partitions don't make it run faster.

 

[RenTheReaper]

If your intent is to do a clean install of Windows, you would manually delete ALL of those partitions in your picture, using that red X.

Windows will make new partitions as it sees fit.

If you have some other intent, say so.

Im interested in keeping any diagnostic utilities (from DELL as this is a DELL computer) as well as factory/recovery image in case. I'm however wondering if there are any partitions I could safely delete that anyone can identify.

 

[USAFRet]

Im interested in keeping any diagnostic utilities (from DELL as this is a DELL computer) as well as factory/recovery image in case. I'm however wondering if there are any partitions I could safely delete that anyone can identify.

The Dell utilities can be downloaded from Dell and reinstalled.

The factory reset partition?
Do you plan to go back to 8.1 at any time?
Assuming the system still runs Win 8.1, you can almost certainly invoke whatever function allows you to write that out to a USB.
Then, you put that USB in a desk drawer and never think about it again.

 

[SkyNetRising]

Im interested in keeping any diagnostic utilities (from DELL as this is a DELL computer) as well as factory/recovery image in case. I'm however wondering if there are any partitions I could safely delete that anyone can identify.

Your drive doesn't seem to have recovery image on it. So you will not be able to restore to previous version of windows (unless there are additional partitions, you didn't show in your screenshot).
It has recovery environment partition though.
But you can get all the recovery environment functionality by booting from windows installation media. So recovery environment is not essential.

Delete everything and start fresh.

 

[RenTheReaper]

Your drive doesn't seem to have recovery image on it. So you will not be able to restore to previous version of windows (unless there are additional partitions, you didn't show in your screenshot).
It has recovery environment partition though.
But you can get all the recovery environment functionality by booting from windows installation media. So recovery environment is not essential.

Delete everything and start fresh.

https://imgur.com/a/mpWXdYq

 

[USAFRet]

That has nothing to do with the (nonexistent) original Factory Recovery partition.

 

[RenTheReaper]

The Dell utilities can be downloaded from Dell and reinstalled.

The factory reset partition?
Do you plan to go back to 8.1 at any time?
Assuming the system still runs Win 8.1, you can almost certainly invoke whatever function allows you to write that out to a USB.
Then, you put that USB in a desk drawer and never think about it again.

Assuming I ever plan to sell or give the computer, would it not be better to have the factory reset partition since from what I understand, win10 license is linked to my own microsoft account? Also, I don't have many USB sticks for how "miserably sad" that sounds and well I also probably won't put alot of stuff on this computer.. so maybe it wouldn't hurt leaving the factory reset partition on it?

 

[RenTheReaper]

That has nothing to do with the (nonexistent) original Factory Recovery partition.

Ah I see.

 

[USAFRet]

Assuming I ever plan to sell or give the computer, would it not be better to have the factory reset partition since from what I understand, win10 license is linked to my own microsoft account? Also, I don't have many USB sticks for how "miserably sad" that sounds and well I also probably won't put alot of stuff on this computer.. so maybe it wouldn't hurt leaving the factory reset partition on it?

1. For whatever reason, that partition no longer exists on that drive. If it did, it would be some XXGB in size.
2. For selling the system, you delink it from your MS account, and install a bare OS.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...nt-selling-gifting-windows-10-device-xbox-one

Redirecting

 

[RenTheReaper]

Well if thats so, I'll try deleting (or should I format?) Everything then?

 

[USAFRet]

Well if thats so, I'll try deleting (or should I format?) Everything then?

Delete ALL of those partitions, leaving one blank space.
The OS install will create what it needs.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[RenTheReaper]

Thank you all very much for the help and sorry for the trouble!

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you all very much for the help and sorry for the trouble!

No trouble at all!