#What partitions of the drive do I delete?

22 messages · Page 1 of 1 (latest)

pine crag
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I dual booted Linux mint, and Windows 11, I am now ready to fully commit to Linux mint, I'm on a Lenovo ThinkPad t480. And I'm not sure what sections of the drive to delete to get rid of Windows and keep mint running properly. I'm also not sure how to re-add them to mint to keep them usable. I will attach picture.

Partition 1 is called boots. It's a EFI file system.
Partition 2 is called unk.... It is Microsoft reserved
Partition 3 is called Windows, it is basic data, partition 5 is called file stream, is a Linux file system and partition for is called ntfs, and is a Microsoft Windows recovery element. No Auto Mount.

To restate questions?
Which partitions am I okay to delete without causing any problems once they are deleted? How do I add them back to Linux to use as additional storage?

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oblique roost
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1mb is legacy (not everyone has it, it's fine), you need that. 500+mb is your boot partition. You need that.

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Word of warning. If you had dual boot. Deleting the windows partitions, and windows can brick your booting into Linux. MS's final gift.

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Ideally you want to fresh install Mint, it will reformat, wipe the whole drive. If you want to retain things. Let us know.

pine crag
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I do have files that I would like to retain.

oblique roost
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For now. I recommend backing up all essential files. Before making any additional moves.

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The problem is when you put in partitions. It bakes itself to the motherboard, motherboard drivers, the works. That's why in this situation a reformat is recommended.

pine crag
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If I plan on upgrading the amount of storage inside the computer, replacing the hard drive entirely, would it just be better to wait until I get the new hard drive?

unreal turret
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nah u can do it now

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you may delete partitions 2 and 3. definitely not ones with stars.

Screenshot_2025-05-06_17-29-58.jpg
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then use Mint live boot, and gparted in that environment resize p5 (fourth)

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if anything to save on p3 , copy it over to p4 first

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if anything REALLY critical, back up to external drive, or if not top-secret, to online (web) drive

pine crag
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Do they automatically get included in Linux mint or do I need to somehow remove the partition after it's deleted?

unreal turret
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no nothing is automatic

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to resize the last one, u need space to its left, and it can only be done in live gparted

oblique roost
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I still recommend full backups before embarking upon this.

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Gparted in Linux for easily moving and reclaiming your hard drive space.

unreal turret
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live-iso only. cant do much other than delete non-starred partitions in normal 'installed' linux

pine crag
unreal turret
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graphical partition editor

oblique roost
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It's a lot easier to us versus the current partition editor. At least when it comes to merging empty partitions. You have to hit the green arrow, approve to apply changes. So it has a fail safe.