I set up a Windows/Linux dual boot some time ago, but I no longer need the Windows installation and want to reclaim the storage used by the C: drive. The Windows partition is currently mounted read-write, and I've started moving files into folders called "probably delete" and "keep." Before deleting anything, I want to know whether Linux or its bootloader might depend on files stored there, and what the safest way is to remove or reuse the partition.
2 Answers
Linux normally does not rely on files inside the Windows NTFS partition. Its bootloader is usually stored in the EFI System Partition, or on older BIOS systems in the disk’s boot record. However, check where your EFI partition is located before changing partitions, since it may be on the same physical drive. Also, don’t manually delete random files from C:—back up anything important and unmount the partition first. If Linux mounts it automatically through /etc/fstab, remove or update that entry after deleting the partition.
In the usual setup, deleting the Windows partition won’t affect Linux. You can boot a live Linux environment, verify the EFI partition and your Linux partitions, then delete or format the old Windows partition using a partitioning tool. If you want to merge that space into another partition, the operation may be more complicated depending on which partition is adjacent, and resizing should be done with backups available. Simply changing the partition type or reusing the space is different from securely erasing the entire drive; normal deletion is enough for reclaiming space, while secure erasure is only needed for sensitive data.
So the important checks are confirming the EFI partition and making sure Linux isn’t mounting C: through /etc/fstab, rather than preserving anything from the Windows filesystem itself?