Simple Ways to Format a Linux Hard Disk to Windows

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Easy-to-follow steps so you can use a Linux hard drive for Windows

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Last Updated: May 27, 2023

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Creating a Windows Partition

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Using the Ubuntu Installation Disc

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Q&A

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Tips

|

Warnings

Windows operating system and Linux execute best on their specific file systems. It is a known fact that Linux executes better on hard disks that are formatted using the ext3 file format system, whereas Windows executes well on a disk that has been formatted on the NTFS file system. If you are running Linux as your default operating system and would like to switch to Windows, there are two simple ways in which you can reformat a hard disk that has been formatted for the Linux operating system to enable you to install the Windows operating system. For the procedure, you will need the installation disc for each of the operating systems, i.e. Linux and Windows.

Things You Should Know

First, create a Windows partition with the NTFS file system.
Second, create an Ubuntu partition.
Finally, delete the Linux partition and you're left with just the Windows OS and the formatted hard drive.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Creating a Windows Partition

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Press “Enter” to boot the system from the CD-ROM.

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If the installation identifies the presence of another copy of Windows, press the “Esc” key to exit the installation process.
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Press ‘D’ to delete and ‘L’ thereafter to confirm the process. Thereafter, the installation will display the current partition and “Unknown”. Repeat the entire procedure until all partitions have been erased.
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To create a new partition to install Windows in, select the partition labeled “Unpartitioned space” and press “Enter” to create a new partition you will use to install Windows in.
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To install both Windows and Linux, select the FAT32 file system.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Ubuntu Installation Disc

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During the boot-up process, select “Try Ubuntu without……” This will enable you to install Linux without affecting the current status of your system.
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Load the Partition Editor application, this can be found by clicking the menu “System” and then selecting “Administration” on the drop-down menu.
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Thereafter, select “New” to create a new partition to install Windows in. Choose NTFS as the preferred file format system.
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Community Q&A

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Why not just use the Ubuntu disk to delete Ubuntu, reformat the drive to NTFS, then load Windows 7 on the new NTFS drive?

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Using Ubuntu to reformat the drive is unnecessary if you're going to install Windows 7. The Windows 7 install disk is perfectly capable of wiping the drive and reformatting to NTFS.

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Tips

If you intend to install multiple operating systems on one hard disk, it is highly recommended that you create multiple partitions for each operating system. The file system used ought to be FAT32 as it is unanimous for data that will be shared amongst the operating systems.

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Warnings

Formatting a hard disk will erase any data that exist therein. Ensure that you have created a backup of all data stored on the hard disk.

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Simple Ways to Format a Linux Hard Disk to Windows

Things You Should Know

Steps

Creating a Windows Partition

Using the Ubuntu Installation Disc

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

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