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One of the most common configurations for a new Ubuntu Linux installation involves reducing the size of the pre-existing Windows partition on the disk drive and using the resulting space to install Ubuntu Linux. This so called "dual boot" configuration allows the user to have both operating systems installed on the disk drive with the option to boot one or the other when the system is powered on. Performing this type of installation was covered in the [[Installing Ubuntu Linux on a Windows System (Dual booting)]] chapter of this book.
This chapter is intended for users who have decided they like Ubnuntu Linux Ubuntu enough to delete Windows entirely from the disk, and use the resulting space for Linux. In this chapter we will work through this process step by step.
== Deleting the Windows Partition from the Disk ==
The Windows partition can be identified by the filesystem type. In this case the filesystem is of type NTFS (which corresponds to hda1). A FAT filesystem also indicates a Windows partition. The ext3 partition is our current Linux partition. We are now going to delete the Windows partition, but first need to unmount the partition. To do so, right click on the partition, either in the list or in the graphical representation of the partitions and select ''unmount''. Enter your password if prompted to do so. The partition will be unmounted and a mount point will no longer be shown next to the partition in the list.
The next step is to delete the partition. Once again, right click on the partition in the list and select ''Delete''. The delete task will be listed as ''Pending''. To commit the change , click on ''Apply'' in the ''GParted'' toolbar.
Once the deletion is complete the former Windows Partition will be listed as ''unallocated''. This is now ready for us to use as a Linux partition.
