Does Windows 10 Reset option merge disk partitions?


  1. rafaeldias
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Does Windows 10 Reset option merge disk partitions?


    Here's my ordeal: I bought a Dell laptop that came with windows 8.1, and later I upgraded it to windows 10.
    In the meantime, I created 2 partitions to install linux Debian (one for OS and another for Swap). Although, due to many problems with UEFI and videocard drivers, I uninstalled Debian, and now I have these partitions "lingering on" on my disk.

    In the image below, there's a 2.95GB swap partition and a 21..88GB temp partition, where I had Debian installed, but I can't merge them back with the main C: partition.

    My question is: using Windows 10 reset will fix this for me? Or at least clean everything so that I can merge them (including the recovery partition that appears to be unnecessary in Windows 10).
    I want to have the original contiguous space again.

    Does Windows 10 Reset option merge disk partitions?-win_10_disks.png
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,963
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    Hi, Resetting Windows won't clean up unrelated partitions. Imagine them containing your precious wedding photos. You wouldn't want them deleted.

    To tidy up that the simplest way may be for you to use a partition manager boot disk e.g.
    Bootable Partition Manager| MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

    Make sure you are familiar with the partitions related to Win 10- you don't want to delete them.
    Here is the basic set for a UEFI installation as an example:
    Does Windows 10 Reset option merge disk partitions?-snap-2016-09-14-08.04.10.jpg

    Make sure you can identify the ones you no longer want.
    Boot using the Minitools boot medium, delete unwanted partitions, move the others to form contiguous space.

    I'm assuming you have or can deal with your dual boot configuration appropriately.
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  4. Kbird
    Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       New #3

    If you don't need any of the Data you can just do a Clean install , cleaning the disk in the Process ( delete all partitions) and start again with a Clean Windows 10 , there are tutorials on clean installing in the Installation sections of the Tutorial Forum (see top of page)

    If you want to save the data it is also possible I think....

    MiniTool Partition Wizard 9 is free for Home Use and should be able to do this , as you want to merge into C where Windows 10 is, you will need to use the MTPW Boot disk , you should get that too , (below) as MTPW can't merge partitions into C while Windows is running.

    Boot disk for MTPW
    Bootable Partition Manager| MiniTool Partition Wizard Bootable Edition

    The 2.05 and 21.88GB Partitions can't be merged at the moment as you have what look like Windows Recovery Partitions in the Way, windows will not allow you to move/merge them , but with the Boot Disk they can also be deleted and merged. In fact the last 7 partitions can all be deleted and merged if you want the space, as I think the Last two are the Recovery Partitions from the Laptop Maker which you no longer need as you now have Windows 10.

    I guess you have a 8GB USB key plugged in too ? ie Disk 1


    KB.
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  6. rafaeldias
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #4

    dalchina said:
    Hi, Resetting Windows won't clean up unrelated partitions. Imagine them containing your precious wedding photos. You wouldn't want them deleted.
    What about the option "remove files from all drives" during Reset? All my data is in Google Drive or github, so I don't really care about cleaning all drives if I get to remove all those unnecessary partitions.
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  7. rafaeldias
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #5

    Kbird said:
    If you don't need any of the Data you can just do a Clean install , cleaning the disk in the Process ( delete all partitions) and start again with a Clean Windows 10 , there are tutorials on clean installing in the Installation sections of the Tutorial Forum (see top of page)
    I was under the impression that Windows 10 Reset would do a complete reinstall of the system; I guess I was wrong.
    I'll take a look at those tutorials, it looks like clean installing is the best way to go.

    Thanks a lot.
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  8. rafaeldias
    Posts : 4
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    I've read the tutorials and I've got one last question which seemed ambiguous.
    Having upgraded from 8 to 8.1 and then to 10, when clean installing do I absolutely need a USB recovery media with Windows 10 or will it reinstall Windows 10 from the disk (and NOT 8 or 8.1)?
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  9. Kbird
    Posts : 2,324
    Win10
       New #7

    You are not mistaken but Reset and Remove Files and the other Options will not clean up the partition mess you have, it just uses the existing partitions again.

    For a Clean install you need to boot off a USB or DVD , and Delete EVERY Partition shown when it asks where to install Windows , then hit next (or new if that shows an error) and Windows 10 will install with just the standard (4+1 hidden ) GPT partitions if your Bios is set for UEFI

    More info on the Clean Install

    Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums

    KB
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  10. dalchina
    Posts : 42,963
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #8

    Clean install: forget Win 8. That's something you don't even have to think about.

    The original idea was to give you a working PC with Windows and programs exactly as is. A clean install means you will have to start fro scratch, and any data on C: will be erased. (and therefore you would need to back it up beforehand).

    If you prefer the first, all you should have to do is manipulate partitions as discussed.
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  12. Mansome
    Posts : 68
    Windows 10
       New #9

    rafaeldias said:
    What about the option "remove files from all drives" during Reset? All my data is in Google Drive or github, so I don't really care about cleaning all drives if I get to remove all those unnecessary partitions.
    All it will do is delete the data on the drives but it does not change the partition structure. As everyone has said do a clean install to wipe the partitions
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