Install W10 on new Acer Nitro 5 Laptop. Preexisting system partition?

Hi,

So I got a new laptop and I'm trying to install W10. It was already preinstalled with some Endless Linux that I've never heard about, so when in the W10 setup, I noticed that apart from the Primary Partitions (that I have deleted) there is a System partition, that I have no idea what it's about.

Anyone has any idea about such partitions on laptops that come preinstalled with other OSs? Is it safe to delete it?

You need to delete all partitions until there is nothing but unallocated space. Then highlight the unallocated space and click next.

NavyLCDR said:

You need to delete all partitions until there is nothing but unallocated space. Then highlight the unallocated space and click next.

Are you sure it's safe to delete this:

doriandiaconu said:

Are you sure it's safe to delete this:

Yes. Every single partition should be deleted until there is one single "Unallocated Space" entry for disk 0 and nothing else.

The only time you should not delete EVERY partition when doing a new install is when you have your own data stored in a separate partition, then you would want to leave that one on the disk. Since you are doing a new install on a new computer, delete EVERY partition, including the System partition.

The System partition contains the boot configuration files. The current System partition is set up with the boot files for Linux (the Endless OS). You need to get rid of that and replace it with Windows boot files. The way to do that is to delete the System partition and then let Windows recreate it's own System partition during the install to Unallocated Space.

What if I format it after windows install and attach it to a partition.

doriandiaconu said:

What if I format it after windows install and attach it to a partition.

Format what after Windows install and attach it to a partition? When you do a clean install to an unallocated disk Windows setup will create all the partitions it needs to boot. On a UEFI computer that is a recovery partition (probably 500MB), the EFI System Partition (probably 100MB), a hidden Microsoft System Reserved partition (probably 16MB), and then the Windows partition itself for the OS (the rest of the drive).

The existing "System" partition has nothing to do with the computer itself. It is only the boot files the operating system creates to tell the computer how to load the installed OS. Since you are moving from a Linux OS to Windows, you need to delete it and leave it deleted so that Windows can create it's own System partition.