Remove Ubuntu and Install Windows on Your PC

Switching from Ubuntu back to Windows might sound complicated, but it’s actually a straightforward process if you follow the right steps. Whether you want better compatibility with software, improved gaming support, or simply prefer the Windows environment, this guide will walk you through everything in a beginner-friendly way. In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to safely remove Ubuntu, create a Windows bootable USB using Ventoy, delete Linux partitions, and install Windows 10 or Windows 11 from scratch. Just follow along step-by-step, and you’ll have Windows running on your PC in no time.

Before You Begin

Before removing Ubuntu and installing Windows, there are a few important things you should prepare. This process will completely erase your current Ubuntu installation, so taking a few minutes to prepare will save you from losing important data.

First, back up all your personal files. Copy your documents, photos, videos, and any important folders to an external drive, USB stick, or cloud storage. Once we start deleting partitions during the Windows installation, recovery becomes very difficult.

Next, make sure you have:

• A USB drive with at least 8GB storage
• A stable internet connection
• A working keyboard and mouse
• Your laptop charger plugged in (for laptops)

We’ll also need a Windows ISO file and a tool to create a bootable USB. In this guide, we’ll use Ventoy because it’s simple and works perfectly on Ubuntu.

Once everything is ready, we can move to the first real step: downloading Windows and preparing the USB drive.

Step 1: Download the Windows ISO File

The first thing we need is the official Windows installation file, also called the ISO. Always download Windows directly from Microsoft to avoid corrupted or unsafe files.

Click the button below and download Windows 11 or Windows 10 from the official Microsoft website:

On the Microsoft page:

1. Scroll down to Download Windows Disk Image (ISO)
2. Select your Windows version
3. Click Download
4. Choose your language
5. Click Confirm
6. Save the ISO file to your computer

The file is large (around 5–6 GB), so it may take some time depending on your internet speed.

Once the download is finished, don’t open the ISO — just leave it in your Downloads folder. We’ll copy it to the USB in the next step.

Step 2: Install Ventoy on Your USB Drive (Ubuntu)

Now we’ll prepare your USB drive so it can boot Windows. For this, we’ll use a tool called Ventoy. The advantage of Ventoy is that you don’t need to “flash” the ISO every time — you simply copy the ISO file into the USB like a normal file.

Download Ventoy using the button below:

Extract Ventoy

After downloading:

1. Open your Downloads folder
2. Right-click the Ventoy .tar.gz file
3. Select Extract Here

A new folder will appear.

Plug in Your USB Drive

Insert your USB drive into the computer.
⚠️ Important: Installing Ventoy will erase everything on the USB.

Run Ventoy

1. Open the extracted Ventoy folder
2. Find the file named something like VentoyGUI.x86_64
3. Double-click to launch it
   • If it doesn’t open, right-click → Run as program

Install Ventoy to USB

Inside the Ventoy window:

1. Select your USB drive from the dropdown list
2. Click Install
3. Confirm the warnings

After a few seconds, Ventoy will finish installing.

✅ Your USB drive is now ready to accept bootable ISO files.

Step 3: Copy the Windows ISO to the Ventoy USB

Now that Ventoy is installed, creating the bootable Windows USB is incredibly simple.

1. Open your file manager
2. Open the Ventoy USB drive
3. Locate the Windows ISO file you downloaded earlier
4. Drag and drop or copy-paste the ISO into the USB

That’s it. No flashing, no extra steps.

Ventoy automatically detects ISO files and adds them to its boot menu.

✅ Your Windows bootable USB is now ready.

Step 4: Boot Your PC From the USB Drive

Now we’ll start the Windows installer.

1. Restart your computer
2. Immediately press your Boot Menu key

Common boot keys:

• F12 → Dell / Lenovo / Acer
• Esc → HP
• F9 / F10 / F11 → Some laptops
• F8 → Older systems

From the boot menu:

1. Select your USB drive
2. Press Enter

You’ll now see the Ventoy menu.

Select the Windows ISO using arrow keys and press Enter again.

Windows Setup will start loading.

Step 5: Delete Ubuntu Partitions and Install Windows

This step removes Ubuntu completely and installs Windows on the same drive. Take your time here and follow carefully.

Start Windows Setup

When Windows setup loads:

1. Choose your language and keyboard layout
2. Click Next
3. Click Install Now

If asked for a product key:

• Click I don’t have a product key (you can activate later)

Select your Windows edition and continue.

Choose Installation Type

When asked:

👉 Select Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)

This option lets us manage partitions.

Delete Ubuntu Partitions

You’ll now see a list of partitions. Ubuntu partitions usually:

• Don’t show drive letters
• May appear as unknown or primary
• Include Linux/ext4 partitions
• Include swap partitions

To remove Ubuntu:

1. Select each Ubuntu partition one by one
2. Click Delete
3. Confirm

Repeat until all Linux partitions are removed.

When finished, you should see:

✅ Unallocated Space

Install Windows

1. Select the Unallocated Space
2. Click Next

Windows will automatically create new partitions and begin installation.

Your PC will restart several times — this is normal.

Do not remove the USB until installation finishes.

Step 6: Complete Windows First-Time Setup

After Windows finishes installing, your PC will restart and launch the initial setup screen. This is where you configure your new system.

Follow the on-screen steps:

1. Select your region
2. Choose your keyboard layout
3. Connect to Wi-Fi (optional but recommended)
4. Sign in with a Microsoft account
   – or choose an offline/local account if available
5. Create a username and password
6. Adjust privacy settings

Once setup is complete, Windows will load the desktop for the first time.

✅ Congratulations — Ubuntu has been removed and Windows is now installed.

Important: Disable Secure Boot (If Installation Fails)

If your USB didn’t boot earlier or Windows setup refused to start, Secure Boot might be blocking it.

To disable Secure Boot:

1. Restart the PC and enter BIOS/UEFI
2. Find Secure Boot in Boot or Security settings
3. Set it to Disabled
4. Save and exit

Then try booting the USB again.

Troubleshooting Common Problems

Even though the process is straightforward, sometimes small issues can appear. Here are the most common problems and how to fix them.

Ventoy USB Not Showing in Boot Menu

If your USB drive doesn’t appear:

• Try another USB port (prefer USB 2.0 if available)
• Reinstall Ventoy on the USB
• Enter BIOS and enable USB boot
• Switch between UEFI and Legacy boot modes

Windows Says “We Couldn’t Create a New Partition”

This usually happens if extra drives are connected.

Fix:

• Unplug external drives or extra USB devices
• Delete all partitions until only Unallocated Space remains
• Click Refresh
• Try installing again

PC Boots Back Into GRUB After Installation

If you still see the Linux boot menu:

1. Enter BIOS/UEFI
2. Go to Boot Order
3. Move Windows Boot Manager to the top
4. Save and exit

Windows should now load normally.

Final Words

That’s it! You’ve successfully removed Ubuntu and installed Windows on your PC. The process might look technical at first, but once you understand the steps, it’s actually very simple. Ventoy makes creating a bootable USB incredibly easy, and Windows automatically handles the rest of the installation.

Now you can reinstall your apps, restore your backed-up files, and start using Windows like a fresh new system.

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