Traces of Windows remaining after installing Ubuntu

[cbiweb]

I did a new install of 22.04 on my Windows 11 laptop. I did not dual boot, I just installed right over Windows.
But it appears there is still a Windows partition on my machine. You can see the FAT32 partition in the screenshot.

How can I get rid of all traces of Windows?

[jeremy31]

If you delete that partition you might not be able to boot. The Ubuntu installer made that partition and it contains important boot loader files

[cbiweb]

If you delete that partition you might not be able to boot. The Ubuntu installer made that partition and it contains important boot loader files

But it's FAT32, which is Windows related, or not?
I can't do without it?

I've reinstalled 5 times because of problems with getting the passphrase to unlock the volume.
Is there an option I'm missing during installation that would get rid of any Windows residue?

Or perhaps this is something Microsoft did with Windows 11 to keep their tentacles in there, lol.

[yancek]

That is the EFI partition and in all likelihood was there with your install of windows and Ubuntu simply put its EFI boot files in a separate directory on that partition. That partition needs to be there to boot. You can remove the directory for windows from that partition. Run: ls /boot/efi/EFI and you should see a directory named Microsoft which you can delete if you don't intend to use windows. You might do an online search for using UEFI with Ubuntu so you have a basic understanding.

[jeremy31]

But it's FAT32, which is Windows related, or not?
I can't do without it?

I've reinstalled 5 times because of problems with getting the passphrase to unlock the volume.
Is there an option I'm missing during installation that would get rid of any Windows residue?

It is the EFI System Partition and it is required for booting in UEFI no matter what OS you have.
I am guessing your issue is more related to grub and luks

[cbiweb]

T...Run: ls /boot/efi/EFI and you should see a directory named Microsoft which you can delete if you don't intend to use windows...

This is what I get when I do that:

BOOT ubuntu

[cbiweb]

It is the EFI System Partition and it is required for booting in UEFI no matter what OS you have.
I am guessing your issue is more related to grub and luks

Okay, so what do I do? I'm not knowledgeable enough to know what to do. I could Google, but I was hoping a support forum would be faster.

I want pure Linux with no traces of Windows.

Do I need to wipe my entire hard drive, and go from there??

[coffeecat]

I want pure Linux with no traces of Windows.

Do I need to wipe my entire hard drive, and go from there??

Why? You don't have any "traces of Windows".

Do you have an issue with booting Ubuntu? If not, leave well alone.

[cbiweb]

Why? You don't have any "traces of Windows".

Do you have an issue with booting Ubuntu? If not, leave well alone.

Perhaps I'm still not understanding something....

Is FAT32 not a Windows thing?

Also, when I boot up I get a screen offering a choice to boot Ubuntu or "Advanced options for Ubuntu", as if I'm dual booting - which of course I'm not.

My brother has 22.04 and he doesn't see that. This makes me wonder if there is Windows stuff wandering around.

[1fallen]

Perhaps I'm still not understanding something....

Is FAT32 not a Windows thing?

Not Really just a windows thing.

Mine has never seen a windows install, and see here:

inxi -p | grep efi
  ID-3: /boot/efi size: 1.05 GiB used: 6.1 MiB (0.6%) fs: vfat

yancek has explained that to you>>>" That partition needs to be there to boot"

ls /boot/efi/EFI
BOOT  ubuntu

Nothing to worry about.