You can, but your computer would stop working because Windows is the operating system, the software that makes it tick and provides a platform for programs, like your web browser, to run on. Without an operating system your laptop is just a box of bits that do not know how to communicate with one another, or you.

What happens if you don’t have an operating system?

An operating system is the most essential program that allows a computer to run and execute programs. Without an operating system, a computer cannot be of any important use since the computer’s hardware won’t be able to communicate with the software.

Do you need an operating system?

Actually we do not need an operating system—any computer can run a program without having an OS, provided the program is written in such a way that it replaces the low-level OS functionality. However, the vast majority of computers larger than a wristwatch make use of an OS.