If you see Linux in the Windows Explorer tree and wish to remove it, in case you don't use WSL, here's the proper way to do it:
First open "Turn Windows Features on or off" > scroll down and UNCHECK "Windows Subsystem for Linux" > Restart if requested to do so.
If that doesn't help, do this:
Open either Powershell, CMD or Terminal as admin and type:
reg export "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}" D:\Linux_Reg_Backup.reg /y
reg delete "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Desktop\NameSpace\{B2B4A4D1-2754-4140-A2EB-9A76D9D7CDC6}" /f
* The first command is meant to backup the registry key to drive D: just in case you'll want to undo the change. Feel free to back it up to any other location you desire. This is optional but recommended.
* The second command will delete the key.
* The change is immediate. There's no need to restart or log-off.
