How can I safely remove Ubuntu 10.10 from my PC / or How do I access Ubuntu files from inside Windows 7?

I recently installed Ubuntu 10.10 alongside Windows 7. I last tried to uninstall it by deleting the partition with Ubuntu on, but when I tried to restart my computer it had this error:

Error: no such device: (a bunch of numbers and letters)
Grub rescue>_

I reinstalled Ubuntu which fixed this problem, but would kinda still like to remove it properly as I cannot access those partition files from Windows 7.

Alternatively, I probably wouldn’t mind just being able to keep Ubuntu on this PC as long as I can access the files that are saved on the partition in Windows 7. I have searched for things to do this already but none seem to be supported with Windows 7.

Ideally I would want both of these questions answered in case I decide to change my mind of what I want to do.

Thanks in advance.