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Deleting data Without Formatting HDD.

Tags:
  • Formatting
  • Storage
  • Hard Drives
  • Format
Last response: in Storage
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October 7, 2014 5:54:48 PM

I have a 1TB HDD that has 9.6 GB space left. I would like to format the hard drive but my Windows 7 OS is installed on that HDD. I do not have any other HDD or SSD and I have a bunch of games to download.

I have swapped motherboards and CPU's twice since I have had this 1 TB HDD but I have never formatted it before. How can I format the hard drive and still keep my OS functioning? Or is there any other way I can free up storage space?

More about : deleting data formatting hdd

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a c 100 G Storage
October 7, 2014 6:03:02 PM
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October 7, 2014 6:07:58 PM

Thanks for the link, I'll try it out.
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October 7, 2014 6:17:43 PM

It freed up about 2GB which is good but I'm going to need a lot more space than that that. I'm going to need about 200-300GB for all my games. I honestly don't have much on my HDD right now. Only about 10 games, 20 pictures, no movies, hardly anything at all. I always assumed that when you replace a MOBO and re-install the OS that the HDD is wiped but apparently not.

Will it be easier to purchase another 1TB HDD instead? I know of one I can get for around $60.
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a c 100 G Storage
October 7, 2014 6:20:38 PM

use this to see where the disk space go. Just don't delete anything that you don't know(e.g. system files).
http://windirstat.info/
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October 7, 2014 6:31:21 PM

Thanks again. The software wouldn't work for some reason. The first time it said I wasn't connected to the internet and the next time time it said something about not being configured. That's alright though. I think I'm just going to purchase a new HDD. If you know of any 1TB hard drives for less 60 dollars please let me know.
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October 7, 2014 6:43:49 PM

The CCleaner is doing a much better job now! It has freed over 40GB so far and it hasn't even moved one percent yet, sounds like good news to me. I had it scan my 'old windows installation' and now the software is deleting many things. :)  Perhaps I won't need that new HDD after all.
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a b G Storage
October 7, 2014 6:47:02 PM

Windirstat does not need Internet in order to work.
There is also the possibility that your 1TB hard drive is partitioned your C:\ partition got filled up. You cannot format it while Windows is running, and if you format it your Windows installation is gone ;) 
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October 7, 2014 7:16:41 PM

Thanks for the info. but my problem is solved now. CCleaner freed up 687 GB! :) 
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