Installed SSD, want to delete OS off old HDD

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Joshtp

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May 24, 2014
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Hey guys!
I recently bought a 128G SSD and put it into my computer, and installed Windows 7 onto it
Before I bought the SSD I had (and still have) my 2T HDD, which still has Windows 7 on it. Basically I just want to format my HDD as I have already gotten anything I want/need off of it.
However, I cannot format the HDD for the following reason;
"Windows cannot format this drive. Quit any disk utilities or other programs that are using this drive, and make sure no window is displaying the contents of the drive. Then try formatting again.
(I would just upload a photo but I don't know how)

I have deleted folders in the HDD so the only ones remaining are Program files, Program files x86 and Windows.
I did some research on it already and found a post saying that the HDD has a "page file"? apparently it could be the something that is stopping me from formatting it.
in Computer Management their are 2 partitions on the HDD, "System Reserved" and just the "C:"
I have tried moving the "Page File" to a different location in accordance to the other forum post, but this didn't work.
Happy to provide extra details, photos (if you let me know the fastest way to do that :p)
Thanks in advance!
 
Solution
JQB45
download a live image (also known as a live cd) of Linux Mint, install it on a DVD or USB Drive then use gpart to format the drive. You can do all of this without installing Linux. There are plenty of tutorials on how to make the DVD or USB Drive with the linux ISO.

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Ragnarous

Ragnarous

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Sep 15, 2013
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You have to insert a disk with the fresh windows installation, then press custom installation and press the option down right of screen (don't remember excactly what it says) that allows you to modify partitions and disk drives.. You are gonna first press format the drive you want, then delete the partition if you want.. Then when you will see that the drive is empty press the OS to be installed on the SSD :)
 
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JQB45

JQB45

Splendid
Jun 23, 2006
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download a live image (also known as a live cd) of Linux Mint, install it on a DVD or USB Drive then use gpart to format the drive. You can do all of this without installing Linux. There are plenty of tutorials on how to make the DVD or USB Drive with the linux ISO.

 
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Solution
K

ktolo

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Jul 19, 2012
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Try de-taching the power or data cable from your 2TB and see if windows still boots first with only the SSD connected!!!

It could be that the bootloader is actually on the HDD (like mine, i had windows installed here first) You may want to delay formatting it if this is the case.
 
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J

Joshtp

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May 24, 2014
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Tried this, and it does appear it is booting off the HDD, how did you fix this?
Edit: I am confused on why this is though, because my SSD drive (B:) has the (Boot, Crash Dump, Primary Partition) when I look in Disk Management.
The only thing my HDD has (C:) is (Page File) and a separate partition "System Reserved"
 
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J

Joshtp

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May 24, 2014
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Could I just use a Windows USB installer? Or is it a case of, the Linux has a different way of doing it
 
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J

Joshtp

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May 24, 2014
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10,530
GUYS THANKS FOR ALL YOUR HELP
the solution I managed to come up with was to detach my HDD, reinstall the OS onto my SSD through USB/CD, attach the HDD back up and format it (by right-click Format option in My Computer)
This did it haha

(chose best answer based upon closest to the way I did it)
 
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