Why should I reformat my old HDD?

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Aranciata

Aranciata

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Aug 20, 2015
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Hi, I'm building a new computer with a new SSD, but want to use my old computers HDD

I'm going to install windows on the SSD and some programs and then use my old HDD as a storage drive.

Why do most people give out advice to reformat the HDD?

Mine has over 300GB on it and I can only back up 128GB onto a flash drive. I could transfer them to my laptop but that is a lot of work.

I understand reformatting makes it faster but will I be okay to just plug it in and somehow get rid of windows? Or could I just keep windows on there?
 
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A
Well, no you won't need to format the HDD. Just disconnect it while you are installing Windows, and it will create new system and boot partitions on the SSD.
Then later you can insert the HDD back, and set bios to boot from SSD. This way the bootloader created on SSD won't know about the old Windows. (those options can be later fixed or deleted anyway if someone has that kind of problem)
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because your old HDD already has windows on it.
Steps to take:
VERY IMPORTANT!!!!
Back up all files then format your HDD.
You should only need a small SSD because you install windows on the 128 GB SSD and then use your old HDD for all of the files
Also if you keep windows on the old HDD there will be a compatibility issue.
 
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burdenbound

burdenbound

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Because your HDD will still have your old install of windows, this takes up space and you will run into an annoying option of which OS you want to boot into every time you restart your computer. And yes it will help your HDD from being fragmented which will improve speed.
 
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Aranciata

Aranciata

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When you say back up, do you mean onto an external device correct?

 
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Aranciata

Aranciata

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That didn't help. I am trying to avoid using an external drive while switching over. As long as my BIOS knows to start up with the SSD I should be able to access the files on the HDD as are correct?
 
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no you will have to backup to an external drive
 
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Aranciata

Aranciata

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There's no way of avoiding this? Like I said I only have a 128GB stick and I need more than that on this new CPU.

Can anyone else offer a possible method?

Thanks
 
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akseli

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Well, no you won't need to format the HDD. Just disconnect it while you are installing Windows, and it will create new system and boot partitions on the SSD.
Then later you can insert the HDD back, and set bios to boot from SSD. This way the bootloader created on SSD won't know about the old Windows. (those options can be later fixed or deleted anyway if someone has that kind of problem)
 
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