Had HDD with OS, updated to SSD- Need help to delete OS from HDD

Halliday19 · Apr 13, 2016

So I recently bought an SSD to upgrade my computer. I put a clean install of Windows 10 on it (well, windows 8.1 then a free upgrade to windows 10) and now I need to wipe my HDD clean.

I've actually tried to have Windows on my SSD, but I would constantly get errors of file locations being all screwed up, so I'm starting fresh and going to try again...

How do I get rid of all of the partitions and OS from the HDD now that I have Windows on the SSD?

WyomingKnott · Apr 13, 2016

doing this will wipe out all of the files on your HDD. Are you sure that you don't have anything there that you need?
Also, do you realize that you will have to re-install all of the software that was on your HDD to the SSD?

Halliday19 · Apr 13, 2016

WyomingKnott :

Yes I'm aware this will wipe the HDD. I have nothing on there as its a relatively new build. And of the important documents I had I put on a thumb drive for now. As for programs, I only had Bitdefender, uTorrent and Steam.. So I don't mind if I have to redownload everything. I just want to start fresh.

WyomingKnott · Apr 14, 2016

Then it makes a great deal of sense. Did you install Windows with ONLY the SSD in the machine? If not, it probably wrote a partition to the HDD that is now a part of your Windows install.
If not, it's as easy as going in to the Disk Manager and deleting all of the partitions on the drive. You might even re-initialize the drive so that it will not be marked as bootable. If you need more detailed directions, I'd be happy to provide them.

Halliday19 · Apr 14, 2016

Unfortunately i did have the OS on my HDD and tried going into disc manager and it wouldn't let me delete the partitions

Wayfall · Apr 14, 2016

You simply go into my computer then right click the drive and format it. I did that to my old 1TB Western Digital HDD when I got a Samsung EVO 850 SSD for my OS and I just restarted my pc and it was fine.

It simply means it marks all files to be allow to be written over, it also means your files can be recovered if they haven't been written over yet. But this is why some people use software to burn all the files away so to say so no one can take your HDD and recover files off your HDD.

Halliday19 · Apr 14, 2016

When I go to do that, it still has all the partitions there as if it had the OS still on. I have my SSD where I can see all the normal partitions (recovery 300mb, efi system partition 100mb, primary 110gb, recovery 450mb). But my Hdd is still telling me that it has 300mb recovery, 99mb efi, 930gb unallocated, recovery 450mb, and another 451mb unallocated...

WyomingKnott · Apr 15, 2016

If I were having that problem I would take my trusty Parted Magic boot media and re-initialize the disk with it. After taking seven precautions to ensure that I was initializing the correct drive. Might even disconnect the cables from the SSD before booting PM.

However, if the HDD was attached while you installed Windows on the SSD then one of those partitions is your Windows recovery and you will lose it. Was that drive installed when you installed to the SSD?

Do a simple survival test. Disconnect the HDD and boot from the SSD. If it complains, then you still need your HDD and we have to work out another solution.

ChaoticWolf · Apr 16, 2016

To delete the entire operating system on the hdd, get a Windows 6/8/10 disc, go somewhere in the settings where there is a "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen and choose the hdd and hit format.

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Had HDD with OS, updated to SSD- Need help to delete OS from HDD

Halliday19

Commendable

WyomingKnott

WyomingKnott

Legenda in Aeternum

Halliday19

Commendable

WyomingKnott

Legenda in Aeternum

Halliday19

Commendable

Wayfall

Splendid

Halliday19

Commendable

WyomingKnott

Legenda in Aeternum

ChaoticWolf

Honorable

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