So like many others I am about to set up my PC so that I use a SSD as a boot drive and for programs, while my old HDD is going to be used for storage. My question is, What happens to data on my HDD if I clean install on the SSD later down the line? I have had to reinstall windows 8.1 several times to fix issues, its likely Ill need to do this again in the future. What I want is to be able to reinstall my OS on the SSD and have it boot up top windows and have all my files and stuff there. Is this possible? Has anyone tried this? Please let me know.
What happens when you reinstall windows on a boot drive?
- Thread starter Morbo_
- Start date
Solution
- Mar 16, 2013
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With a clean install, you will need to reinstall all your applications, drivers, other utilities.
No way around that.
Or...you could consider a clone operation.
Move 'everything' from the old HDD to the new SSD.
Of course, this has space requirements.
What size is this new SSD?
How much total used space is consumed on the current HDD?
What, exactly, is taking up this space?
Do you have another drive handy?
No way around that.
Or...you could consider a clone operation.
Move 'everything' from the old HDD to the new SSD.
Of course, this has space requirements.
What size is this new SSD?
How much total used space is consumed on the current HDD?
What, exactly, is taking up this space?
Do you have another drive handy?
Thats not what Im asking. Here is the scenario.
I have windows 10 already on thje SSD boot drive, I also have all my files and stuff on my HDD. If something happened to my OS or boot drive. WILL I be able to just reinstall the OS on the boot drive and have it interact with my HDD the same as before?
D34D M34T
Reputable
- Sep 8, 2014
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Reinstalling the OS on the boot drive ONLY effects the boot drive. Data on other drives is not effected. If you store mail or other files on a non-OS drive tied to programs on the boot drive you will have to update program file pointers. My system has a 1TB SSD as boot, 512GB M.2 for digital editing workspace with a 4TB green SSD for short term storage and a 8TB NAS for long term storage. No, that's not overkill, I do 4k editing.
- Mar 16, 2013
- 171,418
- 17,886
- 184,590
Yes, you just install the OS again on the drive.
And you have any other drives disconnected during that process. Just in case.
Any applications on the HDD would have to be reinstalled, because the new OS does not know anything about them. But your personal files would be just fine.
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