Reinstall Windows 10 while keeping files

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vladi2005123

vladi2005123

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Mar 29, 2018
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Now, I have my windows 10 installed on an ssd, all other files,apps,pc games are located on my hdd. How can i keep all the data on the hdd, while everything in the ssd gets wiped and reinstalled. (I want to install from a usb drive)
 
Solution
Wolfshadw
You can do exactly that, but it won't work!

With Windows installed on your SSD, the operating system's Registry is also written on the SSD. Most programs you install, also write entries into the Registry regardless of whether you install them on the SSD or the HDD. The Registry is what tells every program installed on your computer how to run and where it's necessary files are located.

When you perform a clean install of the operating system on the SSD, the registry gets re-written and all your previously installed programs have no idea how to find all the files it needs to run. Therefore, they too need to be reinstalled and their registry entries re-created.

-Wolf sends
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Any application installed onto the HDD will need to be wiped and reinstalled. I think Steam data can be saved, but every other application, when installed, also writes to the Registry. Reinstalling Windows will re-write the registry and all the previously installed applications will no longer function.

-Wolf sends
 
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vladi2005123

vladi2005123

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Mar 29, 2018
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Can't I choose to install the fresh windows on my ssd, while my hdd stays untouched?


 
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Wolfshadw

Wolfshadw

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Aug 3, 2006
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You can do exactly that, but it won't work!

With Windows installed on your SSD, the operating system's Registry is also written on the SSD. Most programs you install, also write entries into the Registry regardless of whether you install them on the SSD or the HDD. The Registry is what tells every program installed on your computer how to run and where it's necessary files are located.

When you perform a clean install of the operating system on the SSD, the registry gets re-written and all your previously installed programs have no idea how to find all the files it needs to run. Therefore, they too need to be reinstalled and their registry entries re-created.

-Wolf sends
 
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Solution
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bigpinkdragon286

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Oct 3, 2012
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You only want to have one possible storage drive attached while installing Windows, in your case the SSD, as the Windows installer will many times put files required for boot on a different drive.

Whether you have the hard drive attached or not, the contents should remain, barring any modifications you might make during the Windows installation. Any software installed to the hard drive will need reinstallation, unless the software doesn't require installation in the first place.
 
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Gaurav_40

Gaurav_40

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Mar 13, 2017
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There's a way to get over that. You can backup your PC data by creating a system image and saving it on HDD or on a External storage device. Save registry backup using free backup programs, which you can download for free. Doing so will save user files of your current windows installation and after re-installing windows, you can easily restore from the system image. the same method goes for registry.

Thanks for reading my answer, Hope it helps.
 
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