Can I format my ssd with my os on it ?

[RhinoTV]

Okay so i got a 240gb ssd and there is barely any space left in it. I want to format it but will it still keep my os? I know you can do it on windows 10 and thats how im going to do it. Do i choose the option delete everything ? I've backed up most things that i need on it eg some files and videos but do I need to do anything else? Like im doing it to delete some space off it and then download what I want again.

Thanks a lot

 

[Snipergod87]

If you format it everything is wiped.
You can instead go to Windows and hit Reset system and not keep your files.

 

[RhinoTV]

I want to delete everything though to clear up some space. Will i need to get drivers again and windows if i do a full reset?

If you format it everything is wiped.
You can instead go to Windows and hit Reset system and not keep your files.

 

[WyomingKnott]

What is a "full reset?" If you mean format it, that leaves you with a blank disk and you have to install Windows again. Plus every other piece of software that you have installed. Not a tasty option.

IMHO, if enough of the space on that drive is non-OS files, just move those to another drive. Copy them, check that the copy is good, delete them from the SSD. I personally move the "My Documents" and "My everything else" folders from my OS SSD to a hard drive.

 

[RhinoTV]

Just dont really know how to do that. Like i just want to format completely and get a good bit of space left then download all the files that i want again ie photoshop and sony vegas ect. Any videos on it ?

What is a "full reset?" If you mean format it, that leaves you with a blank disk and you have to install Windows again. Plus every other piece of software that you have installed. Not a tasty option.

IMHO, if enough of the space on that drive is non-OS files, just move those to another drive. Copy them, check that the copy is good, delete them from the SSD. I personally move the "My Documents" and "My everything else" folders from my OS SSD to a hard drive.

 

[WyomingKnott]

You cannot "format completely and get a good bit of space left." Formatting completely will leave you with 100% free space. No OS, no software, no nothing. You will have to reinstall Photoshop and Sony Vegas and etc. And have kept track of your license keys so that you can activate them after the fresh install.

Why exactly are you opposed to moving data files? Or am I missing something that you need?

 

[RhinoTV]

Just idk what it is but my files seem to be everywhere. I dont mind doing a full format as everything will go but i know something will go that i need. Just im trying to install vegas 14 but its saying its already installed (which it isnt) so need to format it and also was a good time as i needed space. Thats why i want to go with a complete format. Like if i go with only deleting apps and settings it wont get rid of that error message.

You cannot "format completely and get a good bit of space left." Formatting completely will leave you with 100% free space. No OS, no software, no nothing. You will have to reinstall Photoshop and Sony Vegas and etc. And have kept track of your license keys so that you can activate them after the fresh install.

Why exactly are you opposed to moving data files? Or am I missing something that you need?

 

[USAFRet]

You can't "format" the drive, from the drive you are running the OS on. It won't let you do that.

240GB SSD...yes, that may fill up quickly if you're not careful.

Install and run WinDirStat.
Run as Administrator.
Post the screencap here.

That may help you discover lots of stuff that doesn't need to be there or can be deleted.

 

[RhinoTV]

https://imgur.com/a/ZCTrBtW

You can't "format" the drive, from the drive you are running the OS on. It won't let you do that.

240GB SSD...yes, that may fill up quickly if you're not careful.

Install and run WinDirStat.
Run as Administrator.
Post the screencap here.

That may help you discover lots of stuff that doesn't need to be there or can be deleted.

 

[USAFRet]

19.2GB in mp4 files.
23.1GB in .pak files (for a game)
38.9GB in .sys files. This is pagefile and/or hibernation file?
6GB in WinRAR archive files.

That's 80GB right there.


You just need some space management, not a full wipe and reinstall.

 

[RhinoTV]

problem is i want to get vegas 14 again. I deleted it but now when i try to reinstall it says delete so i kinda have to format

19.2GB in mp4 files.
23.1GB in .pak files (for a game)
38.9GB in .sys files. This is pagefile and/or hibernation file?
6GB in WinRAR archive files.

That's 80GB right there.


You just need some space management, not a full wipe and reinstall.

 

[USAFRet]

problem is i want to get vegas 14 again. I deleted it but now when i try to reinstall it says delete so i kinda have to format

Why, specifically, does it say you need to format?

How, specifically, did you "delete" it? A simple delete, or did you actually uninstall it?

Where did you obtain the Vegas 14 from? You should be able to download the installer again with your license key and install it, once you have sufficient space.


Or, you can simply do a full wipe and reinstall of everything on your OS drive.
Rather drastic, though.

 

[RhinoTV]

accidently deleted it and tried to reinstall but saying i need to uninstall. If i were to do a full format would all my drivers go and would i have to plug in a media creation tool to get windows back again?

problem is i want to get vegas 14 again. I deleted it but now when i try to reinstall it says delete so i kinda have to format

Why, specifically, does it say you need to format?

How, specifically, did you "delete" it? A simple delete, or did you actually uninstall it?

Where did you obtain the Vegas 14 from? You should be able to download the installer again with your license key and install it, once you have sufficient space.


Or, you can simply do a full wipe and reinstall of everything on your OS drive.
Rather drastic, though.

 

[USAFRet]

accidently deleted it and tried to reinstall but saying i need to uninstall. If i were to do a full format would all my drivers go and would i have to plug in a media creation tool to get windows back again?

Again...you can't "format" the C drive. It won't let you.
That would be like asking a person to cut their head off with a chainsaw. They'd die before finishing the operation.

You'd need to do that during a reinstall, booting from a Win 10 install USB or DVD.

If you really want to do a full reinstall, this includes all your drivers, applications...everything on that drive.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

 

[RhinoTV]

how come i can get the option in windows?? If i did do that option anyways would it delete my drivers? Or if i did the thing where it said keep files but app and settings are gone, would that free up some space ??? And would i keep drivers?

accidently deleted it and tried to reinstall but saying i need to uninstall. If i were to do a full format would all my drivers go and would i have to plug in a media creation tool to get windows back again?

Again...you can't "format" the C drive. It won't let you.
That would be like asking a person to cut their head off with a chainsaw. They'd die before finishing the operation.

You'd need to do that during a reinstall, booting from a Win 10 install USB or DVD.

If you really want to do a full reinstall, this includes all your drivers, applications...everything on that drive.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

 

[USAFRet]

how come i can get the option in windows?? If i did do that option anyways would it delete my drivers? Or if i did the thing where it said keep files but app and settings are gone, would that free up some space ??? And would i keep drivers?

"The option"
What, specifically?

Step by detailed step, what are you doing?

 

[RhinoTV]

lol my bad. So i go into the search thing at the bottom left, settings then update and security, then recovery , click get started on 'reset pc' then there are the 2 options

how come i can get the option in windows?? If i did do that option anyways would it delete my drivers? Or if i did the thing where it said keep files but app and settings are gone, would that free up some space ??? And would i keep drivers?

"The option"
What, specifically?

Step by detailed step, what are you doing?

 

[USAFRet]

lol my bad. So i go into the search thing at the bottom left, settings then update and security, then recovery , click get started on 'reset pc' then there are the 2 options

OK...you're trying to do this from within the current OS.

That is not "format".

Sure, you can try one of those options. Depending on what you select, it may or may not do what you desire.
Strongly suggest you have a full backup before you click anything. But that's just me...

 

[RhinoTV]

Apologies. Just know how to build a pc and that’s it I’ll try that then. Would you happen to have a video on how I can copy everything to a hdd? I have a spare 1tb one so I’ll put it all on that

lol my bad. So i go into the search thing at the bottom left, settings then update and security, then recovery , click get started on 'reset pc' then there are the 2 options

OK...you're trying to do this from within the current OS.

That is not "format".

Sure, you can try one of those options. Depending on what you select, it may or may not do what you desire.
Strongly suggest you have a full backup before you click anything. But that's just me...

 

[USAFRet]

Apologies. Just know how to build a pc and that’s it I’ll try that then. Would you happen to have a video on how I can copy everything to a hdd? I have a spare 1tb one so I’ll put it all on that

1. No, I don't have a video for this.

2. You have to be careful about terminology.
"Everything" means not what you actually want to do.

You can create an image of the current drive. Macrium Reflect, Acronis TrueImage, EaseUS ToDo...

I only said " a full backup", because there is a greater than zero chance of your "reset" going completely wrong, and wiping out everything.

 

[RhinoTV]

So use the program your saying there and back it up. When I choose the 2 options I said will it say what drive ? Want to make sure it’s the ssd.

lol my bad. So i go into the search thing at the bottom left, settings then update and security, then recovery , click get started on 'reset pc' then there are the 2 options

OK...you're trying to do this from within the current OS.

That is not "format".

Sure, you can try one of those options. Depending on what you select, it may or may not do what you desire.
Strongly suggest you have a full backup before you click anything. But that's just me...

Apologies. Just know how to build a pc and that’s it I’ll try that then. Would you happen to have a video on how I can copy everything to a hdd? I have a spare 1tb one so I’ll put it all on that

1. No, I don't have a video for this.

2. You have to be careful about terminology.
"Everything" means not what you actually want to do.

You can create an image of the current drive. Macrium Reflect, Acronis TrueImage, EaseUS ToDo...

I only said " a full backup", because there is a greater than zero chance of your "reset" going completely wrong, and wiping out everything.

 

[USAFRet]

So use the program your saying there and back it up. When I choose the 2 options I said will it say what drive ? Want to make sure it’s the ssd.

'the 2 options'....what two options?

 

[RhinoTV]

1) keep your personal file, delete settings and apps. 2) removes everything, files, apps and settings. They are the two in windows

So use the program your saying there and back it up. When I choose the 2 options I said will it say what drive ? Want to make sure it’s the ssd.

'the 2 options'....what two options?

 

[USAFRet]

1) keep your personal file, delete settings and apps. 2) removes everything, files, apps and settings. They are the two in windows

#2 is presumably what you want. Maybe?
This, of course, requires you to reinstall ALL of your applications.

I hope you have all the install files somewhere, and know all of your username/passwords.

 

[RhinoTV]

yeah this is what I want. Just one more thing. Will this keep all of my drivers? Got no idea on how to do any of them. The only one i know is nvidia as that is geforce experience. Also i used Acronis TrueImage. The 'clone drive' opion is locked and requires me to buy it. Is there anything else i can do ? Am i choosing the right one ?

1) keep your personal file, delete settings and apps. 2) removes everything, files, apps and settings. They are the two in windows

#2 is presumably what you want. Maybe?
This, of course, requires you to reinstall ALL of your applications.

I hope you have all the install files somewhere, and know all of your username/passwords.