Hello!I am planning on building a new computer and i am going to buy storage more specifically a 500gb SSD and a 2TB HDD. I already have a pre-built computer which i have been using for quite a while and i would like to know if i can reuse the hard drives without needing to format or reset/wipe them clean. The Computer that i have right now has a 500gb SSD (this one has windows installed) and 1TB HDD (games, pictures). I have heard that you shouldn't use a drive that already has windows pre-installed on a brand new pc but i thought i would ask as well and also i wanted to ask if i can keep the 1TB HDD without needing to wipe it clean
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[SOLVED] Can you reuse a hard drive without formatting/resseting it?
- Thread starter Coins609
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Solution
- Oct 6, 2014
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So you wish to just plug in the SSD from the other PC and everything work!
Their no 100% answer but in general will not work or sort of works and your chasing intermediate problems for a long time.
With a new build it's always best to do a fresh install.
Games can be reinstalled and you can Email pictures to a friend, family member and have them send them back or just back up the data.
- Mar 16, 2013
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Trying that, there are 3 possible outcomes:
- It works just fine
- It fails completely
- It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months
sonofjesse
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- Jul 27, 2016
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I say full reinstall. Howevver with that being said, I have moved drives to new boxes (SSD windows 10) and haven't missed a beat on 5 machines. YMMV.
Jason H.
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- Oct 20, 2013
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As a storage device? Sure. But make sure to install Windows fresh onto the new SSD before plugging in your old SSD as a storage drive. Even then, Im pretty sure if you have old windows files on a older SSD you want to use now for a storage drive, it can still cause some issues.
I had a PC I installed windows onto the new ssd, but used my old ssd as a storage drive and it contained a bunch of files from the old pc and im 99% sure even then it caused issues in my new pc.
In lamens terms, to do it properly, backup all the data u want to keep. Format the drive, install Windows to the new drive, plug in the old drive as a storage device, and put your backup data back onto the old drive. Only way to ensure you wont introduce any instability into your new system.
- Jan 13, 2014
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Windows needs to be reinstalled regardless. Wipe drive and install Win. Backup first whatever you need to keep from SSD. My documents and Appdata generally. Maybe you have more stuff.
The other HDD will be fine. I have 2 hard drives from 2006 in my system. This is my 4th system since then, I think. Never done anything special to them.
At a number of points I've had 2 windows installs too, both on different partitions or harddrives. Works just fine. Not much point to having 2 Windows installs, other than copying files from one to the other. Mostly I do that when Win10 gets corrupted and can't remember every app etc I have installed or the settings. I can easily check that by booting into the old Win10 install. But eventually I will wipe that install/partition.
When it comes to games, I don't reinstall those. To begin with, I install them on drives/partitions other than OS drive. So not C:. That way, I can just tell Steam where the game is located and I'm back in business. Works with most if not all MMOs too. No need to redownload anything. Works with Ubisoft games as well.
I would suggest you use partitions, lots of them. Makes it easier to organise, get back up to speed etc. Drivers/Programs for everything you need for your system in 1 partition, for example. Other partitions for Steam games, other partition for MMOS. 1 partition for your essential files, pictures etc.
None of the above should reside on C:.
I reserve C: for Win10 install and install of programs, nothing else goes there.
Maybe you want to try some Linux distro. You are going to need a new partition for that.
If you need backups of pictures for example, spread them out on 2-3 different drives completely. Eventually 1 drive will fail. And burn to DVD. At least one of the backups will survive. Unless a nuclear war sets off.
The other HDD will be fine. I have 2 hard drives from 2006 in my system. This is my 4th system since then, I think. Never done anything special to them.
At a number of points I've had 2 windows installs too, both on different partitions or harddrives. Works just fine. Not much point to having 2 Windows installs, other than copying files from one to the other. Mostly I do that when Win10 gets corrupted and can't remember every app etc I have installed or the settings. I can easily check that by booting into the old Win10 install. But eventually I will wipe that install/partition.
When it comes to games, I don't reinstall those. To begin with, I install them on drives/partitions other than OS drive. So not C:. That way, I can just tell Steam where the game is located and I'm back in business. Works with most if not all MMOs too. No need to redownload anything. Works with Ubisoft games as well.
I would suggest you use partitions, lots of them. Makes it easier to organise, get back up to speed etc. Drivers/Programs for everything you need for your system in 1 partition, for example. Other partitions for Steam games, other partition for MMOS. 1 partition for your essential files, pictures etc.
None of the above should reside on C:.
I reserve C: for Win10 install and install of programs, nothing else goes there.
Maybe you want to try some Linux distro. You are going to need a new partition for that.
If you need backups of pictures for example, spread them out on 2-3 different drives completely. Eventually 1 drive will fail. And burn to DVD. At least one of the backups will survive. Unless a nuclear war sets off.
- Mar 16, 2013
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And I would suggest the exact opposite.
Multiple partitions on a drive used to be a good idea. 20+ years ago. Not so much anymore.
- Jan 13, 2014
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Why exactly? I have a harddrive with 12+ partitions, 4 linux installs, EFI, Swap, Virtual Machine-partitions. Zero problems. 1 out of 5 harddrives. The rest aren't as crazy but they all have partitions except the tiny 120 gig SSD. Windows basically eats that space for breakfast.
- Mar 16, 2013
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For multiple OS's or VM's, sure. That is a whole different thing.
For delineating types of files, not so much.
Music in this partition, video there, docs here...
Serves no real purpose. Before long, one or the other of these partitions will be too small to hold the desired data. Even though there is actual "free space" on the physical drive.
Ex:
A game partition of 500GB. 85GB left on it.
Want to install a game of 100GB? Can't fit.
Even though there is 300GB free elsewhere on the same physical drive.
Seen it many many times.
I have multiple physical drives, each for their own use. (see list below)
CAD/Photo/games/etc etc...
When one gets too full, it is easy to change...copy the data to a larger drive and change drive letters.
I'm about to do that with my CAD/3D printer drive.
Remove the 250GB and swap it for a 1TB.
- Jan 13, 2014
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I solve that with junction links, specifically games. Rest doesn't take that much space.
- Mar 16, 2013
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Steam and Origin has the specific built in function for games in other locations.
No junction points needed. It has been that way for years.
- Jan 13, 2014
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I like solutions that work 100% of the time. Junction links do that. Doesn't matter if the game is launched via Steam or its own launcher (Star Citizen, Eve Online etc). None of it matters. I don't have to care about if I can point the launcher to my game-files. Say the gamelauncher doesn't support pointing at gameinstall location to autodiscover files. Junction link fixes that. 1 solution that works every time.
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