Cleaning Hard Drive?

[Emmanuel__]

Hi, I've built my new pc and I would like to delete everything but the stuff on my D-Drive. I am going to install Windows 10 when I have it in my new PC. I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc. Plus as I have new hardware I don't want old drivers * with it. What to do?

 

[USAFRet]

Hi, I've built my new pc and I would like to delete everything but the stuff on my D-Drive. I am going to install Windows 10 when I have it in my new PC. I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc. Plus as I have new hardware I don't want old drivers * with it. What to do?

Assuming this 'D drive' is a partition, instead of a different physical drive...then you really, really need to copy that stuff off to another drive.

If it is a second physical drive, then simply disconnect it during the OS install on the other drive.


So...how many physical drives do you have?

 

[Emmanuel__]

Hi, I've built my new pc and I would like to delete everything but the stuff on my D-Drive. I am going to install Windows 10 when I have it in my new PC. I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc. Plus as I have new hardware I don't want old drivers * with it. What to do?

Assuming this 'D drive' is a partition, instead of a different physical drive...then you really, really need to copy that stuff off to another drive.

If it is a second physical drive, then simply disconnect it during the OS install on the other drive.


So...how many physical drives do you have?

Yes, the D drive and C drive are part of one 2tb HDD. So I have one physical drive. I honestly don't have the money to get a new drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi, I've built my new pc and I would like to delete everything but the stuff on my D-Drive. I am going to install Windows 10 when I have it in my new PC. I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc. Plus as I have new hardware I don't want old drivers * with it. What to do?

Assuming this 'D drive' is a partition, instead of a different physical drive...then you really, really need to copy that stuff off to another drive.

If it is a second physical drive, then simply disconnect it during the OS install on the other drive.


So...how many physical drives do you have?

Yes, the D drive and C drive are part of one 2tb HDD. So I have one physical drive. I honestly don't have the money to get a new drive.

If I had a nickel for everyone that made a mistake doing this, I could buy a whole new system.
You are one misclick or headcrash away from losing all your 'precious things'.

A couple of USB sticks or SD cards, borrow an external drive...whatever.

Can you do this with what you have? Yes, probably. I would not recommend it, though.

 

[Emmanuel__]

Hi, I've built my new pc and I would like to delete everything but the stuff on my D-Drive. I am going to install Windows 10 when I have it in my new PC. I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc. Plus as I have new hardware I don't want old drivers * with it. What to do?

Assuming this 'D drive' is a partition, instead of a different physical drive...then you really, really need to copy that stuff off to another drive.

If it is a second physical drive, then simply disconnect it during the OS install on the other drive.


So...how many physical drives do you have?

Yes, the D drive and C drive are part of one 2tb HDD. So I have one physical drive. I honestly don't have the money to get a new drive.

If I had a nickel for everyone that made a mistake doing this, I could buy a whole new system.
You are one misclick or headcrash away from losing all your 'precious things'.

A couple of USB sticks or SD cards, borrow an external drive...whatever.

Can you do this with what you have? Yes, probably. I would not recommend it, though.

You really do not understand how LONG I have been waiting for this. Years, YEARS. It's taken ages to get it all here and a lot of feuds when buying parts. This should have been done before 2017, I really want it running tomorrow. I could try to use USB drives. What do you mean in that last sentence? Doing it with USB drives? If so, why wouldn't you recommend it. Also, say I were to use the USB drive method, if I wiped my harddrive would it be usable in my new computer?

 

[coozie7]

Agree with USAFRet, you really should backup those files somehow before proceeding, it's very easy to wipe the entire drive during a fresh install.

If the system has a DVD/Blu-ray combo drive you can burn the files to blank discs for safekeeping, if not check the amount of stuff you have and see if you can move it over to a USB drive.

If you really can't backup then be very careful during the install to only install to the 'C' partition, as I recall you can rename volumes through the disc properties dialogue, I suggest you rename both 'C' and 'D' to make it easier to recognise which you will install to.
Whatever you decide, don't delete any of the drives or partitions, just format the one you will install to. Windows will allocate some extra reserved space during the process for its own dark, sinister purposes and that will show up as a separate entry in the HDD listing, just install to the formatted 'C' drive and ignore that entry.

 

[Emmanuel__]

Agree with USAFRet, you really should backup those files somehow before proceeding, it's very easy to wipe the entire drive during a fresh install.

If the system has a DVD/Blu-ray combo drive you can burn the files to blank discs for safekeeping, if not check the amount of stuff you have and see if you can move it over to a USB drive.

If you really can't backup then be very careful during the install to only install to the 'C' partition, as I recall you can rename volumes through the disc properties dialogue, I suggest you rename both 'C' and 'D' to make it easier to recognise which you will install to.
Whatever you decide, don't delete any of the drives or partitions, just format the one you will install to. Windows will allocate some extra reserved space during the process for its own dark, sinister purposes and that will show up as a separate entry in the HDD listing, just install to the formatted 'C' drive and ignore that entry.

so... what exactly do I do? not quite sure what you mean.

 

[USAFRet]

What I mean is....anything you absolutely need to keep, have it saved elsewhere and offline during this process.

How many threads in here would you like me to link you where the OP says..."oops, I messed up. How do I get my stuff back?"

How important is this data to you? Is it worth $50?

 

[coozie7]

The risk is that it's very, very easy to trash the entire drive with one wrong click, (and yes USAFRet I've done it myself 😉 ).

If you have enough USB drives (pen drives) transfer those files to those drives for safekeeping.

If the system has a DVD combo drive then grab some blank discs and transfer the files to those.

If you have no way to backup the files, the proceed very carefully.

 

[USAFRet]

The risk is that it's very, very easy to trash the entire drive with one wrong click, (and yes USAFRet I've done it myself 😉 ).

I've done it myself as well...
Which is why I strongly recommend not being in that position. Drive space today is cheap. A pic of my grandson in a tutu is not cheap...:lol:
(he was 2 at the time)

 

[USAFRet]

I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc.

Here's another thought:
Sign up for a Dropbox or Onedrive account. Upload your stuff to there before you start this.

 

[coozie7]

@ USAFRet: LOL.

@Emmannel_: We're not trying to bankrupt you, mate, just help, we've both made this mistake and want to be sure you don't follow us down the same hair tearing, head banging, fury inciting road.

Find some way to backup the files, either to USB stick/s or DVD discs, or a free Cloud storage place like Dropbox of One Drive.

Failing that rename each drive: Start>My computer>right click on 'drive letter' in the box that opens click 'properties' and there should be a box for the Volume Label, change this to something useful, then 'Accept', rinse and repeat for the other drive.
By renaming each drive this way it'll be much easier to see which one you will format and install to later on.
ONLY format and Install to the named 'C' drive, do NOT take any notice of any other entries in the HDD list generated by Windows during the install, including unallocated space and system reserved space, JUST the 'C' drive (or whatever you name it).

 

[Emmanuel__]

What I mean is....anything you absolutely need to keep, have it saved elsewhere and offline during this process.

How many threads in here would you like me to link you where the OP says..."oops, I messed up. How do I get my stuff back?"

How important is this data to you? Is it worth $50?

No but you don't understand, I don't have that money. Not I can't afford to spend that much, I physically don't have it. The stuff isn't that large, like 15gb. Just some pictures and programs, as for the programs they are just mainly pirated stuff that I would like to keep and not have to download them from risky sites again on my fresh new pc.

 

[Emmanuel__]

I just want to keep the precious things like photos etc.

Here's another thought:
Sign up for a Dropbox or Onedrive account. Upload your stuff to there before you start this.

You beautiful bloody man! I will start uploading it to Dropbox. WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT! Thanks to you and coozie!

 

[Emmanuel__]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

 

[USAFRet]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

And how much actual critical stuff do you have?

 

[Emmanuel__]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

And how much actual critical stuff do you have?

eh, probably the photos. folder is 17gb. I could try to delete a few but still, would be quite a lot.

 

[USAFRet]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

And how much actual critical stuff do you have?

eh, probably the photos. folder is 17gb. I could try to delete a few but still, would be quite a lot.

Well...it's up to you.
Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon if you have a Prime acct.
Or a 32GB USB stick...

We're just trying to ward off a case of the "Oh No's!"
You might not need it...but if you do, you will REALLY need it.

 

[Emmanuel__]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

And how much actual critical stuff do you have?

eh, probably the photos. folder is 17gb. I could try to delete a few but still, would be quite a lot.

Well...it's up to you.
Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon if you have a Prime acct.
Or a 32GB USB stick...

We're just trying to ward off a case of the "Oh No's!"
You might not need it...but if you do, you will REALLY need it.

What about Amazon? As I do actually have prime.

 

[USAFRet]

crrrrrrraaaapp. dropbox only gives you 2gb free :/

And how much actual critical stuff do you have?

eh, probably the photos. folder is 17gb. I could try to delete a few but still, would be quite a lot.

Well...it's up to you.
Dropbox, OneDrive, Amazon if you have a Prime acct.
Or a 32GB USB stick...

We're just trying to ward off a case of the "Oh No's!"
You might not need it...but if you do, you will REALLY need it.

What about Amazon? As I do actually have prime.

Amazon Prime Photos
Free unlimited photo storage with Prime

 

[coozie7]

^Looks like a good call, just remember to write down the login details, it's just as hair tearingly frustrating to forget that as to trash a full HDD by accident.

 

[Emmanuel__]

^Looks like a good call, just remember to write down the login details, it's just as hair tearingly frustrating to forget that as to trash a full HDD by accident.

K, so I've got all my photos on Prime Photos and the other stuff on my USB. So what do I do to the Hard Drive so I can use it in my next build? Also, is it alright I've got stuff on the USB with the Media Creation Tool (Windows)?

 

[USAFRet]

^Looks like a good call, just remember to write down the login details, it's just as hair tearingly frustrating to forget that as to trash a full HDD by accident.

K, so I've got all my photos on Prime Photos and the other stuff on my USB. So what do I do to the Hard Drive so I can use it in my next build? Also, is it alright I've got stuff on the USB with the Media Creation Tool (Windows)?

You need to use that MediaCreation tool to put the actual OS install on that USB. Not just that tool.
This procedure will wipe everything on that USB stick.

 

[Emmanuel__]

^Looks like a good call, just remember to write down the login details, it's just as hair tearingly frustrating to forget that as to trash a full HDD by accident.

K, so I've got all my photos on Prime Photos and the other stuff on my USB. So what do I do to the Hard Drive so I can use it in my next build? Also, is it alright I've got stuff on the USB with the Media Creation Tool (Windows)?

You need to use that MediaCreation tool to put the actual OS install on that USB. Not just that tool.
This procedure will wipe everything on that USB stick.

oh, um, okay. I have a 16gb SD card, can I use that or is it specifically for photos?

 

[USAFRet]

^Looks like a good call, just remember to write down the login details, it's just as hair tearingly frustrating to forget that as to trash a full HDD by accident.

K, so I've got all my photos on Prime Photos and the other stuff on my USB. So what do I do to the Hard Drive so I can use it in my next build? Also, is it alright I've got stuff on the USB with the Media Creation Tool (Windows)?

You need to use that MediaCreation tool to put the actual OS install on that USB. Not just that tool.
This procedure will wipe everything on that USB stick.

oh, um, okay. I have a 16gb SD card, can I use that or is it specifically for photos?

If you have a USB docking thing for that SD card, probably.
Those are not just for photos. But you need to be able to boot from it.