Do i need to format my old HDD to use it as storage?

[superh1994]

I installed an SSD with windows. When i connected my old HDD, windows 7 recognised it straight away. I'm wondering if i need to format it now to use it to store items and install games/software to in the future?

I ask as i have my steam library on there still and it would be nice not to have to download them again. If i could just delete the windows folder along with everything else? Or is a format really a good idea?

 

[clutchc]

Since you have all your steam games on the HDD, I wouldn't format it, no. I presume you want to keep the games on the HDD and run them from there. If so... Delete all the other stuff off it and save the Steam folder as is. The games will not be accessible as it sits right now because they were not installed while using the SSD's O.S. But that is easily remedied...

Delete everything in the steam folder except for steam.exe and the steamapps folder. Then run the steam.exe file and steam will rebuild the steam folder with the necessary new files and pointers needed for the SSD's O.S. to find the games.

This goes into a little more detail: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129
A similar procedure can be used to keep your Origin games if you have them too.