Does windows have to be on an ssd for the ssd to be a boot drive?

[calippoblue]

Sorry if i am asking a very simple question but i am very new to this and have no experience what so ever. I want my ssd to be the boot drive and hard drive for storage. I recently installed windows and I accidentally installed it on the hard drive.

 

[Geekwad]

If that's all the further you are, just unplug the hard drive and leave the SSD connected alone. Install the OS on the SSD, then reconnect the HD. After reconnected, reformat it.

 

[calippoblue]

If that's all the further you are, just unplug the hard drive and leave the SSD connected alone. Install the OS on the SSD, then reconnect the HD. After reconnected, reformat it.

What is reformatting?

 

[Geekwad]

I just wipes the drive so you can start over (in this case, using it as your data drive). If you right click on a drive in your windows file explorer, you should see a 'format' option.

NOTE: If you have already activated the OS on the accidental HD install, you'll have an extra hoop to jump through. When given the option, you'll probably have to phone it in for the second time and tell 'automated Bill' that you've only installed the OS on one computer.......

 

[calippoblue]

I just wipes the drive so you can start over (in this case, using it as your data drive). If you right click on a drive in your windows file explorer, you should see a 'format' option.

NOTE: If you have already activated the OS on the accidental HD install, you'll have an extra hoop to jump through. When given the option, you'll probably have to phone it in for the second time and tell 'automated Bill' that you've only installed the OS on one computer.......

So does windows have to be on ssd for it to be boot drive and how do you reformat?

 

[calippoblue]

Oh btw why do you need to disconnect the HDD cant you choose to install the OS on the SSD?

 

[Geekwad]

Yes, windows has to be on the SSD for it to be the boot drive.

As mentioned, you can easily reformat the HD after you have the SSD up and running with the operating system and the HD reconnected just by right clicking on the HD in the windows file explorer window and choosing the 'format' option in the list and follow the on-screen instructions.

 

[Geekwad]

Oh btw why do you need to disconnect the HDD cant you choose to install the OS on the SSD?

Sure, you could. I just thought the other way may be easier so you don't have to fiddle around in the UEFI/BIOS.

((EDIT))

Note: You don't need to disconnect the whole thing, just one of the SATA cable ends (either at the mobo or drive) will do....

 

[calippoblue]

Oh btw why do you need to disconnect the HDD cant you choose to install the OS on the SSD?

Sure, you could. I just thought the other way may be easier so you don't have to fiddle around in the UEFI/BIOS.

((EDIT))

Note: You don't need to disconnect the whole thing, just one of the SATA cable ends (either at the mobo or drive) will do....

One more question. Do you need to format the hard drive and make partitions if you're not installing windows onto the hard drive?