Does Windows Recovery Wipe Both SSDs and HDD?

Frederick_9

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May 11, 2016
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I am deciding on getting a SSD and Hard drive together with Windows installed on the SSD and everything else on the HDD. Though at times I reinstall windows using the windows recovery tool from Windows 10 and obliterate everything on the hard drive and start new. I was just wondering if Windows cleans both the SD and hard drive or just the SSD with all the other stuff kept onto the hard drive. Thanks in advance
 
Solution
I only suggested for you to disconnect the hard drive because I thought you had important files on there. I didn't want you to accidentally select that drive when you go to install Windows.

You can have both drives installed, simply select the SSD during the installation of Windows. Once Windows is installed you can format that second drive by following the instructions in the link I posted above. And yes, you will have a clean installation of Windows and a clean hard drive after it has been formatted.
Your second drive containing your files will not be affected. Here are the Recovery options in Windows 10 https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12415/windows-10-recovery-options Be sure to click the blue links to see what each option will do.

And just to be safe, I would disconnect the second hard drive containing my files before attempting to reformat or reinstall windows, unless of course, you know exactly what it is you're doing. :)
 


I intend to be able to delete all files from both drives and have windows reinstalled fresh and new.But I guess I have to reformat the hard drive separately in order to do that i guess.
 


How does one reformat through windows? I dont know much about this sorry.
 
This will guide you. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/17418/windows-7-create-format-hard-disk-partition

If you're wanting to format that second hard drive, click the blue link titled To format an existing partition (volume).

You'll need to decide if you want a Quick format or a Normal format. "The Perform a quick format option will create a new file table, but will not fully overwrite or erase the volume. A quick format is much faster than a normal format, which fully erases any existing data on the volume." A Normal format can take a long time if the drive you're formatting is very large. And if you're going to be using this drive again yourself, I'd just do a Quick format. If you're giving it away or selling it, do a Normal format.

If you have further questions, I'll be glad to help.

Best of luck.

 


So typically I would first disconnect my HDD, reinsta windows on the SSD using the windows app, then reconnect the HDD, reformat the HDD using the tool from windows and everything will be clean as if it were new? Nothingbbut windows on SSD and a clean harddrive?
 
I only suggested for you to disconnect the hard drive because I thought you had important files on there. I didn't want you to accidentally select that drive when you go to install Windows.

You can have both drives installed, simply select the SSD during the installation of Windows. Once Windows is installed you can format that second drive by following the instructions in the link I posted above. And yes, you will have a clean installation of Windows and a clean hard drive after it has been formatted.
 
Solution


All right. Thabks a whole bunch. I appreciate it