Doing Clean Install of Windows 8.1 from 7 on SSD, do I also need to (or is it preferrable) format my slave HDD

[milesfromhome83]

Title says it all basically, doing a clean install of Windows on my SSD (as per a toms hardware recommendation actually) and want to know if I should also format my slave HDD. I keep mostly games, pictures, music, and movies on there, there shouldn't be any system files that I'm aware of.

I can back up what I need and blow the drive up, but if it doesn't really matter either way I'd just as well keep it as is.

Thanks in advance.

 

[buzzrattie]

Remember to install windows 8, you will need an unallocated drive. 8 needs to make its own partitions for it to run.

 

[USAFRet]

Your secondary drive should be fine. Steam and Origin games that live on that can be redirected with the new Steam client that you will install.
Other games will probably need to be reinstalled.
Other stuff, 'pictures, music, and movies', will be fine.

 

[milesfromhome83]

Your secondary drive should be fine. Steam and Origin games that live on that can be redirected with the new Steam client that you will install.
Other games will probably need to be reinstalled.
Other stuff, 'pictures, music, and movies', will be fine.

Thanks, just what I was looking for. I'm doing a clean install because I think my Windows is corrupted somehow (was having boot problems). Do you think I should format the secondary storage HDD just in case or do you think it's fine to leave alone?

 

[USAFRet]

Your secondary drive should be fine. Steam and Origin games that live on that can be redirected with the new Steam client that you will install.
Other games will probably need to be reinstalled.
Other stuff, 'pictures, music, and movies', will be fine.

Thanks, just what I was looking for. I'm doing a clean install because I think my Windows is corrupted somehow (was having boot problems). Do you think I should format the secondary storage HDD just in case or do you think it's fine to leave alone?

Your second drive is almost certainly OK. Leave it unless you see other issues.

 

[buzzrattie]

Your storage drives, won't make a difference, on your new install. Make sure they are defragmented is all.

 

[milesfromhome83]

Thank you for the help all.

 

[littleleo]

I would leave the all the other drives disconnected except the drive your installing the O/S on and the optical drive until your done with your installation. Then reconnect it or them.