Help With Multiple SSD and HDD setup

[JBMonkey]

Hey guys! i'm going to do a format/reinstall Windows and need help with setting up my storage properly.

I built my own PC about a year ago and it's been good. Ever since the last Win 10 update it's been sketchy so I'm just going to do a format/clean reinstall of Windows 10.

This is my first build so when I first set it up I hooked up all the storage drives, installed windows on the SSD and install all my apps on there also. My other SSD is empty... I have no idea what to do with it. My HDD I use to store all data like documents, pics, etc.

Anyone have a recommendation on how I should setup/best configuration my storage when I do my reinstall.... The drives I have are:
1. SAMSUNG 850 EVO 1TB (SSD)
2. SANDISK ULTRA II 480GB (SSD)
3. WESTERN DIGITAL CAVIAR 1TB (HDD)

*If you think I should ditch one of the drives I'm open to that option also

When I set it up I plugged in all 3 and then installed windows. I was told this time I should just have the drive I'm going to install Windows on connected and then connect the other 2 later.

btw... kind of a storage novice, don't really know what RAID and all that is. Just want a simple setup but appreciate ALL and ANY suggestions.

THANK YOU GUYS SO MUCH IN ADVANCE!!!!

 

[Lutfij]

1| On the sake of relevance, please recreate the bootable installer using Windows Media Creation Tools and then proceed to format+reinstall the OS.
2| Have the Samsung 850 Evo as the OS(boot) drive and the Sandisk SSD as the games drive, although your Samsung is plenty capable of having all the apps and games installed on it.

No need to dig into RAID, all you need is to have AHCI as the setting for your storage controller in motherboard BIOS. Unless ofc you've got a hidden Optane drive in your spec's list 😛 or you want to do RAID with your two SSD's, in which case, it's moot. Having each drive on their own SATA port is the best case.

Yea, you're on the right track. If the OS was installed on the SSD you're intending to reformat and reinstall, then have it connected on the system with the other two drives unplugged. After your OS is installed, you can hook them back up.