[SOLVED] I installed Windows 10 on a different drive, and now I'm confused about what the setup us.

[davidbenpark]

My E: drive had Windows 10 installed, but got a blue screen of death I couldn't fix.

So, I installed a new instance of Windows 10 on my C: drive.

When I startup, I have to choose the OS (Volume 8 or Volume 3 - Volume 8 is the fresh install). All good.

However, I want to format the old E: drive, but the Disk Management screen looks fishy (see screenshot).

1. Disk 1 is the new drive with fresh Windows install
2. Disk 2 is the old drive that I want to format
3. But, the new drive doesn't have EFI System partiton or Recovery partition. Does that suggest that Disk 1 might be using Disk 2 as EFI/Recovery partition?
4. Could formatting Drive 2 break the Windows install on Drive 1?

Any advice would be very appreciated!

 

[SkyNetRising]

But, the new drive doesn't have EFI System partiton or Recovery partition. Does that suggest that Disk 1 might be using Disk 2 as EFI/Recovery partition?

Windows installed on Disk 1 uses bootloader from Disk 2.

Could formatting Drive 2 break the Windows install on Drive 1?

Formatting partition E: doesn't impact windows on C: .
If you delete EFI partition on Disk2, you loose bootloader.
Windows on Disk 1 will not boot anymore.

Any advice would be very appreciated!

Create bootloader on Disk 1.
Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 1​

(select 223GB disk containing C: partition)​

list partition​

select partition x​

(select 223GB C: partition, x=1 or x=2)​

shrink desired=500​

create partition efi size=500​

format fs=fat32 quick​

assign letter=H​

exit​

bcdboot C:\windows /s H:​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

After this is done, shutdown, disconnect 1TB drive and try to boot from from 250GB drive.

https://www.minitool.com/news/elevated-command-prompt.html

 

[davidbenpark]

Windows installed on Disk 1 uses bootloader from Disk 2.

Formatting partition E: doesn't impact windows on C: .
If you delete EFI partition on Disk2, you loose bootloader.
Windows on Disk 1 will not boot anymore.

Create bootloader on Disk 1.
Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately.

diskpart​

list disk​

select disk 1​

(select 223GB disk containing C: partition)​

list partition​

select partition x​

(select 223GB C: partition, x=1 or x=2)​

shrink desired=500​

create partition efi size=500​

format fs=fat32 quick​

assign letter=H​

exit​

bcdboot C:\windows /s H:​

Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

After this is done, shutdown, disconnect 1TB drive and try to boot from from 250GB drive.

https://www.minitool.com/news/elevated-command-prompt.html

Wow, this is perfect advice, thanks for the amazing quick reply.

Would it be an option to format the data portion of the E: drive, make an ISO of the Windows on C: and move that to E: drive, instead of moving the bootloader from E: to C:?

Thanks again!