Installed Windows on new SSD now I want to remove windows from Old HDD

[deadstar99]

Hi guys, lurker for a long time but I come to you for assistance now.

I just installed my new SSD and put window 7 on it. I did this by unplugging my hard drives, plugging in the SSD and installing windows on it from scratch. Then, I plugged in my hard drives again, reordered the boot order in my BIOS so that the OS is coming off of the SSD.

Basically now, I just want to use my Old HDD as a data drive. To remove windows from it, can I just delete the windows folder on it? Or do I need to do a complete wipe on it?

I appreciate any help offered here. Thanks very much!

 

[USAFRet]

It's not just the Windows folder. There are lots of other parts living on that drive.

Ideally, you get ALL the personal data off it that you want
Delete ALL partitions
Create a partition of the one large space
Format it, and give it a drive letter.

 

[Jonas Magnusson]

You don't really need to completely wipe it as long as it's big enough for storage. It can be handy to have the OS on it if something goes wrong with the SSD.

 

[USAFRet]

You don't really need to completely wipe it as long as it's big enough for storage. It can be handy to have the OS on it if something goes wrong with the SSD.

Far better to have an image of whatever gets installed on the SSD. Update that image once a month or so. Rather than an old stale OS on the HDD, just taking up space.

 

[Jonas Magnusson]

You're right USAFRet but if the drive is 1-2TB it won't hurt alot to have it. Just uninstall all the unnecessary programs on it.