[SOLVED] Installing Win 10 in disk partition.

[David66]

I've a HDD with 2 partitions (C & D). I want to format C and install Windows 10 (right know I'm running win 7). Will the installation affect the 2nd partition of the HDD (the D drive). I keep my data there, so I want to be sure that the setup will now affect them! I'll install Win 10 via USB if that matters.

 

[USAFRet]

I've a HDD with 2 partitions (C & D). I want to format C and install Windows 10 (right know I'm running win 7). Will the installation affect the 2nd partition of the HDD (the D drive). I keep my data there, so I want to be sure that the setup will now affect them!

Can you? Probably.
Should you? Absolutely not.

What is in these partitions now? Win 7 and data?
What size is the drive and how is it split up?

"your data" absolutely needs to be backed up somewhere.

 

[David66]

Can you? Probably.
Should you? Absolutely not.

What is in these partitions now? Win 7 and data?
What size is the drive and how is it split up?

"your data" absolutely needs to be backed up somewhere.

Yes, it's a very bad idea if I don't take a backup.
That's how my disk looks:

 

[USAFRet]

What would I do?

1. Copy the entire contents of the D partition, and whatever personal data lives on the C partition, to some other physical drive
2. Boot from your WIn 10 install USB and start the install process
3. Delete ALL partitions on the drive, leaving one blank space
4. Either leave it as one partition, or split it up how you desire.
5. Install to the desired partition
6. Copy your personal data back to this drive

What would I really do?

1. Buy a 500GB solid state drive
2. Copy the entire contents of the D partition, and whatever personal data lives on the C partition, to some other physical drive
3. Disconnect all drives except the new SSD
4. Boot from your Win 10 USB, and start the process
5. Install on the SSD, using the entire space
6. Once it is all working, reconnect your original C+D drive
7. Disk Management, and delete ALL partitions on it, leaving one blank space
8. Copy your personal data from the offline storage back to this new D drive.