[SOLVED] Removing EVERYTHING from a HDD (including the OS)

[wulree]

i have a simple question but i cannot find an answer to save my life, so i purchased a 1TB SSD today and want to put a fresh install on it and use it as my boot drive, and the rest of the storage + the HDD as game storage, files, etc. so how would i go about completely wiping my HDD as if i just bought it so i can install a new copy of windows on my SSD.

 

[USAFRet]

i have a simple question but i cannot find an answer to save my life, so i purchased a 1TB SSD today and want to put a fresh install on it and use it as my boot drive, and the rest of the storage + the HDD as game storage, files, etc. so how would i go about completely wiping my HDD as if i just bought it so i can install a new copy of windows on my SSD.

Install the OS on the SSD, with ONLY the SSD connected.
(link to follow below)

Later, reconnect the HDD.
Commandline function diskpart, and the clean command will delete ALL from that drive.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html
Reformat and use as desired.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[wulree]

Install the OS on the SSD, with ONLY the SSD connected.
(link to follow below)

Later, reconnect the HDD.
Commandline function diskpart, and the clean command will delete ALL from that drive.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html
Reformat and use as desired.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

do i unconnect the SSD when i reconnect the HDD so i can wipe it?

 

[USAFRet]

do i unconnect the SSD when i reconnect the HDD so i can wipe it?

No. You have to be booting from the SSD to clean the HDD.
As long as the SSD is first in the boot order, thats what the system will boot from.

Any other drives (the old HDD) are merely storage and can be cleaned or manipulated as desired.

 

[wulree]

No. You have to be booting from the SSD to clean the HDD.
As long as the SSD is first in the boot order, thats what the system will boot from.

Any other drives (the old HDD) are merely storage and can be cleaned or manipulated as desired.

thank you! im doing it right now but i didnt know formatting takes this long. thanks for the help