[SOLVED] Trying to remove Windows 10 from other hard drive

funkadelicfred

Reputable
Apr 7, 2017
17
0
4,510
I have an extra hard drive with Windows OS on it that I'm trying to change into a storage drive but it won't let me bypass TrustedInstaller. I tried changing the permissions to Admin and Users but it still won't let me and I can't figure out how to tell which profile I actually am so that it will allow me to. Any advicE?
 
Solution
Has this drive always been in this system?
Or a transplant from somewhere else?

If a transplant:

The commandline function diskpart, and the clean command.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

---------------------
If it was in this system before, verify things first.
Power OFF
Physically disconnect this old HDD
Power UP.
Does it boot correctly?

If yes, then the above commandline thing.

If no, please post a screencap of your Disk Management window.

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Has this drive always been in this system?
Or a transplant from somewhere else?

If a transplant:

The commandline function diskpart, and the clean command.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

---------------------
If it was in this system before, verify things first.
Power OFF
Physically disconnect this old HDD
Power UP.
Does it boot correctly?

If yes, then the above commandline thing.

If no, please post a screencap of your Disk Management window.
 
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Solution

funkadelicfred

Reputable
Apr 7, 2017
17
0
4,510
Has this drive always been in this system?
Or a transplant from somewhere else?

If a transplant:

The commandline function diskpart, and the clean command.

https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

---------------------
If it was in this system before, verify things first.
Power OFF
Physically disconnect this old HDD
Power UP.
Does it boot correctly?

If yes, then the above commandline thing.

If no, please post a screencap of your Disk Management window.


Yes it's always been here but it got corrupted so a new one was put in another drive. I don't want to format or wipe the drive because it has all my User data on it and backing that up would take forever.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Yes it's always been here but it got corrupted so a new one was put in another drive. I don't want to format or wipe the drive because it has all my User data on it and backing that up would take forever.
OK, that makes things exponentially harder.

And you really really need a backup anyway.

What pieces are you trying to retain, and which pieces are you wanting to keep?
What parts is it not letting you "delete"? (there is no 'uninstall')
 

funkadelicfred

Reputable
Apr 7, 2017
17
0
4,510
OK, that makes things exponentially harder.

And you really really need a backup anyway.

What pieces are you trying to retain, and which pieces are you wanting to keep?
What parts is it not letting you "delete"? (there is no 'uninstall')
OK, that makes things exponentially harder.

And you really really need a backup anyway.

What pieces are you trying to retain, and which pieces are you wanting to keep?
What parts is it not letting you "delete"? (there is no 'uninstall')

Just the documents, music and such. If it's going to be that big of a pain though I may as well just back it all up, wipe the drive and then copy the files back into it.
 

punkncat

Champion
Ambassador
One of the easiest ways I have found to deal with this:

Use the Windows USB installer tool.

Disconnect all the drives aside from the one you want clean. Start into the installation process and use the advanced option to show all the partitions. Hit the delete key for all of them until the entire disk is unallocated. Stop the installer. Disconnect that drive and reconnect the one you wish to install Windows to.

As far as the backup process, you might be boned on that. If the drive is too corrupted to boot safe more or allow repair it is unlikely that you will be readily able to access the information on the drive from (another) OS.