[SOLVED] Why is it necessary to unplug all the other drives during fresh Windows installation?

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Aug 13, 2021
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I will get an M.2 NVMe SSD soon for my laptop and I have a 1tb 5400 rpm HDD currently.
Do I have to unplug it before installing windows and then put it back after the install? Or can I just keep it in during the installation?
 
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Thank you for the explanation. I have a question though: If I clone the drive, will I have to unplug the HDD after the cloning is done?

It could be dependent on your cloning utility. I generally don't do so in an enviro where I could end up with two boot partitions (of the same OS) that your system would then be trying to work out. Samsung Migrate, which I like to use, will not change the source disk.
Easy answer...I would clone, remove the SSD, then follow the above advice about deleting the partitions. You should then be able to put the SSD back and boot normally.
Windows likes to add partitions to other attached drives, even in spite of direction. Unplugging the data cable (in your case removal) to any other drive in the system is highly recommended.

I would use the installer USB as the tool to delete the partitions on the HDD, then quit. Remove that drive, put in the SSD but leave the back open (if possible with your model) while you install to the SSD, then when it completes hook your HDD back up, go to disk management and format it.
 
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Windows likes to add partitions to other attached drives, even in spite of direction. Unplugging the data cable (in your case removal) to any other drive in the system is highly recommended.

I would use the installer USB as the tool to delete the partitions on the HDD, then quit. Remove that drive, put in the SSD but leave the back open (if possible with your model) while you install to the SSD, then when it completes hook your HDD back up, go to disk management and format it.
Thank you for the explanation. I have a question though: If I clone the drive, will I have to unplug the HDD after the cloning is done?
 
Thank you for the explanation. I have a question though: If I clone the drive, will I have to unplug the HDD after the cloning is done?

It could be dependent on your cloning utility. I generally don't do so in an enviro where I could end up with two boot partitions (of the same OS) that your system would then be trying to work out. Samsung Migrate, which I like to use, will not change the source disk.
Easy answer...I would clone, remove the SSD, then follow the above advice about deleting the partitions. You should then be able to put the SSD back and boot normally.
 
  • Like
Reactions: George778
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