Windows 10 creates a tiny D: partition for itself?

KublaiKhan

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May 24, 2015
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We are reinstalling Windows 10 after an update wrecked the computer.

Windows 10 setup is doing things I do not understand.

There's only one physical 500 GB SSD connected to the computer right now (another 500 GB SSD and a 2 TB HDD will be connected later). Windows 10 creates four partitions on this one 500 GB drive: Restore, System, Primary, and another one I am too tired to remember—maybe MBR or MFR or something. I don't know if I have any control over this part, beyond clicking the Next button. I thought Windows 10 would install in the Primary partition, which is the largest one.

When we get through the two personalized settings screens (telemetry crap) after setting up the drive, and the system appears to reboot, we have to adjust those same two pages of telemetry crap all over again. I had to wonder if Windows was being installed twice for some reason.

Then, when we finally get to the desktop, I have both a C: and D: drive, and Windows is reported as being on the D: drive, with is just a bit over 20 GB in size.

This computer did not have a tiny D: drive before. Windows was on C:, D: was the other physical SSD, and E: was that 2 TB HDD.

What in the holy heck is going on?
 
Solution
That is 2 physical drives.
Disk 0 and Disk 1.
Disk 0 is a 500GB SSD
Disk 1 is something else. Possibly a USB stick? In any case, all it has on it is Windows 10 install files.
NOT 'Windows 10 the running OS'.
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So it's formatting the C: drive as NTFS, this D: drive with FAT32? It did not do that the last time I installed, when the computer was built. There was just the one C: drive, until I added a second physical drive to the system, which became D:.

My kid needs this computer for school, and it's been down since the update Monday morning. Your help will be greatly appreciated!!!
 
OMFG.

Beat me. Just beat me.

That's the damn installation USB. I really need to get some sleep. I can't go on this way.

Thanks, guys. At least I'm good for a laugh.

Thank you for the patient and kind replies.
 


NO problem, its nice to have an easy question to answer :)