[SOLVED] wiping hdd clean before or after new build?

[BillWiTheScienceFi]

im using my old harddrive as a second storage for my new build, do i need to wipe it clean BEFORE putting it in the new build or can i do it after?

 

[Alabalcho]

No. Even if you use it as a boot/system drive, you don't have to wipe/reparition/format it.

You can, if you want, do these tasks during Windows setup, or afterwards.

 

[Ralston18]

I would do so beforehand.

Knowing that the drive is wiped clean, reformatted, and hopefully functional would be one less potential source of problems.

And I would also run the applicable drive manufacturer's diagnostic software on the drive to ensure that the drive is functional and healthy.

However, as always, be sure that there is no important data on that drive before you wipe it.

Verify that any data backups from that drive are indeed recoverable and readable.

 

[USAFRet]

im using my old harddrive as a second storage for my new build, do i need to wipe it clean BEFORE putting it in the new build or can i do it after?

After the system is built and running, then you connect other drives (like this one) and wipe it clean.

 

[BillWiTheScienceFi]

I would do so beforehand.

Knowing that the drive is wiped clean, reformatted, and hopefully functional would be one less potential source of problems.

And I would also run the applicable drive manufacturer's diagnostic software on the drive to ensure that the drive is functional and healthy.

However, as always, be sure that there is no important data on that drive before you wipe it.

Verify that any data backups from that drive are indeed recoverable and readable.

I have backed up everything i wanted from this hdd so should be fine to wipe. Is the dignostic software on the manufacturers website? Its a toshiba data dt01aca 1tn

 

[Ralston18]

Re:

"Is the dignostic software on the manufacturers website? "

I would expect so.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/check-health-of-computer-hard-drive/

However, I do recommend that you do some additional searching to verify both the tool and its' applicability to your drive.

 

[BillWiTheScienceFi]

Alright how do i wipe this drive? It wont let me format it since its my only drive and is my operating system drive..

 

[USAFRet]

Alright how do i wipe this drive? It wont let me format it since its my only drive and is my operating system drive..

You can't do it from within the running Windows instance.

 

[mdd1963]

Delete the old partition when able to in installer setup, just prior to pointing WIndows where to install to,,,

It will do a quick format automatically. No further elaborate scheme or procedure is necessary.

 

[USAFRet]

Delete the old partition when able to in installer setup, just prior to pointing WIndows where to install to,,,

It will do a quick format automatically. No further elaborate scheme or procedure is necessary.

And that goes against having only one drive connected when you do the OS install.