Will a Windows install leave the existing files alone on my HDD ?

leclod · April 19

I'm trying to flash my Management Engine. Until now nothing worked, even MSI declared forfeit.

My current idea is to install a fresh Windows on one off my HDDs and retry from there.

First question : do I need to remove the current OS drive to do that or can I just have 2 Windows installed and switch ? I've had Windows messes in the past.

Second question : can I trust Windows to leave the existing folders and files alone on the drive where I'm installing ?

YoungBlade · April 19

I don't trust the Windows installer with other drives available. Windows has a bad habit of sticking the boot partition or recovery partition on other drives. I haven't heard of it destroying data from a drive you didn't select, but I honestly wouldn't trust the Windows installer - it sucks.

When I do a fresh Windows install, I disconnect the other drives so that there is only one drive in the system that I intend to remove all partitions from and install it to that. That way, there can't be any shenanigans.

da na · April 19

It'll leave those files alone. Although, it might put a recovery partition or boot partition on the drives you don't want it to.

Godlygamer23 · April 19

During installation, you should add another partition to the storage drive instead of installing to the existing partition - I've never done it before, but I would expect the files to be removed, especially if you're removing the existing partition anyway. Either way, you should retain a backup of your data if it's important enough to you - either the data itself, or the time involved to recover it.

On the question about having Windows installed in both the primary and secondary drive locations, it is doable, but I would disconnect the primary/original drive to ensure Windows doesn't do anything with that. It shouldn't, but we want to make sure it's not going to get tied to that installation at all.

Donut417 · April 19

2 hours ago, leclod said:

can I trust Windows to leave the existing folders and files alone on the drive where I'm installing ?

I wouldn't. Ive had it install stuff on other drives even though I didnt give it permission to do so. I always disconnect other drives before doing an install.

leclod · April 20

15 hours ago, Donut417 said:

I wouldn't. Ive had it install stuff on other drives even though I didnt give it permission to do so. I always disconnect other drives before doing an install.

17 hours ago, da na said:

It'll leave those files alone. Although, it might put a recovery partition or boot partition on the drives you don't want it to.

Ok, say I've got only one drive connected (not the current OS drive).

Can I trust Windows to leave the existing folders and files alone on that drive while installing Windows on that drive ?

I did start that operation yesterday but got a weird message that spooked me "windows couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"

(I have a solution, I've just realised I've got one more HDD connected to my TV , that I can use)

Edit :

It worked

I disconnected all my drives and connected a spare HDD where I installed a new clean Windows.

(god hdds are slow !!)

From there I succeeded in upgrading the ME firmware to the latest.

Doesn't make sense to mark anyone as solution, so I don't.

Edited April 20 by leclod

Godlygamer23 · April 20

5 hours ago, leclod said:

Ok, say I've got only one drive connected (not the current OS drive).

Can I trust Windows to leave the existing folders and files alone on that drive while installing Windows on that drive ?

I did start that operation yesterday but got a weird message that spooked me "windows couldn't create a new partition or locate an existing one"

(I have a solution, I've just realised I've got one more HDD connected to my TV , that I can use)

You can also resize partitions to create new ones.