Correct way to format HDs?

[jayctech]

Thinking of doing a reinstall next weekend. I may get an SSD and do the fresh install on that instead. How would I wipe my current HDs? Would I need to go into partition manager in Windows (after installing and booting on the SSD) and then attempt to format that way? I know if I just do format in My PC it'll just wipe my primary partition, leaving the other partitions like recovery there.

[DimasRMDO]

In the installation of windows, click next until there are options to either upgrade or custom (advanced). Click Custom and you can format your HDD for there.

[jayctech]

In the installation of windows, click next until there are options to either upgrade or custom (advanced). Click Custom and you can format your HDD for there.

Even though the HD I'm installing the OS on will be different than my current one?

[techguru]

yep

just bot windows cd and format and partition from the windows install

[jayctech]

yep

just bot windows cd and format and partition from the windows install

So I should have both the SSD and the HDD connected to the motherboard and during the Windows installation process I can both format the HDD and install on the SSD?

[techguru]

you can make the partitions in the install...once you get windows installed you can format the partitions

[jayctech]

you can make the partitions in the install...once you get windows installed you can format the partitions

What I'm looking to do is completely format the old HDD. Is the proper way to do this to install Windows on the SSD, go to partition manager and delete the partitions on the old HDD?

[techguru]

once you delete the old partitions ..its kinda gone..you just make the new partitions..then reformat them

but you can do all of it from the install..except the format of the new partitions

the install cd will auto format the install partition tho when you tell it what partition to install on

[jayctech]

once you delete the old partitions ..its kinda gone..you just make the new partitions..then reformat them

but you can do all of it from the install..except the format of the new partitions

the install cd will auto format the install partition tho when you tell it what partition to install on

I'm asking how to delete the old partitions. The reinstall will be on a separate SSD so installing Windows won't erase the old install. I'm basically asking what the best method to get rid of the previous install is, after it's been installed on the new SSD.

[jayctech]

Bump

[Nexxus]

[DimasRMDO]

Damn.... Use this method once and you don't have to worry about it anymore.

[dfsdfgfkjsefoiqzemnd]

While it's nice that people suggest doing it during the install, it's always better to have only the SSD plugged in when installing windows.  The installer does have a habit of creating the 100MB boot partition on another HDD, in which case you won't be able to swap hard disks without FUBARing the OS.

 

Basically the best procedure is :

 

1 ) Start the Windows installer, select "Custom Install" when asked to do that or upgrade.  

2 ) Proceed to the disk selection screen.  There, click "Drive Options (advanced)"

3 ) Remove all the partitions of the HDD

4 ) Create a new partition using the entire HDD space

5 ) Shut down the computer without installing.

 

6 ) Open the PC, disconnect the HDD's power or data cable (or both if you want, either one is enough though) and boot it again. 

 

7 ) Install Windows on the SSD. 

8 ) When you're on the desktop, shut down the PC and plug in the HDD again.  On the next boot, it'll show the HDD as a single partition.

 

Done