Uninstalling Windows

[EvolvePC]

Ok, I couldn't find the answer to this on google. Everything I found was on removing a developer copy or just using recovery media to revert to an older version.

 

I am installing a new copy of windows on a new SSD, but reusing the old HDD (the HDD has an OEM copy of windows and will therefor freak out if I try to use that copy on a new motherboard).

 

All i want to do to the old HDD is remove windows as it will be used as a storage drive only, but can't find information on uninstalling windows completely except the obvious backup files, wipe drive, put files back on. I am wondering if there is a way to just uninstall windows and call it a day.

[Electronics Wizardy]

Just format the drive.

 

If you don't want to do that delete all the windows files and then turn off the boot flag in a partition editor.

[VinsinityKT]

Easiest way is to just wipe it for me. I have done it to multiple laptop hard drives I replaced.

[Minsekt]

best way is to just to wipe the drive. theres no "uninstall option" but you can just delete the windows folder.. 

[Altecice]

The best thing to do in this situation would be to remove the HDD from your system while installing Windows on your SSD. Once thats done and you are on your new Windows install, attach the old HDD again and from there create a new root folder structure and move your personal files in (DRIVE LETTER/users/USERNAME/) and just delete the rest.

[Naeaes]

You can't uninstall Windows but you can delete it. It's all contained in /Windows/. Delete that and it's gone. But there's one other thing:

You need to delete the hidden partitions that the old Windows created. The very least (regardless of version) there's gonna be a tiny partition (about 100MB to 200MB) at the beginning of the drive and depending on the version and settings there may be bigger partitions at the end for recovery and such. You have to delete those for it to run properly. For example, the small partition at the beginning is where the information of what operating system is where so if you delete Windows but leave that partition, it'll point to an empty slot and cause trouble.

Tl;Dr Without knowing more about your system the advice I can give is boot to your new OS, enter Disk Management and remove all partitions that you're not going to use and then delete the folder that used to be your C:/Windows/.

[EvolvePC]

Cool, thanks for the replies guys!