Can't Format HDD

[Spartan927]

I used to use a single HDD for my storage, including boot. I just got a new SSD that I want to keep as my main boot drive and use the old HDD as just storage. I put windows on the old drive and registered it as the main drive but I can't format the old one. Attempting to format gives me the error saying that the drive is still in use, even though it's not. All I want is a clean wipe of the old HDD.

 

Things I've tried:

diskpart

disk management

moving page file

reinstalling windows on both drives

[Cryptonite]

8 minutes ago, Spartan927 said:

I used to use a single HDD for my storage, including boot. I just got a new SSD that I want to keep as my main boot drive and use the old HDD as just storage. I put windows on the old drive and registered it as the main drive but I can't format the old one. Attempting to format gives me the error saying that the drive is still in use, even though it's not. All I want is a clean wipe of the old HDD.

 

Things I've tried:

diskpart

disk management

moving page file

reinstalling windows on both drives

try installing windows on the new drive with the old drive completely disconnected, then afterward connect the old drive and attempt a format. windows is retarded in the sense that it sometimes saves crucial data of the OS on a secondary drive so when you even just unplug the second drive it won't boot. 

 

 

wait, why not just in the windows installation setup choose to delete the partitions on the old drive? easiest format ever

Edited May 31, 2016 by Cryptonite

[Spartan927]

 

 

The option to delete partitions wasn't there.

 

I took out the drive and started up my comp and began installing when this happened:

[Cryptonite]

10 hours ago, Spartan927 said:

 

 

The option to delete partitions wasn't there.

 

I took out the drive and started up my comp and began installing when this happened:

well then what I said was accurate. you should format without the drive in there and then you can plug in the old drive and format it.