Remove Windows 7 from Old HDD thats now a slave drive

JRockZ · 11 May 2013

So I have two hard drives in my PC set up as storage drives,, they are getting full and neither boots anymore nor do I care to have them boot. Id like to delete windows 7 from them both but also keep my files that I have on them without having to transfer everything to a new drive.
Is there a way to "uninstall" Win 7??
or should I just delete all the files and folders that pertain to the o/s?
Hmmm did a couple searches but didn't find anything that helped.
Thanks!

AddRAM · 11 May 2013

The proper way to do it is to copy your files to the drive you`re booting with now or to an external. Then format the drive, then copy your data back.

But, you could put all your files into 1 folder then delete everything else.

Why do you say they are set up as storage but don`t boot anymore ?

How many instances of 7 do you have on this pc and why ?

Post a shot of disk management. Your boot files may be on 1 of these drives.

JRockZ · 11 May 2013

Exactly what i dont want to do, 60+ gb's of files and main dirive is now 60 ssd drivedrive

AddRAM · 11 May 2013

Then just do the 2nd option.

JRockZ · 11 May 2013

AddRAM said:

Then just do the 2nd option.

Yes, Sorry I'm on my cell phone right now,, Did not see the second option idea the first time. And they were originally Hard drives from two other computers that had working til 7 in them. For a while I was able to go into them but now I have rebuilt my PC and did not sys prep or wipe them.

gregrocker · 11 May 2013

Please post back the requested screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image - Windows 7 Help Forums so we can make sure the current config is correct and advise you best.

It's best to try shrinking the OS partition on the storage drives down to a size where you can correctly delete the partition in Disk Mgmt (after we see that is safe to do).

To try to delete the OS piecemeal is difficult requiring a special program like Unlocker to delete protected files in the WIndows Folder. Plus, certain folders like Program Data are hidden requiring unhiding in Control Panel>Folder Options>View to delete them.

So its always preferable to try to delete the OS partition, even if you have to gradually shrink it down while you move the data files off. Partition Wizard has a cool new feature that will let you add space to any partition from any other partition even if its not adjacent: How to extend partition easily with Partition Wizard - video help.