Removing Windows Install from Data HDD

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  1. Posts : 1,962
    Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
       #1

    Removing Windows Install from Data HDD


    OK so, this one is a Doozy indeed.

    Built a PC for a customer/friend about 2 yrs ago, small 60GBs SSD with Win 7 Ultimate 64bit OS and big 1.5TB HDD for Data... good so far.

    There was a problem... Bottom Line and Long Story Short, the asshat managed to install a new Windows 7 Ult. 64bit OS on the 1.5TB Data HDD instead of repairing the small SSD like I instructed.

    So, he sent his PC to my office and I fix the problem with the small ssd. Matter of Fact I got a newer and bigger SSD for him.

    Now, the annoying part (more than a real issue) is the fact that I can not delete or remove the Window Files & Folders that the OS installed (Windows, Boot, Program Files + (x86), etc, etc, etc.) from the 1.5TB Data HDD and I don't have a drive where I could move his Pictures, Music & Documents, otherwise I would do that and Nuke the drive by formatting it and put the data back.

    I have google this to death but I can't find a solution.

    Any easy solutions than having to buy a new drive so I can move the Data to a new location?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #2

    How much data is on the 1.5 TB drive that you need to keep ?
    Maybe temporarily using Cloud Storage would work ?
    Maybe you can delete the "Windows" files if you boot from a non Windows disc such as Linux ?
      My Computer

  3.    #3

    Please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image. Tell us what is on each partition.

    We will show you how to correctly delete the OS by deleting its partition while preserving the data.

    Easiest would be to shrink the OS partition to create a new data partition to move the data into, in steps if necessary. Then when you have everythihg moved over mark the OS partition Inactive and delete it in Disk Mgmt. Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

    You can then create a new storage partition in the old OS space or use http://www.partitionwizard.com/download.html bootable CD to Resize or Extend the data partition into the space if its to the left. The PW disk is important to assure no possible data loss, and can also force delete the OS partition if it balks.

    It's not best to delete the OS piecemeal but if you do so its easiest to do it from a boot disk method such as Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.
    Last edited by gregrocker; 14 Apr 2014 at 21:14.
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  4. Posts : 6,285
    Windows 10 Pro X64
       #4

    You could also use a live Linux CD/DVD. Boot it then delete anything you need.

    See here: Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS

    only instead of backing up your data, use the file browser in Mint to delete the files and folders you don't want.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 1,962
    Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
    Thread Starter
       #5

    DavidW7ncus said:
    How much data is on the 1.5 TB drive that you need to keep ?
    Maybe temporarily using Cloud Storage would work ?
    Maybe you can delete the "Windows" files if you boot from a non Windows disc such as Linux ?
    Hmmm, this may just be the solution I was looking for... any free cloud storage you guys would recommend?

    gregrocker said:
    Please post back a screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image. Tell us what is on each partition.

    We will show you how to correctly delete the OS by deleting its partition while preserving the data.

    Easiest would be to shrink the OS partition to create a new data partition to move the data into, in steps if necessary. Then when you have everythihg moved over mark the OS partition Inactive and delete it in Disk Mgmt. Partition - Mark as Inactive - Windows 7 Forums.

    You can then create a new storage partition in the old OS space or use Free download Magic Partition Manager Software, partition magic alternative, free partition magic, partition magic Windows 7 and server partition software - Partition Wizard Online bootable CD to Resize or Extend the data partition into the space if its to the left. The PW disk is important to assure no possible data loss, and can also force delete the OS partition if it balks.

    It's not best to delete the OS piecemeal but if you do so its easiest to do it from a boot disk method such as Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.
    Ztruker said:
    You could also use a live Linux CD/DVD. Boot it then delete anything you need.

    See here: Emergency Kit - save your files from a dead OS

    only instead of backing up your data, use the file browser in Mint to delete the files and folders you don't want.
    Guys, thanks for the help but it appears I now have a new problem that came out off left field...

    I had use Migrate easy to, well, migrate the OS from the small SSD (60GBS) to the new SSD (120 GBs) and all appeared to have gone well until this morning when it appears something went terribly wrong because now I can not restart the OS... I am going to plug in the old ssd and try again.

    I will come back and tell you how it went later on
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 1,962
    Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
    Thread Starter
       #6

    @gregroker...

    I am doing this as we speak, I don't think it would have dawned on me to do this in the first place... I thank you for it.

    I also want to thanks all of you for lending a hand, if the shrink volume does not hold all the data I need to move, I have a couple of free cloud storage I could use to move the remainder of it.
      My Computer

  7.    #7

    Can you boot the OS now to post back the requested screenshot of Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 1,962
    Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
    Thread Starter
       #8

    I am not at the office but I will do that on Monday when I am back... Thanks
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1,962
    Windows 7 x64 (Ultimate)
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Here it is... as promised.

    Same Letter drive but one has +600GB and the other + 300GB... although, on Explore, it shows as a single 1TB drive

    Don't really know why one disk is Basic and the other Dynamic but really, those are things that I never seem to understand and as far as I am concerned, as long as this is working, I am ok with that. If it can be fix w/o major surgery, I am willing to attempt, otherwise, the rig will be leaving tomorrow so it will stay that way.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Removing Windows Install from Data HDD-dm.png  
      My Computer

  10.    #10

    Dynamic is meant to span a partition across multiple HD's and not just on one HD. To convert it back to Basic non-destructively follow Option One in Convert a Dynamic Disk to a Basic Disk
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