next step after cloning

Boot into Safe Mode with or without Network and see if you are allowed to format that 2nd hard-drive; if not, you might have to make Puppy Linux USB or DVD boot, boot it, use its internal format on that 2nd HD. Before doing anything, make sure you label each HDs' "C or OS"partitions a unique name, you want to make absolutely certain which C/OS partition you are going to format, do not depend upon drive letter assignments to guide you.

You only need the 2nd HD connected if you're USB or DVD booting. I know of no way of EZ-booting into Windows with both HDs connected -- unless you know how to pick SSD to boot via F8's boot menu.

Don't feel bad about your age or being a beginner; we all had to start somewhere at whatever age (I was a bit of a late bloomer).

If you connect the old drive to the computer, such using a USB cable connected dock (if you don't have one, it's a worthwhile investment), after the computer has already booted, Windows will automatically reassign the drive letters on the old drive to avoid having duplicate drive letters. You do not even need to use safe mode (I never did). If you need help on the actual reformatting, let us know and one of us will walk you through it. It's simple once you know how.

With both drives hooked up and booted into the drive you want to keep, just go to Disk Management and select the drive you want to format. Right tick on the drive you want to format and your selection to format will be listed.

**Make sure you are booted into the correct drive. That is a must.**

I do this by selecting boot order in bios and by naming each drive so I can tell one from the other.
Windows 7 should not let you format the drive you are booted into. Windows 7 is protecting itself.
If you right tick on a drive or partition that you are booted into you should not get the option to format.

To rename a drive is simple.
1. Tick on Start Orb
2. Select Computer
3. Right tick on the drive you want to rename and select Rename.
4. Type in what ever you want to call the drive you want to reformat.
That way you will be able to tell one drive from the other by using it's name.

Any questions just ask.

Example of renamed drives and partitions.





Jack

I'm grateful that my little advice was followed by much more thorough advice by others! :)

theyoungwag said:

...Lady F, the drive that I want to format is the old Internal one, not External Usb, so I cannot go down that route, i don't think...

Actually, you can go that route. If you use an external dock (as I vaguely suggested; sorry), you can connect the dock to the computer via a USB cable and plug the internal type HDD into the dock and turn it on after you have booted the computer.

This is an example of an external dock:



You can read more about this one here. This is just an example of one kind; there are many others (this one will work with both 3.5" HDDs and 2.5" HDDs; Orico is a good brand, btw). You would have to find one in your neck of the world to ensure it is compatible with the power mains where you live.

A 3.5" dock will have a small power supply you plug into the dock and a wall power socket. it connects to the computer via a USB cable. When you plug the HDD into it and turn it on, the HDD will show up in your computer as though it had been installed inside. A dock makes accessing an HDD in this kind of situation both easier and safer. I strongly recommend any computer user beyond the most basic ones (and you have passed into beyond basic territory just by being here asking for help ) have a dock in their arsenal of computer tools.

A dock is also an excellent way to access a drive being used for backups (the importance of backing up one's data is something I cannot stress enough but that is a topic for another thread).