install ssd and keep all programs without a reinstall of windows

I understand - command prompt is not everybody's cup of tea. I would use Partition Wizard and delete all partitions. With PW you don't get the usual Windows push back if you want to manipulate system partitions.

Use the Elevated Command Prompt to run Diskpart Clean Command.

I've now restated this multiple times to make sure it gets done correctly. If any less than Clean command is done then the boot code which is interfering with the SSD boot will remain even if you delete, recreate and/or reformat the partitions.

Looks good. PW would have been easier, but that's OK. Now you can define partitions. I would not make 1 big partition on the whole drive. Just one Data Partition large enough for your data now and in the future. Note that the allocation units in Disk Management are in MBs and not GBs. So e.g. 200GBs are 200000MB

Reason: A big partition is not always easy to shrink with Disk Management (because of the MFT). It is a lot easier to leave unallocated space on the disk for future use - even if you want to extend the sata partition later.

But if you want additional partitions (in addition to the Data Partition) for other things, that's a different matter. Those you can define right now.

Agreed, just split it in half, put data on half, and data and disk images on the other.

Or even 3, 2 300 GBs each and a 331 GB for disk images.

And I agree with Wolfgang about using PW, it`s just sooooo much easier.

If you'd used PW to wipe the HD it woudl have taken much longer since it has no real quick wipe, plus you were being advised to only delete the partitions when we'd already been through finding out that the drive was slowing your boot which can only mean boot code is interfering. Merely deleting the partitions does not get rid of this boot code, only wiping it.

It is frustrating that I'm still having to argue this when I spelled it out clearly several times already. I understand there are quite a few things going on in the thread, so maybe it isn't clear to all that your SSD has boot times which are a deal-killer.

Sorry, you feel that way. But, your book smart and not a very good teacher for the unknowing. I'm sure you know the subject matter as you have passed that on. But then again you didn't know that when I did the disk alignment mine was good, at least understand and read the link you posted. Carry on my friend but just posting links is not the way to teach and help the novices. All in all though. thank you for your help. Patience with someone is a virtue.

Just so you know, I know too, a clean install is the best. But, it's the easy way out. Solve the question you were asked. If you don't know how, pass it to others.