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NightDragon

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Bowen

You should be able to do it no problem if D isn't your main drive.

Open up This PC/My PC, right click on the Drive, and click format.

I'd recommend uninstalling any programs first, it might cause boot issues if they run automatically.

E: it'd be rare if something on the C drive referenced something on the D drive, but not sure how it was all set up so I can't say for certain.

dispatch.o

Before you decide to format, open the computer case and unplug the HDD. Try to boot and see how it behaves. I suspect if it was all copied the boot record and hidden boot partition and files may still be in use.

With it unplugged you can see how things go were none of it accessable, does windows have a panic attack? If not, you're fine. If so, you'll probably still be fine but have to reinstall or recover windows so make sure you have the DVD handy and know your product code.

Bowen

dispatch.o wrote: »

Before you decide to format, open the computer case and unplug the HDD. Try to boot and see how it behaves. I suspect if it was all copied the boot record and hidden boot partition and files may still be in use.

With it unplugged you can see how things go were none of it accessable, does windows have a panic attack? If not, you're fine. If so, you'll probably still be fine but have to reinstall or recover windows so make sure you have the DVD handy and know your product code.

Yup a good test.

I suspect the MBR and all that are on the SSD and the files were left on the old drive just in case, but unplugging it would answer that question real quick.

NightDragon

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Bowen

You could make a backup image with something like clonezilla, but it's a huge pain to do.

e: there's this that might work if you're using windows 10 https://www.windowscentral.com/how-make-full-backup-windows-10

dispatch.o

NightDragon wrote: »

dispatch.o wrote: »

Before you decide to format, open the computer case and unplug the HDD. Try to boot and see how it behaves. I suspect if it was all copied the boot record and hidden boot partition and files may still be in use.

With it unplugged you can see how things go were none of it accessable, does windows have a panic attack? If not, you're fine. If so, you'll probably still be fine but have to reinstall or recover windows so make sure you have the DVD handy and know your product code.

Oooh, that's a really good idea. I'm trying to avoid reinstalling/repairing Windows if I can - I assume that if it comes to that, it would mean that I have to reinstall every single program as well, right? I do have my Windows install disc, but reinstalling everything else would be a huge Butt.

Depending on the repair it might not be too bad. It's just better to be prepared for the worst and pleasantly surprised.

DisruptedCapitalist

bowen wrote: »

dispatch.o wrote: »

Before you decide to format, open the computer case and unplug the HDD. Try to boot and see how it behaves. I suspect if it was all copied the boot record and hidden boot partition and files may still be in use.

With it unplugged you can see how things go were none of it accessable, does windows have a panic attack? If not, you're fine. If so, you'll probably still be fine but have to reinstall or recover windows so make sure you have the DVD handy and know your product code.

Yup a good test.

I suspect the MBR and all that are on the SSD and the files were left on the old drive just in case, but unplugging it would answer that question real quick.

Hey, I found that out the hard way before. Trying to repair the M.B.R. is F.U.N.!

dispatch.o

It used to be pretty easy to rewrite the MBR using fdisk command lines. I can't say I've messed with anything regarding it in years though, especially not under the newer versions of windows. I suspect someone here knows exactly what to do.