Solved How to remove old OS on an HDD

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

In another thread I discussed that HP has replaced the SSD drive on my computer under warranty. The current OS is installed on the new SSD. However, HP did not remove the previous OS files from the HDD spinning platter. I want to use the HDD for file history, backups, etc. To avoid future problems, I want to remove the old files from the HDD, but run into the problem that deleting the files requires that I make myself into the ‘Trusted Installer.’ The procedure for doing that looks convoluted and there are many files.

I think it would be easier just to format the HDD to clear all that out. There is nothing I need or want on the HDD labeled D:. But I have some questions:

Can I do that without creating new problems?
Will the format operation be prevented by the need to be the ‘Trusted Installer?’
Do I have to do something specific regarding the partitions on the HDD? The disc management report is this:

Thanks for any thoughts.

P.S. The thread discussing the background to this is:
“Boot device not found” - Hard Disk - 3F0

BamaInArk · Dec 1, 2023

Which drive is the real boot device Disk 0(2 TB) or Disk 1(265GB)? Also be aware your drive(s) is showing "BitLocker Encrypted"

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

@retexan599

Just turn off bitlocker on the hard drive, then just delete all the partitions.
I'm assuming that Disk 0 is the hard drive.

Deleting the existing partitions, and then creating whatever new partitions you want, would probably be easier with Minitool Partition Wizard (free)...

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

As an all-in-one free partition manager and disk manager software, MiniTool Partition Wizard Free helps manage disk space safely on Windows 11/10/8/7.

www.partitionwizard.com

Minitool PW is just like Disk Management, only more powerful.
Here's what mine looks like...

The "Apply" button is in the lower left corner.

Turn Off BitLocker for Drive in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to turn off BitLocker for an encrypted drive in Windows 10 and Windows 11. BitLocker Drive Encryption is a data protection feature that integrates with the operating system and addresses the threats of data theft or exposure from lost, stolen, or inappropriately...

www.elevenforum.com

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

Well... I see all the "usual suspects" watching this topic, so I can go back to my book.

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

BamaInArk said:
Which drive is the real boot device Disk 0(2 TB) or Disk 1(265GB)? Also be aware your drive(s) is showing "BitLocker Encrypted"

The 265GB Disk 1 is the real boot device (C:). Don't know why HP numbered the disks that way. Yes, I found my BitLocker encryption key and unlocked the Disk 0 (D:) drive. Thanks.

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

retexan599 said:
Don't know why HP numbered the disks that way

That wasn't HP. NVMe drives usually don't like to take the first slot.
Maybe they're... shy. I guess if I was only 22 x 80 x 4mm, I'd be shy too.

jimbo45 · Dec 1, 2023

?????

Surely just boot up any windows install disk / Macrium recovery disk or whatever and enter command mode.

Then simply : Diskpart

list disk
select disk xxxx <where xxxx is the one you want to remove the OS from >
clean
convert gpt
create partition efi size=100
list vol
select vol xxx <vol is the one with the efi 100 Mb partition just created>
format fs=fat32 quick
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
exit

job done -- no need for any 3rd party software at all.

Cheers
jimbo

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

jimbo45 said:
?????

OP is trying to "format" Disk 0, and then use it as a storage disk.

POLYSIUS · Dec 1, 2023

jimbo45 said:
?????

Surely just boot up any windows install disk / Macrium recovery disk or whatever and enter command mode.

Then simply : Diskpart

list disk
select disk xxxx <where xxxx is the one you want to remove the OS from >
clean
convert gpt
create partition efi size=100
list vol
select vol xxx <vol is the one with the efi 100 Mb partition just created>
format fs=fat32 quick
create partition primary
format fs=ntfs quick
exit

job done -- no need for any 3rd party software at all.

Cheers
jimbo

nonsense par excellence

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

OK, that went easier than I expected! Clicked on quick format disk 0 (D:) from the Disk Management window, it warned me about BitLocker, then about deleting all files, then formatted. Thanks for advice.

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

Good job.

Now, reboot, and make sure you can reboot.
I would imagine you can. I don't think even a lazy HP tech would leave Disk 1 with a useless EFI partition.
Or you could "look" at Disk 1's EFI partition in Minitool and "see" if it's Active.

You can also do all this in command prompt, but I'm lazy... I like just letting Minitool remember all those commands.

BamaInArk · Dec 1, 2023

Okay it will be easy to use the built in utility called DiskPart(Disk Partition) to clear the D: Data drive for use as storage. Disk Management will not be able to clear all the partitions nor formatting. The other program mentioned, MiniTool, would be good as well as it's graphical and might be easier to understand.
But if using DiskPart you have to go to a command prompt using Admin. There you just type in diskpart and you'll end up there. Now you have to be VERY careful and understand which drive is which. So in you case you're looking for Disk 0, not Disk 1. Under Diskpart you type List Disks and it will display the same info Disk 0 and Disk 1 and will also reflect their sizes to also help identify which drive is which. From there type Select Disk 0(the one you want to work on). When it displays Disk 0 selected the next command will be Clean. That will bascially wipe all the partitions from the selected Disk, which hopefully is the one you selected.

Type Exit to exit Diskpart then Exit again to exit the command prompt. Now simply go to Disk Management and when it loads it should popup a dialog about partitioning the new drive. Once partitioned you can then format the drive under Disk Management.

jimbo45 · Dec 1, 2023

POLYSIUS said:
nonsense par excellence

YOU AGAIN !!! Now that's a surprise.

Why is that nonsense. It works.

It's obviously you again discorging over complex solutions to people who probably are overpaying you for rediculous over complex solutions. I suspect is people like you that give the whole of the I.T industry and its workers a bad name.

When was the last time I ever saw any positive post from you.

I really don't get into flaming but you really have ZERO to offer anybody other than your own self sufficiently, believe in your superiority and smugness -- so just don't bother to reply to anything unless you have CONSTRUCTIVE criticism -- and what's wrong if you want to remove an OS from an HDD to use DISKPART-->clean.

What's YOUR solution then.

So I suggest you go back into your hobbit hole and contemplate on sexual words that rhyme with Duck.

And I do speak german so Alles is NICHT IN ORDNUNG HIER.

Cheers
jimbo

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

Ghot said:
Good job.
Now, reboot, and make sure you can reboot.
I would imagine you can. I don't think even a lazy HP tech would leave Disk 1 with a useless EFI partition.
Or you could "look" at Disk 1's EFI partition in Minitool and "see" if it's Active.

You can also do all this in command prompt, but I'm lazy... I like just letting Minitool remember all those commands.

View attachment 79637

OK, it rebooted just fine. The Disk Management window now looks like this:

I think I will just leave it like it is and not try to get too fancy for now. Sufficient unto the day and all that...
Thanks again.

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

retexan599 said:
The Disk Management window now looks like this:

Looks to me like those partitions on Disk 0 are still there. ??

You can just right click, and delete them. You may have to turn OFF Bitlocker.
Once they're deleted the whole drive will show as unallocated.
Then you can right click the unallocated space and create, then format. Then you'll be able to use Disk 0 for storage.

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

Ghot said:
Looks to me like those partitions on Disk 0 are still there. ??

Why is that bad? I see no files or folders on that D: drive in This PC. Looks ready for what I need for backups and file history, yes?

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

retexan599 said:
Why is that bad? I see no files or folders on that D: drive in This PC. Looks ready for what I need for backups and file history, yes?

You don't need the Recovery or EFI partition on Disk 0

Right click each of the RED boxes and choose... delete.
Then you'll have one large unallocated space.
Right click that and choose: create.

Make it a primary partition, NTFS and default cluster size.... then give it drive letter D:.

Then, it will look like this... except the D: partition would be 1863.00GB

It's up to you though. Me... my OCD wouldn't like it the way it is.

POLYSIUS · Dec 1, 2023

The ESP and Recovery Partition are protected. You could assign new IDs (ebd0a0a2-b9e5-4433-87c0-68b6b72699c7) and delete them or reboot into the Recovery and run the diskpart
clean command.

try cmd (admin)
diskpart
sel disk 0
sel par 1
delete partition override

watch the system response.
If it works:
sel par 4
delete partition override
exit

retexan599 · Dec 1, 2023

Ghot said:
You don't need the Recovery or EFI partition on Disk 0

Right click each of the RED boxes and choose... delete.
Then you'll have one large unallocated space.
Right click that and choose: create.

Make it a primary partition, NTFS and default cluster size.... then give it drive letter D:.

View attachment 79648

Then, it will look like this... except the D: partition would be 1863.00GB

View attachment 79650

It's up to you though. Me... my OCD wouldn't like it the way it is.

My Disk Management window does not show a 'delete' option when right clicking either of the two smaller partitions at either end. Possibly that is because they were once part of an operating system? The middle partition does have a Delete Volume with a right click. I am reluctant to delete that one. For the moment I will leave it as is.

Ghot · Dec 1, 2023

retexan599 said:
My Disk Management window does not show a 'delete' option when right clicking either of the two smaller partitions at either end. Possibly that is because they were once part of an operating system? The middle partition does have a Delete Volume with a right click. I am reluctant to delete that one. For the moment I will leave it as is.

Yeah... that's why I suggested Minitool Partition Wizard.

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