Question Formatting SSD with OS, do I have to format secondary HDD?

[EpicSurvivor]

If I format my SSD with the OS on it and do a fresh install of Windows can I keep my games and files in my secondary HDD? or do I have to format it as well?

Thanks

 

[Shmee]

You dont have to format it, but you may have to reinstall in place over the games, depending on the title. For many games with launchers like steam or origin, you can just install the launcher and detect the games and it will update and use existing files without having to download everything again.

But again, it depends on the titles how well it would work and if you would need to reinstall.

 

[aigomorla]

what OS?

Depending on the OS, it may have setup multiple partitions on the drive.
Windows setup allows you to delete those partitions during setup however.

Steam and Origin allows you to locate the games installed so if its on another HDD, you just need to point it.
Epic on the other hand requires you to reinstall the game, unless you trick it by stopping it half way, replacing the downloaded files, and then resuming.
There is a guide on the web for Epic.

 

[ArisVer]

It is also better to disconnect the second disk during installation. Connect again after install is finished.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

what OS?

Depending on the OS, it may have setup multiple partitions on the drive.
Windows setup allows you to delete those partitions during setup however.

Steam and Origin allows you to locate the games installed so if its on another HDD, you just need to point it.
Epic on the other hand requires you to reinstall the game, unless you trick it by stopping it half way, replacing the downloaded files, and then resuming.
There is a guide on the web for Epic.

Windows 10.

Appreciate all the feedback and suggestions guys!

See the only reason I am tempted to format and install Windows again on my SSD (1TB 860 Samsung EVO) is because somehow I lost nearly 100GB the past 3 days from something I cannot find in the SSD no matter where I look and its bugging the heck out of me. I had around 415GB Free now I am down to 300 and I didn't install any new games or programs. If I can find what did it I won't have to install Windows again.

 

[ArisVer]

Try WinDirStat to check if you find unusual files.

WinDirStat

Windows Directory Statistics

windirstat.net

 

[EpicSurvivor]

Try WinDirStat to check if you find unusual files.

WinDirStat

Windows Directory Statistics

windirstat.net

Okay I'll look into it thank you.

Update: Running Disc Clean up on the SSD erased 30GB of data which is pretty good.

 

[Furious_Styles]

Windows 10.

Appreciate all the feedback and suggestions guys!

See the only reason I am tempted to format and install Windows again on my SSD (1TB 860 Samsung EVO) is because somehow I lost nearly 100GB the past 3 days from something I cannot find in the SSD no matter where I look and its bugging the heck out of me. I had around 415GB Free now I am down to 300 and I didn't install any new games or programs. If I can find what did it I won't have to install Windows again.

win key + r then diskmgmt.msc and make sure it's all showing up. Windows update can take lots of space especially for when you download the new revision.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

win key + r then diskmgmt.msc and make sure it's all showing up. Windows update can take lots of space especially for when you download the new revision.

Looking good.
I did install a 20GB Game last night so accounting for that? I am only 10 or 15 GB short from where its supposed to be after running disk cleanup. I am happy with that.

Tempted to Format just the SSD and do fresh Windows install but don't wan to go through the hassle. Might do it later on tho.

 

[Furious_Styles]

Looking good.
I did install a 20GB Game last night so accounting for that? I am only 10 or 15 GB short from where its supposed to be after running disk cleanup. I am happy with that.

Tempted to Format just the SSD and do fresh Windows install but don't wan to go through the hassle. Might do it later on tho.View attachment 20962

There's really no point to a reinstall unless you're having a problem you just can't seem to fix. I've got a 5 year old win7 install that runs great. Just gotta uninstall unnecessary garbage from time to time.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

There's really no point to a reinstall unless you're having a problem you just can't seem to fix. I've got a 5 year old win7 install that runs great. Just gotta uninstall unnecessary garbage from time to time.

Right on! I know just seemed odd how a chunk of space went missing on my SSD. Other than that system is pretty stable.

 

[aigomorla]

100gb missing is massive.
It would bother the hell out of me too.
It might be in tmp files, or it could be in page cache.

But if it really bothers you, which it would to me, i would probably first try a reset (remove everything option) windows 10 has, and if that does not work, i would go full reformat using UEFI mode if its not already done.

If windows is not booting in UEFI, then i would reformat and reinstall windows 10 from scratch regardless.

You can use this guide to check if windows is using UEFI or Legacy.

Check if Windows 10 is using UEFI or Legacy BIOS

How to Check if Windows 10 is using UEFI or Legacy BIOS

www.tenforums.com

This is of course assuming one has a UEFI system, which the OP has if he is running a Z170.

Edit: @EpicSurvivor, i think your running Legacy from looking at your partitions and it missing the 100mb UEFI partition.
Magic 8 Ball says a reformat / reinstall is coming to you in your future.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

100gb missing is massive.
It would bother the hell out of me too.
It might be in tmp files, or it could be in page cache.

But if it really bothers you, which it would to me, i would probably first try a reset (remove everything option) windows 10 has, and if that does not work, i would go full reformat using UEFI mode if its not already done.

Windows booting UEFI means u have your motherboard makers logo while its circle thing is spinning.

Yeah seriously considering doing a fresh OS install. I had 415GB yesterday today I had 300 which makes no sense. Only thing I installed since yesterday was a 20GB Game that's it.

 

[aigomorla]

Reread my edits... i think your booting windows 10 in Legacy.
I would advise you to reformat / reinstall in UEFI.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

Reread my edits... i think your booting windows 10 in Legacy.
I would advise you to reformat / reinstall in UEFI.

Oh okay miss understood your post I'll take a look. Thank you

 

[VirtualLarry]

I've seen before, when using external HDDs, formatted in NTFS, sometimes, inexplicably, the total amount of "actual files" on the disk, doesn't match up with the "used space", sometimes massively so. Even after DELETING ALL OF THE FILES, the amount of "free space" doesn't go back to what it should be. Like some form of "Dark Matter", the HDD space gets inexplicably consumed by NTFS, somehow, somewhere, and just stops being available.

Re-formatting the entire volume will re-claim the "used mystery space", in my experience.

 

[EpicSurvivor]

I've seen before, when using external HDDs, formatted in NTFS, sometimes, inexplicably, the total amount of "actual files" on the disk, doesn't match up with the "used space", sometimes massively so. Even after DELETING ALL OF THE FILES, the amount of "free space" doesn't go back to what it should be. Like some form of "Dark Matter", the HDD space gets inexplicably consumed by NTFS, somehow, somewhere, and just stops being available.

Re-formatting the entire volume will re-claim the "used mystery space", in my experience.

Okay thank you. Holding off doing it for now due to the hassle of having to install everything all over again. But will see. Feel kinda lazy and system is running stable just surprised how my space went missing over night but after running disk clean up I gained back about 30GB