Should I disable my Hdd in order to intall my windows media into my ssd??

Marioo · Apr 9, 2024

I have been advised to disable or take off my Hdd in order to intall my windwos data creation installed in my pendrive from the bios into my ssd already installed? Could some of you give step by step to perform this task sucessfully please! Thanks anyway!!!

ThrashZone · Apr 9, 2024

Hi,
Yes I would that way all system partitions are on the os drive.
If not you remove the hdd and your system won't boot so it complicates replacement and also system imaging your os disk and just hdd separately.

SPDIF · Apr 9, 2024

Not really, as long as you choose the right drive to install to while windows ask this. If you are not sure you can disable SATA to the HDD in the Bios, or you you just take out the power cable from the HDD until done installing.

Solaris17 · Apr 10, 2024

Yes disable it unless it has no FS. Windows installs the boot loader on drive 0 or the lowest numeric drive in the system if there is a filesystem; regardless of which drive you are installing windows too. Unless you are certain your drive is drive 0 as it appears in the partition manager or it currently isnt formatted, its worth the headache to simply disable it in the BIOS or pull it out during install.

A Computer Guy · Apr 10, 2024

Marioo said:
I have been advised to disable or take off my Hdd in order to intall my windwos data creation installed in my pendrive from the bios into my ssd already installed? Could some of you give step by step to perform this task sucessfully please! Thanks anyway!!!

Yes when doing fresh installs of Windows this is good advice. While the PC is off disconnect the data cables to any other formatted drives and uninstall any formatted NVMe drives you don't want to participate in the Windows install process. Before you disconnect or remove drives if you don't care about the data on attached SSD or NVMe drives you may be able to perform a secure erase from UEFI/BIOS on those SSD's to erase the file systems on those drives.
This would then save you some hassle of having to disconnect/reconnect devices and is especially helpful to clear drives if you pulled bootable SSD drives out of other systems to build your new system. When multiple drives are installed I like to do custom install so I can be sure to pick what disk I want Windows to be installed on. It's a bit more difficult to choose though if all drives are the same capacity as I don't recall Windows listing the specifics of each device on the screen when doing a custom install.

I discovered what Solaris17 describes many years ago about the bootloader and removed and wiped a secondary drive from my system before I discovered I couldn't reboot. It's kind of annoying Windows works that way.

Marioo · Apr 10, 2024

SPDIF said:
Not really, as long as you choose the right drive to install to while windows ask this. If you are not sure you can disable SATA to the HDD in the Bios, or you you just take out the power cable from the HDD until done installing.

The right drive to install! They are enumerated on the bios! But I see disk partion 1 and disk partion 2!! which one is the right one because I have two partion! Which to choose? Maby If I knew the size of them I could choose one of them!!!

SPDIF · Apr 10, 2024

While you are in the Bios already, simply disable the HDD connected to the SATA port, save it and reboot. Then start up from your usb stick and install it.
Afterwards enable this setting again, save settings and reboot.

Normally Bios will show on what SATA port a Drive is connected. If unsure just disable all of them, after you installed Windows enable them all again.

ty_ger · Apr 10, 2024

With your computer off, unplug the hard drive. Then, once you finish the Windows install, with the computer off, plug the hard drive back in.

SPDIF · Apr 10, 2024

If you just do in the Bios, you don't need to open your case even, it's still the most safe option.
Where it says enabled, just disable this setting, then save your bios and reboot, that's all.

A Computer Guy · Apr 10, 2024

Marioo said:
The right drive to install! They are enumerated on the bios! But I see disk partion 1 and disk partion 2!! which one is the right one because I have two partion! Which to choose? Maby If I knew the size of them I could choose one of them!!!

Not every UEFI/BIOS has options to individually identify and disable SATA ports. Were you able to identify a setting in UEFI/BIOS that allows you to disable the SATA port for your HDD?

If you can't find it I would just disconnect your HDD for now (when the PC is powered off).

Many say take out the power cable but really I think you should at least disconnect the data cable instead. This is to ensure the system won't be confused by any signaling problem from unpowered devices attached to the SATA cable.

~~So you are saying your UEFI/BIOS can see partitions on your SSD that you want to install too?~~ Do you know what was on the partitions (on the SSD)? Was there anything you wanted to save from your SSD before you intend to overwrite it with a fresh install? Do you intend to keep the existing partitioning on the drive before reinstalling?

There are probably a lot of ways to get rid of those partitions if you don't need them. If data retention is not relevant and you can't find (or do not have) secure erase feature in your UEFI/BIOS you could make a bootable Linux USB stick to access and use a disk utility. Then from a Linux disk utility you can delete exiting partitions from the SSD disk. I often use a Linux Mint bootable USB to delete partitions off of disks before I reuse them because Windows sometimes won't let me clear a disk.

AleXXX666 · Apr 10, 2024

SPDIF said:
Not really, as long as you choose the right drive to install to while windows ask this. If you are not sure you can disable SATA to the HDD in the Bios, or you you just take out the power cable from the HDD until done installing.

well, windows still could create its crappy "recovery" or "boot" partition to another drive, and doesn't caring if it's HDD lol I've done this fkin 100 times, then removing or formatting the "second drive" (or HDD), and screwing things up because "Windows couldn't find partition" lmfao. Better disconnect the power physically than dancing ritual dances in CMD to "properly" install on just fkin ONE drive.

Ahhzz · Apr 10, 2024

SPDIF said:
Not really, as long as you choose the right drive to install to while windows ask this. If you are not sure you can disable SATA to the HDD in the Bios, or you you just take out the power cable from the HDD until done installing.

This is really not true. If you install any modern version of Windows, from 7 forward, and there is an additional drive in the system, Windows writes additional, boot-required, data to the "extra" drive. Also, many BIOS/UEFI settings do not allow for disabling of individual drives, or they're buried deep in the options, which increases the potential of mic-clicking a setting. It is best to disconnect any extra hard drives when doing a fresh install.

P4-630 · Apr 10, 2024

I always have 1 drive connected when I install windows, to avoid any issues once another drive fails.

ThrashZone · Apr 10, 2024

SPDIF said:
If you just do in the Bios, you don't need to open your case even, it's still the most safe option.
Where it says enabled, just disable this setting, then save your bios and reboot, that's all.

View attachment 342796

Hi,
I doubt any board has the drive options as enabled when being used
Auto is default unless manually changed
But yes if there are options it is pretty easy to disable one... rather than physically removing a sata cable..

remixedcat · Apr 10, 2024

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
Yes I would that way all system partitions are on the os drive.
If not you remove the hdd and your system won't boot so it complicates replacement and also system imaging your os disk and just hdd separately.

ive ran into that issue too once... removed a spare hdd and windows threw a fit..

GerKNG · Apr 10, 2024

I've installed windows a hundred thousand times and never unplugged any drive in my system.
just select the SSD you want to install it on and you're good.

Marioo · Apr 10, 2024

A Computer Guy said:
Yes when doing fresh installs of Windows this is good advice. While the PC is off disconnect the data cables to any other formatted drives and uninstall any formatted NVMe drives you don't want to participate in the Windows install process. Before you disconnect or remove drives if you don't care about the data on attached SSD or NVMe drives you may be able to perform a secure erase from UEFI/BIOS on those SSD's to erase the file systems on those drives.
This would then save you some hassle of having to disconnect/reconnect devices and is especially helpful to clear drives if you pulled bootable SSD drives out of other systems to build your new system. When multiple drives are installed I like to do custom install so I can be sure to pick what disk I want Windows to be installed on. It's a bit more difficult to choose though if all drives are the same capacity as I don't recall Windows listing the specifics of each device on the screen when doing a custom install.

I discovered what Solaris17 describes many years ago about the bootloader and removed and wiped a secondary drive from my system before I discovered I couldn't reboot. It's kind of annoying Windows works that way.

Then I have to open my notebook to disable Meu Hdd while downloading my new system?? It seems dificult! Do yoou have step by step instructions to guide me safely along the operation??? Sorry but I know a few thing about computer management!!!

GerKNG said:
I've installed windows a hundred thousand times and never unplugged any drive in my system.
just select the SSD you want to install it on and you're good.

It is the simplest instruction so far!! can I enter bios and boot from there directly into the drive I want?

GerKNG · Apr 10, 2024

Marioo said:
It is the simplest instruction so far!! can I enter bios and boot from there directly into the drive I want?

plug the usb stick in, boot from it and install it to the drive you want.

ThrashZone · Apr 10, 2024

Marioo said:
It is the simplest instruction so far!!

Hi,
lol yeah doing nothing is the easiest way to do anything right probably easier than asking a question on tpu :slap:

Frankly 9 people agreed disconnect the hdd before clean install and only 1 said do nothing
This should be very obvious what to do :wtf:

Even on a notebook which is new info but only a couple more screws.

A Computer Guy · Apr 10, 2024

ThrashZone said:
Hi,
lol yeah doing nothing is the easiest way to do anything right probably easier than asking a question on tpu

Frankly 9 people agreed disconnect the hdd before clean install and only 1 said do nothing
This should be very obvious what to do

Even on a notebook which is new info but only a couple more screws.

For the record I said to disconnect the data cable specifically. :laugh:

Marioo · Apr 10, 2024

Marioo said:
Then I have to open my notebook to disable Meu Hdd while downloading my new system?? It seems dificult! Do yoou have step by step instructions to guide me safely along the operation??? Sorry but I know a few thing about computer management!!!

It is the simplest instruction so far!! can I enter bios and boot from there directly into the drive I want? Thank you very much!!!!

ty_ger · Apr 10, 2024

Watch a youtube video. No one wants to explain how to use a screwdriver. Written words are inefficient for such things.

SPDIF · Apr 11, 2024

Same here, i never have unplugged any drive when installing windows in my life, this for about 20-30 years, i never over written or had bad drives not booting. But for a beginner that is not sure, just unplug the drive or disable it.

A Computer Guy · Apr 11, 2024

Marioo said:
Then I have to open my notebook to disable Meu Hdd while downloading my new system?? It seems dificult! Do yoou have step by step instructions to guide me safely along the operation??? Sorry but I know a few thing about computer management!!!

I think there may be some misunderstood details of your situation.
Ok so to be clear you are upgrading your laptop/notebook?
Does the laptop/notebook currently have one or two drives?
What is the make and model of your laptop/notebook?

Ahhzz · Apr 11, 2024

Yeah... I think the question has been asked and answered... repeatedly... Good Luck OP

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Should I disable my Hdd in order to intall my windows media into my ssd??

Marioo

ThrashZone

SPDIF

Solaris17

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A Computer Guy

Marioo

SPDIF

ty_ger

SPDIF

A Computer Guy

AleXXX666

Ahhzz

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P4-630

ThrashZone

remixedcat

GerKNG

Marioo

GerKNG

ThrashZone

A Computer Guy

Marioo

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