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geekhack Community => Off Topic => Topic started by: Naweo on Thu, 25 August 2022, 16:56:12

Title: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Naweo on Thu, 25 August 2022, 16:56:12

I think bios is trying to boot into an old hard drive. I have installed windows on a new SSD and simply want the old SSD for stoage, and so I wipled it clean with a reformat. It appears there is still an un-deletable bootable partition, and I can't seem to remove that boot partition.

Any ideas?

Thanks

https://i.gyazo.com/b77a8561bccc32a8e12b0ed502509af0.png

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: tp4tissue on Thu, 25 August 2022, 17:50:00

i remember this might have something to do with the bootmanger.

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: fohat.digs on Thu, 25 August 2022, 18:31:22

Not sure that I'm remembering correctly, but can you right click on the partition and do a "delete partition"?

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Leslieann on Thu, 25 August 2022, 23:03:12

First off, remove the drive you want to format... Boot up the system, that should get the bios to correct, but also it will ensure your system is not booting off of that drive.

It's very possible it's using the boot partition on the to be formatted drive  to boot your SSD, which is why you can't format it.
If that's the case when you remove it your system will not boot, you can either fix it with a Windows disk or put the other back in and ignore the problem.


If it boots with the one removed (or after you have fixed it), reconnect the drive to be formatted. Note that if it's a relatively new system you don't even have to shut down to reconnect it. However, instead of formatting it, delete all of the partitions on it, then create a new "simple" partition and format that. That will get rid of any boot sectors and give you max capacity.


Fair warning,
It's very likely you're using it to boot your SSD.

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Naweo on Fri, 26 August 2022, 15:50:24

Yes I made a few threads about this. I will come back after I have booted one the drive I intend to use only and removed the drive I intend to format / remove as a bootable drive.

If windows boots normally WITHOUT the annoying hard drive inside, then I can safely attempt to remove the bootable partition, correct?

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Naweo on Sat, 27 August 2022, 11:48:09

Quote from: Leslieann on Thu, 25 August 2022, 23:03:12

First off, remove the drive you want to format... Boot up the system, that should get the bios to correct, but also it will ensure your system is not booting off of that drive.

It's very possible it's using the boot partition on the to be formatted drive  to boot your SSD, which is why you can't format it.
If that's the case when you remove it your system will not boot, you can either fix it with a Windows disk or put the other back in and ignore the problem.


If it boots with the one removed (or after you have fixed it), reconnect the drive to be formatted. Note that if it's a relatively new system you don't even have to shut down to reconnect it. However, instead of formatting it, delete all of the partitions on it, then create a new "simple" partition and format that. That will get rid of any boot sectors and give you max capacity.


Fair warning,
It's very likely you're using it to boot your SSD.

I can now confirm the drive in question (crucial SSD, no other crucial drive in the system) is unplugged, and the PC boots fairly.

I can now safely attempt to remove the bootable partition, correct?

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Naweo on Sat, 27 August 2022, 12:01:55

Quote from: Naweo on Sat, 27 August 2022, 11:48:09

Quote from: Leslieann on Thu, 25 August 2022, 23:03:12

First off, remove the drive you want to format... Boot up the system, that should get the bios to correct, but also it will ensure your system is not booting off of that drive.

It's very possible it's using the boot partition on the to be formatted drive  to boot your SSD, which is why you can't format it.
If that's the case when you remove it your system will not boot, you can either fix it with a Windows disk or put the other back in and ignore the problem.


If it boots with the one removed (or after you have fixed it), reconnect the drive to be formatted. Note that if it's a relatively new system you don't even have to shut down to reconnect it. However, instead of formatting it, delete all of the partitions on it, then create a new "simple" partition and format that. That will get rid of any boot sectors and give you max capacity.


Fair warning,
It's very likely you're using it to boot your SSD.

I can now confirm the drive in question (crucial SSD, no other crucial drive in the system) is unplugged, and the PC boots fairly.

I can now safely attempt to remove the bootable partition, correct?

I believe it was a success. The crucial disk is now fully a single volume:

https://i.gyazo.com/ebc6f294814d7c6c9786a6389b0be073.png

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Leslieann on Sat, 27 August 2022, 12:46:42

Yep, looks good.

Title: Re: Reformatted an old hard drive that had Windows installed... Still tries to boot
Post by: Naweo on Sat, 27 August 2022, 13:57:09

Thanks a lot. Appreciate it.