Hello, I currently have a hard drive that I'm using for storage, but due to lack of space, I would like to remove Windows that is still installed on this hard drive. Is there a way to free up this space without doing a complete format? Configuration: Windows 7 / Firefox 24.0

Remove Windows from a secondary hard drive (without formatting) : CCM

Réponse 1 / 10

Paulouise Posted messages 5 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 68

Hello
I'm bringing up this old topic because I found myself in the same situation as Tidav2!
I read all the instructions given by the members, which seemed quite complicated to me...

I'm not very knowledgeable in computers, but I'm still surprised that nobody thought of something so simple!!
So to delete all the files from the old Windows operating system while keeping the documents and turning this second drive into a simple storage disk, there are thousands of Windows files to delete, most of which are locked, inaccessible, and you can't delete them even manually... which isn't easy, you'll tell me, BUT there is a very simple solution... hehe...

You just need to get a little simple software called unlocker.exe

It's a tiny program that you can actually find on this site!!
You launch it, making sure not to select the wrong hard drive obviously, and in the hierarchy of the little window that opens, you look for your hard drive where you want to erase Windows and you select the Windows directory or you can select only certain directories inside Windows if you want to do it in several rounds. I warn you, it’s extremely long because there are so many files to unlock and delete. Remember to regularly empty your recycle bin because everything will pile up there and it might get full.
I've been doing this operation on my own drive for several days now and it’s slowly clearing out!

I had this little utility (unlocker) on my HDD for years and I never had the chance to use it; you don’t often need to unlock a blocked file to delete it, this time it was a great opportunity. Believe it or not, the Windows files take up hundreds of MB on the disk, so it’s best to make room for more storage!

There you go, I'm happy with my find, and I hope it will help others in the same situation!

Good luck to everyone :)

SeyMoOr Posted messages 7 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 1

Hello Paulouise ^^

Just a big thank you because like you, I have a HDD that I simply use for storage and I can't format it because I want to keep its content and Windows was installed on it...

Thanks to your little software, miracle :D no more pulling my hair out with the "thingamajig" permissions!!!

Moreover, when starting Windows, I was systematically taken to the BIOS to choose which disk I wanted to boot Windows from... such a hassle -_-'

So a big THANK YOU ^^

J0J0Z Posted messages 1 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 6

Good evening Paulouise, I suspect you haven’t revisited and probably will never revisit this post given the date, but I wanted to join SeyMoOr in thanking you.

Just for information for the next people who might be in the same situation and would use this great solution, you can ensure that your deletions do not go through the recycle bin on your C: drive.

To do this, simply right-click on it, select the offending drive and check the box:
"Don't move files to the recycle bin.
Permanently delete files when they are removed"

That way you can let UNLOCKER work quietly without worrying about regularly emptying the recycle bin.

Thanks again!!!

Maline

Thank you, really simple and effective.

DD1957

Thank you, is it still valid on W10?

noarnrg023 Posted messages 77 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 1

Thank you, cool I just came across this issue I'm testing, hoping that it still works!^^

Réponse 2 / 10

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

Okay, I'll give it a try, I should confirm resolved in a few hours.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

However, be careful not to install Ubuntu, just select "Try Ubuntu without making any changes to your computer" because otherwise, you will format all the hard drives.

Réponse 3 / 10

satio Posted messages 79 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 1

Hello

Better late than never, https://www.commentcamarche.net/informatique/windows/459-modifier-les-droits-d-acces-a-un-fichier-ou-un-dossier-dans-windows/#q=obtenir+l%27autorisation+de+trustedinstaller&cur=3&url=%2F

Good luck.

Réponse 4 / 10

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

It's a secondary hard drive; everything essential is on an SSD, which is my main hard drive. Windows is still on the "old" HDD, and I want to remove it without losing that storage if possible.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

Unfortunately, it's impossible. If you delete Windows, the system will need to be reinstalled "cleanly," so formatting is mandatory.
But if you install Windows on the SSD, then normally, the HDD will not be formatted, with the best practice being to disconnect the HDD to avoid any problems.
You can reconnect it afterward.
However, the SSD will not escape formatting.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

However, make sure you have a Windows installation disc, because otherwise, it's a lost cause.

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

I think you didn't understand. The SSD is installed and everything works fine; the system recognizes Windows on my SSD as the primary boot. If you want a simple image: take 2 functional computers, then remove the HD from computer 1 without emptying this HD (without formatting) and install it in computer 2. Start computer 2 with the original HD, so the (HD 2). Once the PC is open, nothing has changed; of course, the computer runs on its original hard drive. Moreover, the new hard drive appears in Windows Explorer. It is usable, but a version of Windows is still installed. So the question is the following: how to remove this unnecessary Windows?

Réponse 5 / 10

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

So is it possible in your opinion?

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

What you can do is install Linux on a CD, boot from that CD, and then you'll be able to delete without any permission issues.

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

I have a version of Ubuntu; that should do the trick?

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

If it's an ISO, you burn it and boot from it, and you do as described below:
http://doc.ubuntu-fr.org/live_cd

Réponse 6 / 10

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

So, is it good?

--
Windows 8 is evil....

Réponse 7 / 10

Carlito

Hello, I need help. I want to erase the system from my hard drive without formatting it.

.eric Posted messages 1386 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 85

Hello Carlito;

This discussion is very interesting as it brings together a large amount of information, but you really need to make the effort to read everything and follow all the links to benefit from it.

Otherwise, you shouldn't reopen such an old and lengthy discussion to seek help; create your own thread so that everyone can follow and understand your exact problem and the developments of your topic in the future. Thank you.

Réponse 8 / 10

tribun Posted messages 64900 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 12 683

Hello.
An internal hard drive with Windows on C:/ cannot be formatted without reinstalling a system! And it is impossible to delete Windows alone from the hard drive.

Whoever loves instruction! finds knowledge that comes from reflection!
PS. Frequently create a restore point! It solves quite a few problems.

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

but he is installed!....... I'm killing myself trying to tell you

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

My SSD is the main C:/ drive, and I have an F:/ from another computer that I use for storage. It's not that complicated.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

In that case, no problem, you can manually delete the files.

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

Yes

tidav2 Posted messages 42 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 4

I do not have the privilege even if I appropriate the content and delete it as an admin.

Réponse 9 / 10

tribun Posted messages 64900 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 12 683

But everything is on one partition (Windows and documents)
And if you delete Windows with Ubuntu, you will delete everything.

--
Who loves learning! Finds knowledge that comes from reflection!
PS. Often create a restore point! It solves a lot of problems.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

Yes, but in his case, the Windows he wants to delete is inactive, so it’s just to remove protected files.

tribun Posted messages 64900 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 12 683

He wants to delete his entire Windows.
You're going to make him lose all his hard drive content.
If he wants to delete Windows, he will only have Ubuntu left on his hard drive.

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

But no, I'm explaining, he took another hard drive from another PC and connected it to his new PC, which is equipped with an SSD.
However, the old PC also had Windows installed, so he ends up with protected files that are impossible to delete.
So I'm suggesting he run a live CD of Ubuntu that will allow him to access the files in question (he doesn't need to install it, just running the demo on the CD is enough).
He won't risk anything since he won't be touching the system of his PC, which is contained in the SSD.

Si

Would it be possible to remove Windows from the second hard drive without losing the data? Because for some time now I have been looking for an appropriate answer so that it can be used for storage.

Réponse 10 / 10

nicoDSi78 Posted messages 162 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention 3

I don't understand, how do you expect your computer to work if Windows is no longer installed oO ?

--
Windows 8 is evil....

Remove Windows from a secondary hard drive (without formatting)

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