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    Reformat C: not D:?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by babiesinbondage, Oct 3, 2011.

  1. babiesinbondage

    babiesinbondage Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have to hard drives in my laptop... a C: and D:.
    I need to reformat my OS (Installed on C :) without deleting my data on D: (the other hard drive)? Also, would I have to keep the computer name and user name the same if I do this so I can still access my files or not?
    Thanks a lot!
     
  2. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Access to files on D: won't be restricted to a user unless you made it that way. Now as far as reformatting goes, simply wipe the C: partition/drive, it won't touch the D: drive unless you specifically tell the windows installer to install there.
     
  3. babiesinbondage

    babiesinbondage Notebook Enthusiast

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    I was going to use the recovery partition because the product key is too faded to read. Will it still be fine with the recovery partition?
     
  4. tijo

    tijo Sacred Blame

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    Yup, it will only erase the C drive.
     
  5. panzer06

    panzer06 His Imperial Majesty

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    Just to be safe I remove my second drive when I want to refresh the boot drive or add a SSD as the boot drive. That way there is no possibility of overwriting the second drive. Of course that assumes you're talking about a 2nd physical drive D: instead of a partition on your primary physical drive.

    You can install Windows with the same user name and computer name but if you have user permission enabled you may need to take ownership of the files on D: once the new system is up.

    Cheers,