Do I have to format a HDD with files on it when I connect it to another installation of Win10?

[Migel]

Up until now, I ran Windows 10 and saved all my files on the same old HDD, let's call it Acer.
Now, I got an SSD and a new HDD, Toshiba.

I want to get rid of the Acer, install a new clean WIn10 on the SSD, then have the Toshiba hooked up to it for bulk storage. However, I have a few hundred GBs of files I want to carry over.
My external bulk storage died and likes to crash the explorer when connected, so I don't want to trust it with all my files without redundancy.

My plan would be the following:
1) I've already installed the Toshiba parallel to the Acer, formatted it and moved all the files I want to move to the new system to the Toshiba. Other than this bulk of files, there's nothing on it.
2) My next step would be removing the Toshiba and setting it aside for now.
3) Then creating a bootable flash drive before removing and putting the Acer aside.
4) I would then install the SSD, start up the PC, boot from the flash drive and install Windows on the SSD until I have it fully running of the SSD.
5) The last step would be reconnecting the Toshiba with my backup on it.

My question: since this will be a new installation of Win10, will I have to format the Toshiba when I install it parallel to the SSD and lose my files in the process? Or will the new Win10 installation be able to work with the "format" established by this one?

As a bonus question, what would happen if I then put the Acer back in, it having Windows10 on it? Surely my PC will still boot from the SSD after having been told to do so once, but will I be able to access the files somehow?

I'm not at all familiar with how storage works or what formatting really does, so apologies if this is a stupid question. Any info on whether or not this will work would be much appreciated.

[76561198343548661]

i like your plan with all steps 1 to 5 . You dont need to format Toshiba , just hook it to the slot . If you format it , you ll lose all data on it .

[Migel]

smallcat lähetti viestin:

i like your plan with all steps 1 to 5 . You dont need to format Toshiba , just hook it to the slot . If you format it , you ll lose all data on it .

So the new Windows install will be able to interact with the Toshiba and the files on it without having to format it again?

[76561198343548661]

Yes of course . Why not !?

Once formatted , no need to reformat . Unless you want to delete all data as quickly as possible - quick format i mean .
You can connect the Toshiba hdd to any Windows 10/11 PC and it should work

[Migel]

smallcat lähetti viestin:

Yes of course . Why not !?

Once formatted , no need to reformat . Unless you want to delete all data as quickly as possible .
You can connect the Toshiba hdd to any Windows 10/11 PC and it should work

That's good to know, thanks!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Create your own Win10 22H2 USB Flash drive via the Microsoft Tool available at the official Win10 website.

Connect only the SSD and Win10 USB on the machine. Boot from USB via one-time boot option. Set the SSD as default Boot device in bios.

Once Win10 installation asks to do the first reboot, disconnect the usb flash drive. Reboot and boot from ssd to finish Win10 install. Once you reach the Desktop, shutdown the PC and connect any secondary storage such as your extra HDD. Boot up again and then do all Windows Updates, reboot as needed. Then install all Drivers. Get latest ones from PC maker or chipset maker websites. Such as the Chipset, GPU, Audio, LAN, WIFI, BT; etc.

When all this is complete now you can install things like Steam and if needed copy or move files you might need off the HDD to the SSD.

Game clients I would install to C Drive; such as "c:/steam" for example. If you need some games to reside on the HDD (D Drive) go to Steam Client > Settings > Downloads and create new Steam Library Folder on the HDD. Then this other drive will now be an install choice when installing your Steam Games. You can do this within EA Games Client, Uplay and others as needed via those Client settings.

[HypersleepyNaputunia]

makesure your boot order prioritizes new ssd

[skOsH♥]

If it's formatted in the proper format that windows reads partitions, then it should be fine

Which I think is FAT32 but I'm not sure. At least, if you want failsafe.

[76561198343548661]

it should be NTFS

[Bad 💀 Motha]

For the SSD you want that as GPT + NTFS
For secondary storage drives it would be best to use MBR + EXT4

[skOsH♥]

smallcat lähetti viestin:

it should be NTFS

ah look what not working on windows does to me

I think fat32 is only for like, updating the bios.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Yes FAT32 is basically just to use for USB bootables for things like a bootable Win10/11 installer media. Bootable tech tools with command prompt and things of that sort. Bios updates you can just extract to your Win10/11 usb drive when needed.

[plat]

No, just plug it into the board or USB port, whatever. It should be plug-and-play.


I've reinstalled Windows 10 several times and my external HDD is always recognized immediately.