Deleting an outdated OS.
Deleting an outdated OS.
You're in an unusual situation, trying to switch from Windows 7 to Windows 10 and moving your operating system from a traditional hard drive to a solid-state drive for quicker startup. Your PC is currently running smoothly with the SSD as the boot device under Windows 10, but you still have Windows 7 installed on the old HDD, which is consuming space. You're wondering if it's possible to remove the OS you don't use. You've attempted admin access and deletion, but you need permission from a trusted installer. Need any further assistance? Thank you!
Protect your old files from the storage device by backing them up to documents, photos, and more. Then clear the drive using Windows Drive Manager or a free tool like AOMEI Partition Assistant. The latter is available for download here: https://www.disk-partition.com/download-home.html
Back up your files briefly, change the drive settings, and restore using Windows Explorer as @JDE recommended. No extra programs required.
Yes, you're correct. Windows Explorer removes files but doesn't erase the entire drive.
Click the drive's partition with the right mouse button and select format. Alternatively, open Disk Management and follow the prompts. No installation required.