Get a separate setup with two distinct operating systems.
Get a separate setup with two distinct operating systems.
there might be another operating system present but it isn't listed in disk management or file explorer, which is what you expected. I had two drives, one of which previously hosted a different Windows installation and never appeared in the system settings or explorer—so I had to use CMD to clean it up before it showed up properly.
The alternative storage typically appears during dual-boot setup. The second disk is accessible by the primary operating system and offers complete control over the other storage device. As long as it remains connected, the boot sequence simply shifts depending on where the OS is installed, not which drive is reachable from it.
I removed all my drives before installing Windows on the new SSD, then reassembled everything. After booting up, I used EasyBCD to set up a bootloader. Unfortunately, I installed Windows in EFI mode, which prevents using Neogrub and its hiding features. I’m not going to spend time buying unnecessary software or cleaning out my two SSDs just to fix this. I’m stuck because when I load the new machine, the other drives appear again. I tried using Disk Management and DiskPart to unmount them, but they reappear after a restart. Also, uninstalling them didn’t help. @KSKGAMETV
lemonsqueezer23 are you concealing files on its own storage (inside the computer) or alongside another operating system on the same partition? From what I understand, I used two separate drives—one running the regular OS and the other for testing. When both were installed, I’d pick the one I wanted to boot into during startup. For instance, if I selected a 'Test Drive,' accessing the main 'Daily Drive' files wouldn’t be possible, nor would it appear in file explorer or disk management. Personally, this seems like the most effective and straightforward method to keep files hidden while supporting multiple Windows installations. You can also hide files on a distinct non-OS drive while running another OS installation: if you need two separate OS environments with one drive concealed, you can change the drive letter in Disk Management, hide the folder, then reclaim the letter by selecting 'Add' and mounting it in a new folder. Remember to switch back to the original letter name for access. This approach lets you manage files discreetly without needing software or payment.