Install Windows 10 Pro from scratch.
Install Windows 10 Pro from scratch.
So I've been looking in to doing a fresh install of windows 10 pro from a disk I have, and was wondering if there was a way to get my files saved into a windows.old file, instead of being deleted. Unfortunately full back-up is not an option due to having 6 terabytes of data on my main hdd. Any help is much appreciated.
You rely heavily on 6TB of information and have no safety net, leaving you vulnerable to HDD mechanical issues which are quite serious. That’s likely your main worry at the moment. Instead of trying to fix everything right now, consider this: a fresh installation would be extremely time-consuming—potentially a whole day or two, depending on your drive’s performance. This assumes your drive isn’t overwhelmed by heavy workloads for more than 24 hours. My advice? Remove what you’re not using. It’s unlikely all that data is essential, and backing up internet traffic probably isn’t necessary.
Absolutely in line with what you said. When purchasing storage, it's essential to buy at least twice the required quantity across two different types of media. For instance, I own my main desktop, a 2TB NAS, and 2TB from One Drive—each serving a distinct purpose. For anything valuable, always invest in reliable backup solutions. A clean OS installation should never be overlooked and must remain a top priority.
Also, with so much information, consider dividing your HDD into sections—one for the operating system and another for your files and programs. Even though backups are still important, especially when reinstalling Windows, you can safely format just the C:\ drive while keeping your data secure. This way, if a virus or malware attacks, you’ll have a cleaner system to work from.