Yes, you can keep the partition after a fresh Windows installation.
Yes, you can keep the partition after a fresh Windows installation.
Hello, you're planning to start a fresh installation and have some concerns about managing your existing data. Right now, your PC runs Windows with installed programs on an SSD, while another HDD handles your media files, documents, and downloads. You intend to upgrade to a new SSD for the operating system and applications, but want to keep the old HDD intact. Since you're not familiar with the process, you're wondering how to best handle this transition. You mentioned downloading tools to a USB drive and are curious if Windows can automatically use the old partition during installation. You also want to know if it recognizes existing libraries on the new drive or if you should move everything to the SSD later. I'm here to help clarify these steps for you.
You'll get a double windows library setup by default. To ensure your old hard drive uses the existing libraries, you can configure the application settings or use system properties to point to the correct location.
After booting from the new SSD, it will rely solely on the Windows files stored there. If needed, you can remove those files from the previous HDD later.
I believe you misinterpreted the situation. You wish to retain the existing files from the previous drive without removing them. I aim to preserve the current state and integrate it into your new setup without creating additional copies or relying on fresh libraries. I understand Windows will generate new files on the updated SSD, but I don’t need or require those, and I prefer sticking with the old HDD.
After installing Windows 10, navigate to your User folder. For each library—such as Music, My Documents, Pictures, Video, etc.—right-click the folder, select Properties, then go to the Location tab. Update the path to point to the correct directory on your hard drive. Refer to this guide: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-move-...windows-10. If you wish to keep the entire User folder on the HDD, follow these registry adjustments: https://www.top-password.com/blog/move-t...n-windows/