Windows 10 on wrong drive

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I have 2 internal drives, an SSD with Win7 and HD with my data. I upgraded to Win10, no problem. Because of maleware signs (prior to the upgrade), I wanted to do a clean install using the Windows Media Tool on a DVD. Through bad decisions on my part, I ended up installing Win10 on my HD instead of the SSD. Luckily it did not wipe out my data but I did have backups from 2 weeks ago.

As a result, I was able to dual boot from either drive. Since the HD did not have an OS on it and hence no OS in the Window.old folder, I thought I would reset Win10 and put the HD back to the way it was with no OS. That just reinstalled Win10 again. It may have reinstalled it from the DVD I left in the drive. But now I do not have a dual boot option. It always boots from the HD.

I want to get rid of Win 10 on my HD without losing my data and go back to booting from my SSD. I see some options but not sure which one to follow. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

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The easiest is to disconnect the HDD and upgrade the SSD, take an image, then re-connect the HDD and see what you’ve got.
Alternatively, install from scratch to the SSD.

cheers, Paul

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Hi Paul. Thanks for responding. After upgrading the SSD, would I then be able to delete the following folders (all windows OS) from my HDD: Logs, PerfLogs, Users, Program Files, Program Files (x86), and Windows? Would Windows prevent me from doing that?

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Windows may object because the file / folder permissions are set for a Windows installation, but you can override that.

cheers, Paul

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I successfully installed Win10 back on my SSD and it boots nice and fast.

When I try to delete the Programs folder on my HDD, Windows is telling my I need permission. My account says I am an administrator. I have two options Retry or cancel. Retry doesn’t work of course.

How do I delete these files?

HOLD ON. I think I found out how to do it.

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Still working on folder permissions. I think I’ll start a new thread on this, what’s turning out to be, an interesting endeavor.

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…When I try to delete the Programs folder on my HDD, Windows is telling my I need permission…

Sounds to me like you still have a Win10 partition on your HDD (not your SSD) that needs to be deleted.

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Still working on folder permissions.

You can add a Take Ownership entry to the context menu, which does the hard work for you.

http://www.askvg.com/add-take-ownership-option-in-file-folder-context-menu-in-windows-vista/

If you just want to delete recalcitrant files, use Unlocker. (Your AV may flag it, but its safe.)

http://filehippo.com/download_unlocker/

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You may want to make sure you have no trouble booting W/O the HDD involved. Disconnect the date cable and try to boot.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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