Removing Old Windows 7 in 2nd Drive (dual boot)

Windows 8, 64-bit.

Used to run Win 7 on our main drive, and used a second one for storage (mainly games), however something happened, making us unable to boot. So we decided to upgrade to Windows 8, which we put on our secondary drive, and that's now the main one (boots from here, is Disk 0). When I turn on the PC, it asks me whether to run on Windows 7 or 8 (8 is the default). C: contains Windows 8, D: Contains Win 7.

MAIN PROBLEM: Since we're going to use the old main drive as storage (the one with Windows 7), I wanted to format it, but it won't let me because, I suppose, of the System files still on it (System, Active). Picture of Disk Management below. How do I format it?

Hi there

Simple - first ensure the disk is not open in file explorer etc.

Get into Command mode as administrator

Now run the following commands

1) diskpart
2 list disk ==> you'll get a list of disks -- choose the one you want to use say 2
3) select disk 2
4) clean
5) create partition primary
6) active (Only use this command if you want to install an OS on the HDD - otherwise skip command 6)
7) format fs=ntfs quick
8) assign
9) exit


Now you can use the disk as data etc without any trace of the previous OS. If you want to re-size partitions etc use GPARTED either as a bootable stand alone system or use any LINUX live CD and after booting type as root GPARTED and adjust partition sizes to suit.

Windows might do it too as the disk is now cleanly formatted -- in disk management just delete and re-allocate the partitions after the steps above.

Cheers
jimbo

Thank you! About to go into it now. This won't affect the other disk at all, right? And the disk I'm selecting it 3) is the one I'm reformatting right? Sorry I've never done this kind of operation before so I'm kind of apprehensive haha. Really appreciate the help though!

EDIT: Just opened my disk management (restarted my computer a short while ago) and now the Disk 1 and 0 are switched! Does this matter?

Hi there

Use Disk 3 - the operations will only touch the disk you've chosen -- make sure it's not open in file explorer or control panel etc. Run the command in Administrator mode (right mouse click when you go into the start menu and type cmd -- you'll get back command prompt --right mouse click to run ad administrator.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi there

No - so long as the computer boots OK ignore it. BTW you can FORCE the order in BIOS but I'd leave it if the machine is working.

Cheers
jimbo