My present Windows 7 computer has the C: Drive (OS) and two additional storage drives, D & E. When getting reading to do a clean install of Windows 10, is it necessary to electrically remove the storage drives in case of any conflicts, if any, during the installation of Windows 10 or can they remain intact during the clean installation of Windows 10?
Removing drives that are not needed for the installation is a prudent move. Else e.g. your bootmgr could end up on a drive where you don't want it.
When that happens you wouldn't be able to remove that drive without possibly screwing up the installation of the Operating System.Else e.g. your bootmgr could end up on a drive where you don't want it.
When that happens you need the drive to boot the system. But there is an easy way to copy the bootmgr to C - like this:
Bootmgr - Move to C: with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Help blog
Forget that! initially when trying to go for the first upgrade install it simply would not happen! With the 7 drive still plugged in a clone for looking 10 over was made at first to be followed by a clean install of 7 without being activated for the initial upgrade which kept failing until a review of the Clean Install guide cautioned about any non OS drives needing to be unplugged! Later I found out why as the two storage/backup drives here each saw things placed on them and not on the second OS drive now the main 10 drive!When that happens you need the drive to boot the system. But there is an easy way to copy the bootmgr to C - like this:
Bootmgr - Move to C: with EasyBCD - Windows 7 Help blog
First the boot files were discovered on the primary or first secondary drive after those two were plugged back following the review of the guide. The temp install BT and WS folders were later found on the second storage drive about a week later! The 10 installer simply "gets confused" while the 7 installer could see the two storage drives at the time being a mix of Sata II with Sata III storage drives left plugged in and not have any worry about misplacement of set up files and folders.
The quick easy method is to know which data cables go to each drive and simply number them as well as unplug only the data cables once you have powered the system down and removed the side cover until the clean install is up and running. Once 10 is on fresh and running good shut it down long enough to replug the data cables back in and then you can change drive letters if you want in the Disk Management afterwards.
Why not just remove the power cables, then you don't have to worry about which data cable went to which drive?
Without the data cables plugged there's no control signals able to reach the drives themselves. You are only seeing dc power without any draw. For the brief period of time needed to see 10 go on fresh taking about an hour to finish up before you start adding softwares on that has worked here every time to insure no cross copying of the installation folders and files, boot loader, etc. is seen since the drives are then isolated. The 100% fail proof option is simply unplugging both but comes with the need to reach around a bit more inside the case to see the same cable and power plugs going to the same drives again.
Here having yellow not the usual red cables on the OS drives allowed me to take a marker not tape of any kind to number each cable by port to know which is what. The backup drives are also numbered #3 and #4 to avoid a mix up while the yellow of course stands out. Previously replace two other yellow cables when suspecting one of the two 1gb drives previous used was on the way out but now is working like new sitting inside an external enclosure!
Originally when planning out the present build here I went shopping for better quality cables then the typical red cables included with boards and retail not OEM bare bones deals on drives. Have enough red ones gathered up over the years to start my own parts supply store!
Thanks. There is almost no effort in just unplugging the power & data cables from each of the storage drives to be on the safe side. I appreciate all your responses. Again, thanks.
Here I often reach in and pull the yellow cables only since it is easier when having the entire9 bay stainless steel case recessed into a cabinet section to see taken care of. I've been doing that now for almost a decade since first getting the present computer desk and never had any problem. But once again I also run two OS drives as well as the pair of backup drive. Previously that was a mix of Sata II OS drives with a pair of Sata III drives recently replaced with two new Sata II server class Sata II models.
Mainly besides the confined area to work in for just that alone I don't have to keep pulling the case out and resting it on the edge of the large drawer the desktop has below the cabinet. I simply leave the side cover for the time it takes. When unplugging and then replugging the power cables back in you will notice why trying that in a tight spot can become a bit awkward at times!
