literally cant delete windows

Bumblebox · 15 Jun 2018 at 15:34

im building a new pc so I need to transfer drives, I need them completely wiped. problem is I literally cant delete windows. everytime I try to I get an "error resetting this pc", ive tried command prompt, ive tried using a bootable media creation tool, ive reinstalled windows. no matter what I do I cant delete windows? is there any way I can just completely wipe all my drives? my pc is also messed up now, my D drive isn't being recognised anymore and ive tried a system restore that just ends up in an error. when I use command prompt I get "access denied" or syntax error, or "another process is using this", does anyone know what I can do?

Hyburnate · 15 Jun 2018 at 15:36

Format the drives? Plug them into a different PC or use a bootable USB and format the disks?

DaleTheWhale · 15 Jun 2018 at 16:00

When you're re-installing the OS you can format your drives when you boot from the USB/DVD (when selecting which drive to install onto). You can't delete windows when you're booted into it.

Little tip just in case, make sure only one drive is installed into the PC when installing windows or it'll spread files over the other drives.

PiKe · 15 Jun 2018 at 16:09

ThaReaperGuy said:
When you're re-installing the OS you can format your drives when you boot from the USB/DVD (when selecting which drive to install onto). You can't delete windows when you're booted into it.

Little tip just in case, make sure only one drive is installed into the PC when installing windows or it'll spread files over the other drives.

It only does this if you install to a drive that isn't on Sata 0.

Talasour · 15 Jun 2018 at 16:21

Nuke it from orbit mate and just format the drive completely.

LadFromWales · 16 Jun 2018 at 13:03

PiKe said:
It only does this if you install to a drive that isn't on Sata 0.

Was about to say I've never had this happen...but then you mentioned SATA 0...I've always installed the system drive to the first SATA port so this issue has never cropped up.
My M.2 NVME shows as drive 3 iirc, didn't notice windows sprawling any files onto other drives.

Bumblebox · 16 Jun 2018 at 13:18

LadFromWales said:
Was about to say I've never had this happen...but then you mentioned SATA 0...I've always installed the system drive to the first SATA port so this issue has never cropped up.
My M.2 NVME shows as drive 3 iirc, didn't notice windows sprawling any files onto other drives.

i ended up just taking the ssd with windows into my new pc, booted as if nothing had ever happened then i reinstalled it.

Pocah · 16 Jun 2018 at 21:35

LadFromWales said:
Was about to say I've never had this happen...but then you mentioned SATA 0...I've always installed the system drive to the first SATA port so this issue has never cropped up.
My M.2 NVME shows as drive 3 iirc, didn't notice windows sprawling any files onto other drives.

It can happen. The BIOS can get a bit confused and install a boot manager. You won't actually notice this unless you look at the partitions on the drives, and you find them all messy. It's always best to remove all other drives apart from the one you want to install Windows to.

Getting back to OP, someone already mentioned the answer. Set the BIOS to boot so USB. As you install Windows there is the option to delete everything on the disk. So remove all drives apart from the one you want to install Windows to, wipe it and install! Don't forget to set the BIOS to boot to the Windows disk at the end.