Deleting And reinstalling Windows 10

• Back up any personal files from both drives (Pictures, Documents, saved games, product keys, etc..
• Make a Windows 10 installation USB (Media Creation Tool) and confirm you can boot from it.
• Note which physical disk is which (brand/size). You can identify them later in Disk Management.

1. Shut down the PC and unplug power.
2. Physically disconnect the SATA (or NVMe) cable and power cable for the disk that you plan to erase later (the disk that currently has the unwanted Windows).
3. Boot from your Windows 10 USB installer.
4. Choose Custom install. Select the target disk (the one left connected), delete its Windows partitions if you want a clean layout, create a new partition and install Windows there.
   • The installer will create the necessary EFI/System partitions on the disk you left attached.
5. When installation finishes, shut down and reconnect the other disk.
6. Boot into your newly installed Windows. If it doesn’t boot automatically, enter BIOS/UEFI and ensure the correct disk is first in the boot order.
7. In Windows, open Disk Management (press Windows+R, type diskmgmt.msc). Identify the other disk, right‑click its partitions and Delete Volume for each partition, then create a new simple volume and format it (or use Disk Management to reclaim the space).
   • If Disk Management won’t delete some system/EFI partitions, use DiskPart (below).
8. Optional cleanup: remove old boot entries if Windows shows multiple entries (msconfig -> Boot tab or use bcdedit).

1. Boot installer with both drives connected.
2. In Custom install, carefully identify the disk you want to reinstall to (use size/manufacturer info).
3. Delete partitions on the disk you are reinstalling to, install Windows there.
4. During or after install you can delete the partitions on the other disk from the installer (Advanced -> Delete) or later from Disk Management.
   Warning: If the installer finds an existing EFI/boot partition on the other disk it might use it for boot files. That can leave you with a broken boot if you later remove that disk. This method works but is riskier unless you are certain which drive holds the system/EFI partition.

• Open an elevated Command Prompt (right-click Start -> Windows Terminal (Admin) or cmd.exe Run as administrator) and use:
  • list disk
  • select disk X (replace X with the disk number you want to wipe — be 100% sure)
  • clean (this removes every partition and data on that disk)
  • create partition primary
  • format fs=ntfs quick
  • assign
  • exit
    Important: clean will irreversibly wipe the selected disk. Double-check the disk number with list disk and the sizes.

• If you later see two Windows boot entries, you can remove the unused one:
  • Run msconfig -> Boot tab -> select the unwanted entry -> Delete.
  • Or use bcdedit carefully (I can give exact commands if you paste bcdedit /enum output).

• Activation: If your PC had a digital license linked to the motherboard or Microsoft account, Windows 10 should reactivate automatically after reinstall.
• UEFI vs Legacy: If your PC uses UEFI, the installer uses EFI system partitions. Disconnecting the other disk avoids cross-contamination of EFI partitions.
• If you prefer, tell me:
  • Which disk number (from Disk Management) is the one you want to keep and which to remove (or tell me sizes/labels),
  • Whether your firmware shows UEFI or Legacy/CSM,
    and I’ll give exact step-by-step commands to delete only the unwanted Windows safely.

RyanXD said:

hello i have a problem when i have two disks in my computer with windows 10 one SSD and one MK2 SSD. i can boot from both without any problems but now i have windows twice on my computer unnecessarily. i would like to know if i reinstall windows on one of the disks if it would be possible to delete windows from the second disk during the reinstallation. if anyone knows the answer it would be very helpful

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Driver install order after Windows setup​

1. Connect to the internet
2. Run Windows Update first:
   • Open Settings
   • Go to Update & Security
   • Click Windows Update
   • Click Check for updates
3. Install all available updates, including optional driver updates if offered.
4. Restart the PC.
5. Install the chipset/motherboard drivers from the PC or motherboard manufacturer’s website.
6. Install the graphics driver:
   • NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel depending on the system.
7. Install network/Wi-Fi/Bluetooth drivers if Windows did not already detect them.
8. Install the audio driver last, preferably from the motherboard/laptop manufacturer, not from random driver websites.

About audio drivers​

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Look for Realtek, Intel Display Audio, NVIDIA/AMD HDMI audio, or any device with a warning icon.
4. Right-click the device and choose Update driver.
5. If that fails, download the audio driver directly from the manufacturer’s support page for the exact model.

Best preparation before reinstalling​

1. Network/LAN/Wi-Fi driver.
2. Chipset driver.
3. Audio driver.
4. Graphics driver.
5. Storage/NVMe driver if the system needs one.

1. Find the exact PC model or motherboard model.
2. Go to the manufacturer’s support page.
3. Download the Audio / Realtek Audio Driver for Windows 10.
4. Install it.
5. Restart the computer.
6. Check sound output in:
   • Settings
   • System
   • Sound
   • Output device

1. Open Device Manager.
2. Expand Sound, video and game controllers.
3. Check if Realtek Audio, High Definition Audio Device, or any yellow warning icon appears.
4. Right-click the audio device and choose Uninstall device.
5. Restart Windows.
6. Install the manufacturer’s Realtek driver again.