Hello. I am moving my Windows OS from my HDD to a new SSD. Is there any way I can uninstall Windows from my HDD while keeping all my files? That is, how to remove Windows from a hard drive without formatting it?
Yes, you can remove Windows from a hard drive without formatting.
To delete OS from hard drive but keep files, there are two simple processes to go:
First, remove your Windows boot entry and all related system files.
Secondly, erase the old Windows folders from the hard drive. And then run the disk cleanup utility to eliminate any leftovers from the previously removed OS.
However, to protect your data from accidental deletion, it is highly advisable to perform a backup before proceeding with the removal of Windows. You risk losing your data if something goes wrong during the process. To backup files on hard drive easily, you can turn to AOMEI Backupper Standard for help.
Safeguard your precious data with robust and intuitive Windows data protection solution.
This software is a highly practical and easy-to-use backup and recovery solution. It allows you to create entire disk backups, as well as individual file backups. You can backup files to external hard drive, NAS, network drive, and other devices, and it can also help you create system backup in case of accidental deletion or system failures. Moreover, you create Windows recovery disk to reinstall Windows or fix OS errors effortlessly.
1Press Windows + R keys to open the Run window.
2ype msconfig in the Run window, and click OK.
3Under the Boot tab, pick Windows 11/10/7/8 to remove, then click Delete.
4After removing the boot entry, now, you should delete all the Windows directories from your hard drive.
5Once you have successfully eliminated all the Windows directories, your drive should have the necessary space without requiring a format.