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Unable to remove dead copy of windows

Anonymous
2021-07-19T04:57:05+00:00

I got my computer all rebuilt today, including a new SSD. The new SSD is the boot disk and I was able to install windows on it with no trouble. Now I would like to format the previous drive, which is still attached to the system and which I would like to use as storage. However, Windows will not permit me either to delete the copy of windows on that drive, or to format the drive entirely. I'm getting a boot menu each time I start up to ask me to choose which one I want to use, which is fine, but all that space is now not available to me.

Using other threads from this site, I used Diskpart from the command prompt. The output is like this:
DISKPART> list disk

Disk ### Status Size Free Dyn Gpt

Disk 0 Online 223 GB 2048 KB
Disk 1 Online 465 GB 1024 KB
Disk 2 Online 476 GB 0 B

DISKPART> select disk 0

Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

DISKPART> clean

Virtual Disk Service error:
Clean is not allowed on the disk containing the current boot,
system, pagefile, crashdump or hibernation volume.

How can I override this? I have all the data I need from this disk imaged elsewhere so there is no concern with losing any information, I just want it erased.

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. Anonymous
    2021-07-19T06:46:24+00:00

    Thank you for your answer. Here is the log: DISKPART> select disk 0

    Disk 0 is now the selected disk.

    DISKPART> list partition

    Partition ### Type Size Offset

    Partition 1 Primary 223 GB 1024 KB
    Partition 2 Recovery 513 MB 223 GB

    DISKPART> sel part 1

    Partition 1 is now the selected partition.

    DISKPART> delete partition override

    Virtual Disk Service error:
    Delete is not allowed on the current boot, system, pagefile,
    crashdump or hibernation volume.

    50+ people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2021-07-19T07:03:53+00:00

    Make sure you are not deleting the disk where the current Windows installation is there.

    Anyways...

    Does this work?:

    1. Click on the Start button>Power menu
    2. Hold down Shift and click on Restart.
    3. Choose Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Command Prompt
    4. Run the clean command from there.

    It it still fails, create an installation medium of Windows and try using that for deleting the partition.

    1. Go to Windows 10 download page and click on Download tool now.
    2. Insert a blank USB with at least 4 to 8 GB of space. The drive will be formatted.
    3. Run the tool and choose Create an installation medium for another PC.
    4. Select the correct USB and proceed. This might take a long time.
    5. When done, boot from that USB. Click on Start menu>Shift+Restart
    6. Click on Use a device and select the correct USB from there.
    7. When you enter Windows 10 installation environment, select your preferred language and click Next.
    8. Click on Repair this PC.
    9. Choose Troubleshoot>Advanced Options>Command Prompt
    10. Try running the diskpart and clean commands from here.

    If that fails too:

    1. Follow the above steps to boot from the USB. Instead of clicking on Repait, click on Install Now.
    2. Accept the agreement after reading it and select Custom installation
    3. Select the correct drive from the list and format it using the Format button on the lower-right.
    4. Close the installation and boot from Windows normally.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2021-07-19T06:05:49+00:00

    Hi

    As the Windows reserved partitions are protected, you need to delete them one-by-one.

    1. Open diskpart and type select the correct disk.
    2. Type list partition
    3. Select all the partitions one by one by using sel part # . Replace # with the number of the partition.
    4. After selecting the correct partition(s), type delete partition override.
    5. Do this for all the partitions in that disk and run the clean command again.

    20+ people found this answer helpful.
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  4. DaveM121 871K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2021-07-19T07:56:22+00:00

    Hi SilasOfTheLambs,

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this.

    1

    Was that old disk connected to your PC when you clean installed Windows on the new SSD?

    2

    Open Disk Management ( accessible by right clicking your Start Button)

    Expand the bottom pane so both drives are visible in the bottom pane.

    Please provide a screenshot of that Disk Management window.

    6 people found this answer helpful.
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