Solved Should I create a new disk partition to install Windows 11 on?

I need to do a fifth clean install of Windows 11 because chkdsk ran when I was restarting to download Windows 11 updates. I think that's why, but the drive is failing anyway.

If I create a new partition to install Windows 11, then would I have to delete all partitions when reinstalling or just the Windows 11 partition?

How I hope it works:
1. I delete all partitions
2. I create one partition for Windows (I don't know how big it should be)
3. I click next to have the other system partitions automatically created
4. I create another partition with the remaining storage for personal files
5. I select the Windows partition I created, and install Windows 11
6. I get a BSOD from something later
7. I do another clean install
8. I only delete the Windows partition, and other system partitions, leaving the personal files partition
9. I repeat steps 2, 3, and 5
10. When the clean install is done, my personal files are still there

Is step 10 correct? Can the personal files stay safe from a clean install by being on a separate partition on the same disk? How would I even choose for my personal files to be on a separate partition?

Thank you!

HPUser said:

but the drive is failing anyway.

Click to expand...

If the drive is failing... you need to get a new one.
Even 17 clean installs, won't fix a failing drive.


Once you have Win 11 cleanly installed on a new drive... then you can hook up the failing drive, and grab what you can off of the old failing drive.

BUT... if you keep "using" that failing drive... you'll lose everything.

Yeah, why would you even consider using a failing drive?

I figured I would just continue using the drive until it dies. I make frequent backups so I think I'm fine. Is step 10 true though?

Did we discuss this before?

If you have a backup drive there is zero reason to create a partition on the OS drive to keep the files, just back the files up and replace them after install.

Delete all partitions on the OS drive, start the install, the install process with replace them.

I don’t agree with custom personal partitioning an OS drive, especially when a backup drive is available.

P.S.

There is every chance the partition you make could be swallowed by the new install. I wouldn’t test that theory.

These are just my opinions of course.

Okay. I only wanted to create a new partition so that I don't need to bring out the external hard drive to copy over the files. But now that I think about it, it's not a lot of work. It was more a laziness thing. Going to start the install. Thank you all again!

One more thing.

The backup of your personal files is imperative.
Your drive is failing, there is every chance you will lose them when it dies.

antspants said:

One more thing.

The backup of your personal files is imperative.
Your drive is failing, there is every chance you will lose them when it dies.

Click to expand...

Yes. I sometimes think of backing up the backup. Thank you!

Installed 11 on the whole 2TB SSD. Make no sense to create partition on 2TB SSD. HARD DRIVES are so cheap for backup. 4TB seagate hard drive is around $85

Greetings:

I just got done refurbishing my 2016 ASUS Q504UAK. I lost the battery pack awhile ago & I needed to get a new one. Replaced it & FUBARed a ribbon connector making the motherboard unusable. Replaced my Seagate 1TB SATA HDD with a Samsung 2TB 870 EVO 2.5" SATA III & installed Windows 11 Pro without warrent. My point is that I bought this drive on Amazon for $170 & could not be happier.

SpiritWolfe said:

Greetings:

I just got done refurbishing my 2016 ASUS Q504UAK. I lost the battery pack awhile ago & I needed to get a new one. Replaced it & FUBARed a ribbon connector making the motherboard unusable. Replaced my Seagate 1TB SATA HDD with a Samsung 2TB 870 EVO 2.5" SATA III & installed Windows 11 Pro without warrent. My point is that I bought this drive on Amazon for $170 & could not be happier.

Click to expand...

Hi, welcome

Bad news about having to rebuild, very annoying.

We briefly discussed drives for HP’s laptop in another thread. Not sure that one needs a 2TB NVMe M2 for an OS install. But if HP could afford to do so, then more power to them

There are 1TB NVMe’s from $60 upward, depending on what one want’s I suppose. I am not sure if this is their main computer.
Having said that, the laptop is only 2 years old, it would be worth the money for a decent NVMe if they could afford to splurge.

HPUser said:

I need to do a fifth clean install of Windows 11 because chkdsk ran when I was restarting to download Windows 11 updates. I think that's why, but the drive is failing anyway.

If I create a new partition to install Windows 11, then would I have to delete all partitions when reinstalling or just the Windows 11 partition?

How I hope it works:
1. I delete all partitions
2. I create one partition for Windows (I don't know how big it should be)
3. I click next to have the other system partitions automatically created
4. I create another partition with the remaining storage for personal files
5. I select the Windows partition I created, and install Windows 11
6. I get a BSOD from something later
7. I do another clean install
8. I only delete the Windows partition, and other system partitions, leaving the personal files partition
9. I repeat steps 2, 3, and 5
10. When the clean install is done, my personal files are still there

Is step 10 correct? Can the personal files stay safe from a clean install by being on a separate partition on the same disk? How would I even choose for my personal files to be on a separate partition?

Thank you!

Click to expand...

No. That was the main reason to create multiple portions: if the operating system gets broken beyond repair (some relay on backups alone - but even those can fail at times - while the multiple partitions option is usually the safest & cleanest - an old practice too but still valid/works) - you could just format that partition and do a clean install - without affecting the files on different partitions. You only need 1 partition for installing Windows (1 you can manually set - cause Windows will also create hidden partitions for recovery - but those are less than 1 GB) - not the whole Storage (be it SSD or HDD). So No, you don't have to delete all partitions. As for Windows partition size - depends how many programs (and how big) - you intend to install on Windows Partition (Program Files/Data/AppData). Tho, it's also important - to have "always have free space" for optimal functionality. Personally, for Windows + Apps using 60 GB have a portion of 125 GB - where 100 GB i see it as the maximum i should use (25 GB Free). BUT, with the latest Windows release (24H2) - and if you intend to use its Recall feature - Microfost recomends a partion of minimum 250 GB - since Recall will take quite a lot of space:


10. Again, if you have multiple partions and your files are on diffrent partions - you can format the Windows partion alone - and your files will not be touched on other partitions. Just BE CAREFULL during a Windows install - since Windows will also offer the option to. So click on Customized: Install Windows Only (advanced)



And next, you should be able to see the other partitions as well - including the hidden partitions (again, less than 1GB - even less than 100MB like MSR - which you should ignore), like a 380 GB partition where you have your personal files - which you don't have to touch in any way. Select for install only the partition where you intend to install Windows (of 125 Gb or 250 Gb - up to your needs). For example:



Above guys has a Partiotion of 250 GB for Installing Windows - and then there's a 703 GB partion with his Personal Files - and then there's 3 other "small (16 mb, 100 mb and 529 Mb)" partitions created by Windows which are normally hidden and should be ignored.