Windows 10: Windows 10 - separate storage drives for software and data

I recently bought a PC with Windows Pro, built from an Intel NUC 8i7 with a fast 512GB NVME SSD and a 1TB HHD, intending to use the SSD for software and other high-access files, and the HDD for normal data. It came yesterday with everything set up on the NVMe SSD as the C: drive, including all the usual User and Public files and libraries. My fault - I forgot to clarify my intention when specifying the build, due to distractions.


Is this a feature of Windows 10, or can a re-install allocate the user files to a second drive, in this case the 1TB HDD? Does this work by simply putting the entire "Users" file to the second drive? Wi9ndows

The PC came with software from the hardware vendors pre-installed - Intel, Kingston/HyperX (memory), Samsung (NVMe SSD), and Seagate (HDD). What are the implications for being able to use the PC after a reinstall, or more accurately, after the simplest types of re-install?


I am not asking for the full technical lowdown - references to available explanations will do just fine. Advice on what I should try to do myself, and what needs a professional, also welcome. I have a long technical background in IT, before my retirement, but not specialising in Windows.



Thanks in advance

:)

 

Is it time for Windows 10 already?

Here's a good step by step guide on doing a fresh install.

How to clean install Windows 10 from a USB drive - Software - Feature - HEXUS.net

 

Lost data from hard drive, what to do now?

Well, I'm sorry to hear that it's a WD My Passport that failed on you, @tomhenry ! *Frown
I'd recommend you to try using a different USB cable with it and see if that will help your system to detect it without it disconnecting.
I'd also suggest you to go to Disk Management and see how the drive is listed there. It won't hurt to check up on the health and SMART status of the HDD by running the QUICK and EXTENDED tests from the WD's Data LifeGuard Diagnostics. Here's a link to the available software: http://products.wdc.com/support/kb.ashx?id=11ZOpD

Give these troubleshooting steps a try and keep us posted with the results!
SuperSoph_WD

 

How to remove a bad drive in Windows 10 storage spaces pool

Could someone list the steps involved in replacing a bad drive from a Windows 10 storage spaces pool? I cannot find any info on the Microsoft support site that is specific to Windows 10. Also, could you list the steps to remove a 'good' drive and replace
it with another drive if the process is different?