Windows 10: Can I unplug drives that are not my boot drive before I do a system reset?

I need to do a system reset. I was going to pick the option that keeps personal files but deletes applications, but I do have a few applications that I do not want to be deleted as I do not know how to get them again. So my question is, could I simply unplug the drives that have files I want to keep before the system reset? I am pretty sure the problem I was having was caused by a file on my C drive, so as long as I don't unplug that, the reset should still work right?

:)

 

The wrong drive is marked as "system"

Unplug all the drives but the C drive, then boot to the Win7 disk and run the startup repair option. It should set the drive as the system drive. Then boot back into Win7. Then shut the machine down and connect the other drives.

 

Maxtor Hard Drive Beep

Maxtor drive beeps

Have a similiar situation using a DiamondMax Plus 8, 20GB Mfg Date 4/15/03. Drive used as a second system drive. Drive is recognized in boot menu but not in drive list. Drive is always connected. Computer started locking up for several seconds at a time. Chkdsk on drives and couldn't find that drive. Removed drive from bay to make sure connections were ok and heard the beeping. Shutdown and restart and never got to windows screen. Restarted several times then saw drive in boot menu and Windows loaded but Maxtor not in drive menu. When recognized in boot menu, computer will start but beeps and is not found.

Tried kicking it real hard but no improvement. Any suggestions?

 

Can't boot from new drive

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not following you...

• What are you suggesting I unplug? Other USB devices? Done, but made no difference. (Ethernet? Monitors? Don't think that'll help.)
  
• Not sure I understand your partitioning advice?
  
• Also unclear about SSD drivers; if there was a driver issue, wouldn't it had failed to work at all? (As mentioned, I am able to boot Windows from the new drive as long as the old one is still plugged in...and it works just fine as a secondary drive.)