How can I format the C: drive when Windows is on it ?

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  1. Posts : 2,123
    Windows 11 Pro (latest update ... forever anal)
       #11

    Depending on the device and how accessible the drive is ....

    Before you go to the extreme of re-formatting, consider the option of swapping out the drive for a blank drive (ideal opportunity for an SSD if not already) and do the clean install on that.

    Keeps the "old" drive intact. If all goes well, wipe the old drive, test the integrity and if OK, use as an external backup/storage drive.
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  2. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #12

    Updating the bios will not help your problem, it`s always good to have the latest, but it`s not gonna fix your TB issue.
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  3. Posts : 162
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #13

    AddRAM said:
    Updating the bios will not help your problem, it`s always good to have the latest, but it`s not gonna fix your TB issue.
    In one of my posts I mentioned after restoring the image I opened File Explorer I got the blank screen & "Not Responding" message. That would seem to indicate the problem is not just with TB or FF. If it locks up File Explorer it might lock up any program at any time.

    FWIW the drive is a Samsung M.2 SSD.
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  4. Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       #14

    Just reinstall windows, be done with it.

    Your image is bad.
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  5. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #15

    Mike100 said:
    I ran SMART from Samsung Magician & there were no errors.
    Did you run the following?
    CrystalDiskInfo Portable (disk health monitoring) | PortableApps.com

    I ran a WD diagnostic tool, which found no errors either when my WD HDD was actually unhealthy, or more specifically, dying.

    Bree said:
    The drive's SMART data can be a guide to its health, particularly the raw values for 'Reallocated sector count' and the 'Pending sector count' (sectors that have failed and been replaced with a 'spare', and sectors that are possibly about to fail). Both these counts should be zero for a healthy drive.
    I happen to have an unhealthy drive whose "Current Pending Sector Count" is not zero as shown below:

    How can I format the C: drive when Windows is on it ?-3.-wd-my-passport.jpg
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  6. Posts : 31,474
    10 Home x64 (22H2) (10 Pro on 2nd pc)
       #16

    Matthew Wai said:
    I happen to have an unhealthy drive whose "Current Pending Sector Count" is not zero as shown below:

    A 'Current pending sector' is one that has been flagged as possibly being a weak sector. Some pending sectors may be a 'false positive'. The drive's own internal controller needs to test that sector to confirm or deny that diagnosis. If the sector is currently in use then it cannot be tested. Generally the only time the drive will perform such a test is while a Full (not a Quick) format is taking place.

    If a sector is confirmed as a bad sector then it will be replaced with a sector from a pool of spares, the pending sector count will go down by one and the Reallocated sector count will go up by one.

    For each pending sector that is tested and found to be good, then the Pending sector count will go down by one. If all pending sectors turn out to be good after all then the pending sector count will return to zero and the drive will be shown as 'Healthy'.
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  7. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #17

    Related articles found by Google:

    What to Do When Encountering Current Pending Sector Count?
    How to Fix Current Pending Sector Count Warning | by Satyeshu Kumar | Medium


    My WD HDD was problematic. CHKDSK could never be completed.

    How can I format the C: drive when Windows is on it ?-1-hour-elapsed.jpg
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  8. Posts : 6,250
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #18

    Before you do a clean install you should do a Repair Install Windows 10 with an In-place Upgrade as Ghot suggested on post #7.
    It will replace windows but will keep your data and programs. If it doesn't work, then do a clean install.
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  9. Posts : 7,606
    Windows 10 Home 20H2
       #19

    Has the OP run ChkDsk /Scan?
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  10. Posts : 162
    Windows 10 Pro 21H1
    Thread Starter
       #20

    I've been playing around with this for several weeks & tried 2 different Windows images but to no avail. Also ran some diagnostic tests. I was going to re-install Windows10 but figured why not put the 1TB spinner HDD in for the D drive that was originally intended for this build. It's been 8 days without a problem so I'd have to presume the M.2 SSD was defective.
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