Windows will create the needed partitions. You can delete the partitions during the install procedure when asked where you want to install Windows 11. I assume you want to clean install and get rid of the recovery partition and the Dell partition. That is what I do the first thing after getting a new Dell. I like to wipe the drive from all the bloatware and start with a clean install on a clean drive.
@zwilson101 If I had an XPS 8940 with two 2 TB internal hard drives, I would not install Windows on them. Instead, I would purchase an M.2 NVMe SSD (one with at least 512 GB) and install Windows on the SSD. An SSD would give you much better performance.
Thanks for the help. I noticed the second hard drive just show as unallocated storage and doesn't show up in file explorer. Do I just need to initialize the disk by creating a new simple volume? It's been 20 years since I knew anything about drive partitions and most of that was on for Fedora.
Precisely in disk management. Allocate the drive and format and it is ready to go. Just one more word of advice. When you clean install Windows, pull the SATA data cable from the HDD. there are 2 reasons for that. Number 1 then you are sure to install Windows on the correct drive. And Number 2 if you leave the HDD connected Windows 10 may install some system files on that drive. Every video I have seen recommends having just the main OS drive connected. And in some cases Windows 10 will exhibit an error if you have other drives connected besides the M.2 SSD.
JOcean
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February 12th, 2022 12:00
Windows will create the needed partitions. You can delete the partitions during the install procedure when asked where you want to install Windows 11. I assume you want to clean install and get rid of the recovery partition and the Dell partition. That is what I do the first thing after getting a new Dell. I like to wipe the drive from all the bloatware and start with a clean install on a clean drive.
zwilson101
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February 12th, 2022 13:00
Hi Vic384
The Windows drive is an SSD drive. The other is a HDD just to store files.
Vic384
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3.2K Posts
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February 12th, 2022 13:00
@zwilson101 If I had an XPS 8940 with two 2 TB internal hard drives, I would not install Windows on them. Instead, I would purchase an M.2 NVMe SSD (one with at least 512 GB) and install Windows on the SSD. An SSD would give you much better performance.
zwilson101
11 Posts
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February 12th, 2022 13:00
Thanks for the help. I noticed the second hard drive just show as unallocated storage and doesn't show up in file explorer. Do I just need to initialize the disk by creating a new simple volume? It's been 20 years since I knew anything about drive partitions and most of that was on for Fedora.
JOcean
9 Legend
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12.6K Posts
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February 12th, 2022 15:00
Precisely in disk management. Allocate the drive and format and it is ready to go. Just one more word of advice. When you clean install Windows, pull the SATA data cable from the HDD. there are 2 reasons for that. Number 1 then you are sure to install Windows on the correct drive. And Number 2 if you leave the HDD connected Windows 10 may install some system files on that drive. Every video I have seen recommends having just the main OS drive connected. And in some cases Windows 10 will exhibit an error if you have other drives connected besides the M.2 SSD.
This MS page also suggests that.
Vic384
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February 12th, 2022 15:00
@zwilson101 Thank you for clarifying. I think @JOcean is correct, a fresh Windows installation should create the needed partitions.