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Resolved Question

Reformat SSD and multiple HDs do's and don'ts

Nov 7, 2014 5:56PM PST

After more than 2 years the time has come for a reformat and I need some advice on a number of miscellaneous issues and confirmation that the planned procedure is OK.
I have a windows 7 64bit system with an SSD and three HDs; one for apps, the others for downloads and data storage - docs, music, transferred scanned photos and digital images, media and whatever.
The excellent Newegg tutorials have been watched and I'm nearly ready to go.
I've backed up/copied/pruned everything and listed the apps I both want to keep and those to be reviewed later!
I've also downloaded the latest drivers for the MB chipset, Lan Audio, USB3 and graphics card and peripherals (in the case of Gigabyte and Canon sites an unexpectedly time consuming exercise). The Gigabyte download is the first problem. The driver names bear no resemblance to any of those on the original MB install disc. In addition there's stuff I'm pretty sure I don't need - the RAID drivers for example as I've no intention of creating a RAID array. Anyone with any ideas as to how to pickand choose?
In addition would it me sensible to do a full reformat of the SSD rather than a quick reformat when booting from the windows disc?
The Gainward Nvidia Geforce manual recommends removing the built in basic drivers for graphics which the OS installs, but doesn't explain how. How do you remove these basic drivers? I assume they'll be in the DriverStore but what are they called and do you simply install the new ones then uninstall the basic ones?
Some programs will install on C no matter what. In the past I've tried to use the SSD only for the OS - it's only 120gb - but some apps don't give you the chance to go elsewhere. Is there a way of doing this yet this? I should mention that the SSD, my C drive, has lots of named folders in both the program folders although the majority are installed on a mechanical HD.
I'd like not to install any of the libraries. Can this be done or must it be left until later?
Am I correct in thinking that the SSD drive C should be a primary partition and that the other four should be extended partitions? All four show up in Disk Management as primary partitions at present ( as Active, Primary Partition). Can the change be done without danger of data loss and if not, can they be left as they are (they've never to my knowledge caused any problems over the years) ?
Finally I would like to make an image back up when I've finished. I've never done this before. I can grasp doing it where there's a single hard drive in place but not in the configuration I propose. Is it possible?
Any advice, help or indeed alternative suggestions on any of the issues raised would be warmly welcomed.

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jacercat has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

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Answer
Just something about the RAID driver
Nov 7, 2014 7:06PM PST

There's something called Intel RST (rapid storage technology) that can be important for optimum performance and may show up as RAID. This will depend on your MB of course but don't discount the need for the driver just yet. Read up on it for a better explanation. Here's from Intel

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/sftwr-prod/imsm

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Re RAID Driver
Nov 7, 2014 9:20PM PST

Yes, it looks as if it could be useful so it gets a tick! Thanks for tip.

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Ssd quick vs full format
Nov 10, 2014 8:46AM PST

Excellent information on this point and brilliant article in general. Many thanks, Steven, for link.