Best method to install Win 10 on new SSD, but keep old hard drive as well

[Haysmt228]

Hi all,
Looking for help on installing windows 10 onto my new SSD (250 gb. Old and current is a HDD 1 TB with windows 10). I have two ideas and wanted to see about getting some feedback.

Idea 1lug the SSD in as a secondary, boot machine up as normal. Install windows 10 onto new SSD and shut down machine. Change SSD to primary and boot up.

Idea 2: Unplug current HDD. Plug in new SSD. Boot up using a USB with windows 10 installer on and install windows 10 onto new SSD. Once installation is done and windows 10 is activated, install any software (just really need my game on it. I assume Chrome/edge or Microsoft office will be fine on the secondary) onto SSD. Turn off machine, plug in HDD as secondary and boot up.

Additionally i have two other questions :
A. With either method, will I need to reinstall all my software programs?
B. Will I have to wipe the current HDD before installing windows 10 onto the SSD?

Thank you for any feedback you can offer. Really appreciate you all and your help. It's a life saver =D

 

[Snipergod87]

Idea 2 is the best method and most reliable, sometimes Windows will install files on other drives installed making problems later down the road.
Either method will require reinstalling programs
Wiping the current HDD isnt necessary but could create problems as Windows might attempt to boot to that device on occasion, wiping the drive deletes the bootloader preventing that from happening.

 

[USAFRet]

Idea 2 is what you need.
But you DO need to reinstall all your applications (Chrome and Office) on this new drive. The new OS will know nothing about them.

After, reconnect the old drive and wipe it completely.

 

[Dugimodo]

Use method 2, if your other drive is connected windows installer will use it as well and you will need both drives connected to boot. It's an annoying quirk which means it's always better to install windows with just one drive connected.
Yes you will need to reinstall software
No you don't have to wipe your old drive first

Also connecting two bootable drives with active partitions on them can sometimes cause issues, and you won't know for sure what you are booting off.
Usually it's ok, but if you try to wipe the old HDD and windows won't let you then it's because you either have some boot files on it or windows thinks it's the active drive. Probably won't be an issue but there are fixes if it is.

Alternatively you can try cloning your old drive onto the new one, many SSD manufacturers have tools to do this on their websites. You need to get your used space on the old drive lower than the size of the SSD for this to work though.

 

[Haysmt228]

Use method 2, if your other drive is connected windows installer will use it as well and you will need both drives connected to boot. It's an annoying quirk which means it's always better to install windows with just one drive connected.
Yes you will need to reinstall software
No you don't have to wipe your old drive first

Also connecting two bootable drives with active partitions on them can sometimes cause issues, and you won't know for sure what you are booting off.
Usually it's ok, but if you try to wipe the old HDD and windows won't let you then it's because you either have some boot files on it or windows thinks it's the active drive. Probably won't be an issue but there are fixes if it is.

Alternatively you can try cloning your old drive onto the new one, many SSD manufacturers have tools to do this on their websites. You need to get your used space on the old drive lower than the size of the SSD for this to work though.

So the SSD arrived and I plan to install it tomorrow. After reading the answers , it sounds like idea 2 wins lol. To be honest, if it would be ideal to wipe the HDD, I am fine with that. I wiped it a few months back and didn't really even transfer much to it nor create any new documents. Since all the software would need to be reinstalled regardless, I might as well ensure no viruses or anything great like that is there. I will of course back up what is on it on an external drive first though.

When reformatting the HDD, after the SSD is installed with windows 10 activated and i'm on my desktop fully booted and logged in...am i able to format ( wipe) the HDD while the SDD is active? and if so, how does one do that? lol..

 

[USAFRet]

Don't connect the HDD until after you install the OS on the SSD.

 

[Dugimodo]

The best way is probably to use disk management to delete all partitions, create a new partition and format it.
If you right click the start button disk management is in that menu.