[SOLVED] Can I still use my storage drive after upgrading from Windows 10 Home to Pro?

[johnx125]

I've been using the same installation of Windows 10 Home for over 4 years, but for the last month my PC has been doing all sorts of annoying things like random crashes and blue screens and stuff, so I'm thinking about reinstalling Windows and this time I want to install Windows 10 Pro. I only have one question.. will my storage drive with my personal files and games still be readable after installing a different version of Windows 10?

 

[USAFRet]

Assuming you don't do a clean install of Pro, yes. It will be fine.

Upgrading from Home to Pro can be as easy as just entering a valid Pro license.
Pro gives you no performance benefit, though. Just some extra corporate level features.


But, since your system is currently acting up, a clean install is probably needed. Either Home or Pro.
In that case...any applications on the other drive will NOT be usable. Steam games, and your personal files, yes.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

For Steam games:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

 

[sizzling]

Yes the drives will still be fully accessible.

However you will need a Pro licence and unless there is a specific feature you need from Pro there is zero benefit from switching.

 

[johnx125]

Assuming you don't do a clean install of Pro, yes. It will be fine.

Upgrading from Home to Pro can be as easy as just entering a valid Pro license.
Pro gives you no performance benefit, though. Just some extra corporate level features.


But, since your system is currently acting up, a clean install is probably needed. Either Home or Pro.
In that case...any applications on the other drive will NOT be usable. Steam games, and your personal files, yes.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

For Steam games:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

So if I do a clean install of Windows 10, all my files (photos, videos etc.) in the storage drive will be fine regardless of which version of Windows 10 I install, right?

 

[USAFRet]

So if I do a clean install of Windows 10, all my files (photos, videos etc.) in the storage drive will be fine regardless of which version of Windows 10 I install, right?

Your personal files, yes.
As noted in the How To link above, have all other drives physically disconnected during this clean install.

 

[johnx125]

Your personal files, yes.
As noted in the How To link above, have all other drives physically disconnected during this clean install.

I already knew about that. I just wasn't sure if the files in that drive would be readable after the clean install. Thank you for helping!!