Can I use my Hdd in a new build?

rengo2

Commendable
Oct 4, 2016
7
0
1,510
So I am curently getting rid of my old cpu(a10-5800K) and I have gotten myselve an I5-4570 and am curius if I can use my old HDD with the new build. I haev an external Hdd so i can backup my files and if needed I can consider buying an SSD. So the questions I have are:

1: Will I have to format the disk?
2: Can I still keep my files or should I backup my important files to the external HDD?
3: Will I have to reinstail windows or buy a new copy of windows?

If I get an SSD:
4: Is there reliable software to transfer my OS from the HDD to the SSD?
5: Do i have to delete windows on my HDD?
6: Do i have to do a fresh instail of windows on my SSD?

Thank you for your anwsers in advance, and sorry for my not perfect english.
 
Solution


My...


My native language is English but I am bilingual. I also speak bad English.

1. Yes Best idea when crossing the aisle.
2. Backup
3. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
4. http://clonezilla.org/ Many SSD makers include cloning software
5. Recommended. I do have Windows on a couple of my drives. I also have Ubuntu on one of them. I have Windows 10 as the only boot option and only my SSD as the only bootable drive.
6. Refer to 1. Windows won't come pre-installed. Not really a choice there.

My recommendation. Purchase SSD. Download https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10 and unpack the ISO to a USB drive that you can then use to install onto your SSD. Install updates. Power down. Install other drive(s).
 
Solution
1. For a hardware change like this, a clean install is sometimes required, always recommended.

2. Back up

3. This depends. What Windows version do you have?
If Win 10, read and do this before you change any hardware:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

4. CloneZilla used to be recommended, but there are far better tools to do this.
Click and read this spoiler:
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

5. Yes.

6. This depends. Since you are probably doing a clean install anyway, might as well just do it on the SSD, instead of the HDD and then cloning it over.