Changing boot drive

[chocopeanut29]

Hi! So i'm kind of new here in the community and also on building pcs.

I currently have my windows 10 on a 1TB hdd. I'm thinking of buying a kingston 120gb uv400 ssd and use it for windows 10. I've watched tutorials as to how I will change my boot drive from hdd to ssd, specifically linus's. I also have an unactivated windows 10 pro on the hdd since october and i was thinking of uninstalling the os and just install windows 10 home to the new ssd. I have a couple of questions regarding the matter.

Does changing a boot drive also transfers the os from ssd to hdd?
Do I need to do reformat my hdd to uninstall windows 10 pro?

 

[Barty1884]

120GB is pretty small, just an FYI. I'd aim for a minimum 240(ish)GB.

As for moving to the SSD, you have two options.
1. Shrink the existing Windows install partition to less than the destination/new drive, and clone (so 90GB say, to the new 120GB). Most SSDs will include soft form of 'cloning' software, although freeware exists tpp/

2. Perform a clean OS install, directly to the SSD. This is the preferred route. Cloning takes everything, the good (your OS) but also the bad (the registry errors, potentially malware etc).

To perform a clean install, you can create bootable media here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

Create a USB. Disconnect the HDD and connect the SSD (to avoid accidnetally installing to the wrong drive).
Use the boot override function for your motherboard (commonly F8), boot from the UEFI {name of usb drive} and follow the prompts. Skip when prompted for a key, as it'll activate automatically when back online -- assuming you're already activated.

Once that's done, set the SSD (or "windows boot manager" as it may show) as boot priority #1, then reconnect your HDD.

 

[USAFRet]

1. A 120GB is right on the edge of TooSmall. If you've not bought it yet, reconsider.
Look towards a 250GB or larger. Seriously.

2. There are two methods of "changing your boot drive"
1. A clone operation. This requires that the total used space on your current 1TB be significantly below the size of the new SSD. For a 250GB drive, that needs to be below 200GB.

or

2. A clean install of the OS on the new drive. This requires an install of the OS, and all your applications.


I have a tested series of steps for a clone operation, and can link a good tutorial for a clean install.
Depending on which way you want to go.


In answer to your specific questions:
"Does changing a boot drive also transfers the os from ssd to hdd? "
Actually, the other way around. From the HDD to the SSD. The OS and whatever else is on that drive.

"Do I need to do reformat my hdd to uninstall windows 10 pro? "
After it is actually running on the new drive, yes.