Hi, so I just bought the Corsair MX300 275GB SSD. My old 120GB OCZ is running out of space and is quite a few years old so it was time for an upgrade. This will be my first time switching the OS to a new drive so I'm a little nervous. Ideally what I'd like to do (because on my current ssd windows is taking up a total of almost 60gb which seems a little ridiculous) is keep everything on my old drive for now, and just do a clean install of windows on my new ssd. Is that possible? If so, that would be great, as then I would like to just take the remaining files like appdata and other needed files from my old ssd to my new one. Also, currently under "users" the person who previously owned my pc has there initials as the user... I'd like to change that to my name or initials. Can I do that when reinstalling windows? Another thing to note is my os was originally windows 7... then I did the free upgrade to windows 10. So with all that being said, could anyone help me out? Hope I am making sense explaining what I want to do. Thanks in advance to any replies!
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Help with changing ssd's and clean install of windows 10
- Thread starter RyanKSG
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- Mar 16, 2013
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A clean install is just that...completely bare OS.
The old AppData? You cannot just copy that over tot he new OS. Doesn't work like that.
With this new install, you can make whatever username you want. Nothing of the old guy will exist in this OS.
You will have to reinstall ALL of your applications...the new OS will know nothing about whatever is installed on the old drive and OS.
What OS is this?
Do you have the install media and hardware drivers ready to do this?
Do you have the install files for all of your applications?
Okay, I understand not being able to transfer appdata. This is windows 10... I've been running it for almost ayear now since doing the free upgrade. I do not have the drivers ready yet. I am not sure how to do that exactly... As for the install files, I don't have then either... most of my applications are on my main 1tb HDD. It's weird, nearly all of my games and apps are on my hdd, but the save data and all that is on my ssd. I guess that's normal but how do I retrieve all of those saves?
I'm sorry, I didnt even write the messege correctly... have your quote as part of my answer..... wow
Windows 10 free in place upgrade is no longer available, meaning you'll have to pay for a windows 10 license if you do a clean install. If I were you, i'd get a third party program called acronis, and clone an image from your old ssd to the new one.
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Game saves often default to the drive with the OS on it.
Where? Not all in the same pace..lol. You'll have to look around and find them.
Drivers? Go to the manufacturers website and download the most recent, non-beta drivers. Save these to a USB stick. Primarily the LAN driver for your motherboard.
Go here and create your own Win 10 install DVD or USB:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
When you do this install, disconnect ALL other drives. Do this with only the new SSD connected.
And just for future reference:
" Also, currently under "users" the person who previously owned my pc has there initials as the user"
This is bad. For any used drive or system, you really, really need to do a full wipe and reinstall before you use it. For your protection as well as theirs.
You have no idea what weird stuff the previous owner might have in there.
Where? Not all in the same pace..lol. You'll have to look around and find them.
Drivers? Go to the manufacturers website and download the most recent, non-beta drivers. Save these to a USB stick. Primarily the LAN driver for your motherboard.
Go here and create your own Win 10 install DVD or USB:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
When you do this install, disconnect ALL other drives. Do this with only the new SSD connected.
And just for future reference:
" Also, currently under "users" the person who previously owned my pc has there initials as the user"
This is bad. For any used drive or system, you really, really need to do a full wipe and reinstall before you use it. For your protection as well as theirs.
You have no idea what weird stuff the previous owner might have in there.
Hold up! To Scream's comment, I already have windows 10 currently running... So I cant make a USB installer and boot from it etc? And to USAFRet, you told me to do so, so who is right here? Lol. Also the previous owner didn't have any saved data, they had made the pc and called the pc by there name. So there was no need for a wipe.
You have windows 10 running, however it used to be windows 7 and then you did a free in place upgrade right? Lets say you have a windows 10 disc and you plan to do a clean windows 10 install on your new ssd. What license key are you going to use?
If you do a clean install of windows 10 and try to use your windows 7 key it will not work. You are either going to have to use a 3rd party tool like acronis to clone your old drive to the new drive or purchase a windows 10 license. This is because Microsoft is no longer offering the free in place upgrades.
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Absolutely you can.
Your system info is already registered with the mothership. A reinstall, on a new drive, in that same system...does not affect that activation.
The old Win 7 license is null and void, you do not need it anymore.
During the Win 10 install on the new SSD, when it asks for the license key:
Select "I don't have a Product key", at the bottom of that window.
Continue with the install.
LAter, when it goes online, it will activate itself.
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In this case, you do not need to use the orig Win 7 license. At all.
I have done this dozens of times.
The system has what is referred to as a "digital entitlement". The system info and activation status is held at Microsoft.
Install. It will talk to homebase later, and activate itself.
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Nothing to be skeptical about. I've done this personally, many, many times. And talked hundreds of members here through the same process. It works.
Microsoft specifically addresses this in the Win 10 FAQ
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq
"How do I reinstall Windows 10 on my PC?
After you upgrade to Windows 10, you can reinstall or do a clean installation on the same device. You won't need a product key to reactivate Windows 10 on the same hardware. For more info on how to create your own Windows 10 installation media, see the Microsoft software download website. "
Okay, It's all good now. So back to working this out...
Alright, so I have two usb sticks, one 2 gb and one 4gb. I'll use the 2gb one to save the install files on correct? For my pc to run and the hardware to run fine, what drivers do I need right away? The mobo lan driver you were talking about, gpu drivers? Once windows is up and running, can I go online and just install my prgrams again that way without putting them all ona usb? The prgrams I'd need will be like, msi afterburner, steam, origin etc. and maybe skype nvidia gforce exp, those kinds of things that arent installed on to my hdd?
Alright, so I have two usb sticks, one 2 gb and one 4gb. I'll use the 2gb one to save the install files on correct? For my pc to run and the hardware to run fine, what drivers do I need right away? The mobo lan driver you were talking about, gpu drivers? Once windows is up and running, can I go online and just install my prgrams again that way without putting them all ona usb? The prgrams I'd need will be like, msi afterburner, steam, origin etc. and maybe skype nvidia gforce exp, those kinds of things that arent installed on to my hdd?
- Mar 16, 2013
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Use the 4GB to create your Win 10 install media
Use the 2GB to save your drivers on.
For all your application install files....find those now, and save to the existing SSD. Just create a new folder and save to that. Or, just download them install things again after you get the new OS up and running.
Steam, afterburner, etc.
The primary driver you need is for the LAN. Even if you only have that one, then you can go get the rest.
Either way...get them now, or get them later. I always prefer to have things ready to go before I do a new OS install. Just in case.
- Mar 16, 2013
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