How to clean install Windows 10 from a Recovery Drive?

[Alex_73]

This is a follow up to this question, in which I needed to "copy" an existing Windows 10 from an HDD to a USB. As Ralston18 had suggested, I performed a Recovery Drive onto the USB having checked the option to backup system files.

So, now that my HDD is replaced with an SSD, I can indeed see it show up in BIOS. However, when I boot with the USB, the Windows blue menu shows; and if I select "Reset this PC" option, I get the following: "Unable to reset your OS. A required drive partition is missing.". If I select "Recover from a drive", I yet get the following error: "Unable to recover your PC. The system is too small".

I suspect that this is because the SSD is not partitioned yet. So, the question is, should I partition the drive first in order to be able to install Windows from the Recovery Drive? I know it can be done from the virtual CMD, but I am not sure how to do it, and whether it is necessary or not. Would this help or do I have no other choice but to install a fresh Windows?

Thanks!

 

[Alex_73]

Update: So I've formatted the drive with create partition primary in Diskpart. Then , I tried to assign letter=c, that failed, and then lastly I did format fs=ntfs label="Local Disk C" quick, which succeeded. However, now when I try Reset this PC, it gives me "The drive where Windows is installed is locked.Unlock the drive and try again.". Recover from a drive still gives the same error as before. What do I do from here?

 

[smorizio]

if you need the files or a clone copy of the hard drive you have to use 3 party drive cloning software. in real life use the window media creation tool. make a new bootable windows 10 iso usb stick. then unplug hard drive and without any partion on the ssd install new clean copy of windows 10. then reinstall your aps and games to the ssd if they will fit.

 

[Alex_73]

So, you are saying that I absolutely need to use window media creation tool in order for this to work? I don't understand the point of Recovery Drive then. Is it not supposed to be a full recovery? Imagine if my HDD failed for some reason, and I bought an SDD and tried to use this Recovery Drive to restore my data. Would Recovery Drive then be utterly useless because I wouldn't even be able to use it? It would just refuse to install like that? It doesn't make any sense...