How to do a clean OS install on a new MOBO with old HDD?

[EddM93]

I wasn't able to fix this problem, so I am switching MOBO, CPU, RAM and PSU keeping only GPU and HDD.

A lot of people say I need to clean install Windows 10, but what is the right way to do that?

Should I totally wipe/format my HD's C: partition on my current old dying MOBO turn off the PC then install the new hardware, turn it on with a Windows 10 flash drive plugged in?

Or can I just plug my old HD in the new MOBO and install Windows 10 on top of the current OS (Win10 with old drivers) also using a Windows 10 USB flash drive?

What is the right and safest way to do that?

Please help. I need to get it right the first time, I can't stand troubleshooting my computer any longer, spent too much time and all money I had left on this.

 

[velocityg4]

All you have to do is install the old hard drive into the new computer. Plug in the USB flash drive containing windows 10. Then boot off of the USB flash drive. When you get to the installation options you choose custom rather than an upgrade. Then you can format the hard drive and perform a clean install of windows 10. Be sure to delete all partitions on the hard drive. The installer will choose the correct partition table for the hard drive.

 

[EddM93]

All you have to do is install the old hard drive into the new computer. Plug in the USB flash drive containing windows 10. Then boot off of the USB flash drive. When you get to the installation options you choose custom rather than an upgrade. Then you can format the hard drive and perform a clean install of windows 10. Be sure to delete all partitions on the hard drive. The installer will choose the correct partition table for the hard drive.

Do I really need to delete my D partition? I have 1,77 TB of data there, I can't afford a back up right now.
If I format only partition C where Windows 10 is installed what can go wrong?

Thank you very much for replying.

 

[USAFRet]

What can go wrong?
Misclick, and wipe out the wrong partition.

I strongly urge you to put that data on a different drive during this install.
If I had a nickel for every thread I read in here of "oops...", I could buy a whole new system.

"I can't afford a backup" means that the data is not really that important to you.

 

[EddM93]

What can go wrong?
Misclick, and wipe out the wrong partition.

I don't get it. In order to not accidentally wipe my D partition and lose all the data, I have to delete my D partition and lose all the data?
I want to understand why I need to mess with my D partition if my OS with all old drivers that can cause system instability with a new MOBO are on partition C.

If I do a clean install on C and leave D untouched, my computer is not going to work properly? Is that it?

Thanks for replying.

 

[USAFRet]

No, what we are saying is, that it is very easy to get this wrong during the install.
It happens. A lot.

If you are very, very careful...you can probably get away with it, and leave that D partition untouched.

But mistakes happen. A lot.
And once it is gone, it is gone.

If this data is irreplaceable, then you are playing with fire.
If it is stuff that you can simply download again, then not so much of a big deal. Other than the pain and brainache and wait time of downloading it again.

It's your stuff. Only you know the value of it.
Personally, I would not install a new OS on a drive that has critical data on it. Ever.
That stuff would be backed up and offline during the process.


Additionally...no backup means you are one dying drive away from losing it all anyway.
Drives die. Prepare for that.

 

[EddM93]

No, what we are saying is, that it is very easy to get this wrong during the install.
It happens. A lot.

If you are very, very careful...you can probably get away with it, and leave that D partition untouched.

But mistakes happen. A lot.
And once it is gone, it is gone.

If this data is irreplaceable, then you are playing with fire.
If it is stuff that you can simply download again, then not so much of a big deal. Other than the pain and brainache and wait time of downloading it again.

It's your stuff. Only you know the value of it.
Personally, I would not install a new OS on a drive that has critical data on it. Ever.
That stuff would be backed up and offline during the process.


Additionally...no backup means you are one dying drive away from losing it all anyway.
Drives die. Prepare for that.

What about using Sysprep instead of a clean install, do you think it would be safer? I've seen people do that instead of formatting. I have never done this so I don't know if it works at all.

 

[USAFRet]

What about using Sysprep instead of a clean install, do you think it would be safer? I've seen people do that instead of formatting. I have never done this so I don't know if it works at all.

What do you want us to say?
Sure, try it.

If it works, great.
If it kills all the stuff in your D partition...oh well. It's not my data.

The single guaranteed way to preserve the stuff in that other partition is to have it elsewhere and offline during this process.
Anything else is a gamble.

 

[USAFRet]

And if you do try the Sysprep routine, please report back here of success or fail, and exactly how you did it.