[SOLVED] How to safely install Windows on new SSD ?

[XPooka]

Hey guys, so I have decided to upgrade my new laptop with a ssd as it currently has only a hdd and I wanted to know how do I install windows on it safely and make sure all my drivers are there and from the manufacturer and not some random drivers that Windows auto installs ? (that happened before while reinstalling windows on my old laptop.). Also what things do I need to worry about to make sure everything is done correctly as I just want the laptop to work like it came out from factory. I know cloning my windows is an option too but I feel like, if done correctly, installing new would be a better experience overall.

Laptop is Lenovo Ideapad Gaming 3 15ARH05 :
Ryzen 5 4600h
GTX 1650
8gb ram @ 3200mhz
1TB hdd

Also I am confused if my laptop accepts the hdd+ 2280 nvme ssd config or not, as some sources say that after installing a hdd, 2280 slot gets blocked and then you can only install 2242 ssd, while others say I can still install a 2280 ssd (which I want to install) as there are two slots for ssd and only one gets blocked.

Is there a way to confirm the correct possible configuration other than opening up the laptop ?

 

[USAFRet]

Assuming you get the new drive physically installed, this:

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[USAFRet]

Also, be sure to save ANYTHING you need off on some other storage device first.
Personal files, document your username/passwords, get all the relevant drivers, find the install files for all your applications.

You'll be starting from a clean slate.

 

[XPooka]

Also, be sure to save ANYTHING you need off on some other storage device first.
Personal files, document your username/passwords, get all the relevant drivers, find the install files for all your applications.

You'll be starting from a clean slate.

Got it. Also can you tell me if should just download or drivers listed on manufacturers website or I should download some specific ones? I'm want to install every driver from manufacturer except the chipset and GPU drivers that I was thinking to just install the latest ones from amd and nvidia themselves.

 

[USAFRet]

Got it. Also can you tell me if should just download or drivers listed on manufacturers website or I should download some specific ones? I'm want to install every driver from manufacturer except the chipset and GPU drivers that I was thinking to just install the latest ones from amd and nvidia themselves.

Get all the most recent non-beta versions direct from the manufacturers.
Save those on a USB stick, to install after the OS is installed.

 

[XPooka]

Get all the most recent non-beta versions direct from the manufacturers.
Save those on a USB stick, to install after the OS is installed.

Got it, much thanks! Also would you know the answer to my second question? I.e how do I know my correct storage configuration that I can install? If not then that's fine but I was just curious.

 

[USAFRet]

Got it, much thanks! Also would you know the answer to my second question? I.e how do I know my correct storage configuration that I can install? If not then that's fine but I was just curious.

The specs from Lenovo don't say anything about the HDD blocking the longer M.2 port.
https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sy...g_3_15ARH05/IdeaPad_Gaming_3_15ARH05_Spec.PDF

Aside from opening it up, no other way to really tell.

 

[XPooka]

The specs from Lenovo don't say anything about the HDD blocking the longer M.2 port.
https://psref.lenovo.com/syspool/Sy...g_3_15ARH05/IdeaPad_Gaming_3_15ARH05_Spec.PDF

Aside from opening it up, no other way to really tell.

Ah gotcha, i'll open it up and check then.
Thank you!