[SOLVED] How to use my old HDD in a new set-up?

[Patryk_12]

What do i have to do and is it even possible to be able to use my old 2TB HDD in my new set up as i don't want to waste money on a new HDD as it seems stupid to do so.

 

[USAFRet]

What is currently on this drive?

 

[Patryk_12]

What is currently on this drive?

All of my system as thats the only drive i posses so basically my windows etc

 

[USAFRet]

All of my system as thats the only drive i posses so basically my windows etc

Ah...

The physical drive is fine.
The OS and applications and data on it...not so much.

What OS is this?
What are the old parts and new parts?
Do you have or can borrow some other drive space?

 

[Patryk_12]

Ah...

The physical drive is fine.
The OS and applications and data on it...not so much.

What OS is this?
What are the old parts and new parts?
Do you have or can borrow some other drive space?

If i clean everything from the physical disk and just insert it into my new pc will it be fine?

 

[USAFRet]

If i clean everything from the physical disk and just insert it into my new pc will it be fine?

You don't have to clean it before...just as you boot up and install the new OS.

Assuming Windows 10:

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

And who knows...you might get lucky, and a clean install is not needed.
That is luck, though.

Also, this:
For the OS activation, read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-build-1607-and-activation.2786960/

 

[Patryk_12]

You don't have to clean it before...just as you boot up and install the new OS.

Assuming Windows 10:

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

And who knows...you might get lucky, and a clean install is not needed.
That is luck, though.

Also, this:
For the OS activation, read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-build-1607-and-activation.2786960/

Is this going to require me to have the activation key for windows or can i just do the usb method?

 

[USAFRet]

Read the bottom 2 links regarding OS activation.

 

[Patryk_12]

You don't have to clean it before...just as you boot up and install the new OS.

Assuming Windows 10:

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

And who knows...you might get lucky, and a clean install is not needed.
That is luck, though.

Also, this:
For the OS activation, read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-build-1607-and-activation.2786960/

Im also going to be buying a new SSD on which i will put my windows 10. What happens if i already have windows 10 on that SSD and then i place my HDD into my computer which has a windows 7 on it

 

[USAFRet]

Im also going to be buying a new SSD on which i will put my windows 10. What happens if i already have windows 10 on that SSD and then i place my HDD into my computer which has a windows 7 on it

Assuming you go through the steps outlined in the Activation links, and assuming your clean OS install on the new SSD is running and activated, and assuming the boot order is correct in the BIOS...

Your system will boot fromt he SSD and not from the old HDD.
In which case you can wipe all partitions on that old drive, and use it as desired.

 

[Patryk_12]

Assuming you go through the steps outlined in the Activation links, and assuming your clean OS install on the new SSD is running and activated, and assuming the boot order is correct in the BIOS...

Your system will boot fromt he SSD and not from the old HDD.
In which case you can wipe all partitions on that old drive, and use it as desired.

I'm not planning to use an activation key for some time on that windows :/ is there any other way to still use my hdd without taking risks?

 

[USAFRet]

I'm not planning to use an activation key for some time on that windows :/ is there any other way to still use my hdd without taking risks?

No difference.
Just do the install on your SSD.
Later, reconnect the HDD, and wipe it clean.

 

[Patryk_12]

No difference.
Just do the install on your SSD.
Later, reconnect the HDD, and wipe it clean.

So i guess it's more simple than it seems, all i have to do is install windows on the new computer on the SSD, then i just connect my old HDD and clean it?

 

[USAFRet]

So i guess it's more simple than it seems, all i have to do is install windows on the new computer on the SSD, then i just connect my old HDD and clean it?

Pretty much, yes.

You may need to delve into the commandline function diskpart, and the /clean command to fully wipe that old HDD.

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate Deutschland

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

 

[Patryk_12]

Pretty much, yes.

You may need to delve into the commandline function diskpart, and the /clean command to fully wipe that old HDD.

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate Deutschland

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.

www.seagate.com

Okay so could you please write me a few simple steps on how to do this please, i do not want to mess anything up and i see that you are very knowledgeable and experienced.

 

[USAFRet]

Okay so could you please write me a few simple steps on how to do this please, i do not want to mess anything up and i see that you are very knowledgeable and experienced.

The steps are exactly outlined in that link.
Here is another:
https://www.windowscentral.com/how-clean-and-format-storage-drive-using-diskpart-windows-10
https://searchwindowsserver.techtar...t-to-create-extend-or-delete-a-disk-partition