[SOLVED] How to use old hard drive with windows on it and a new m.2 in new system

[Tech nerd1971]

I am upgrading my computer i have a hard drive with windows 10 on it. i dont want to use the old copy on the new system i would like to download a fresh copy of windows. I cant plug the m.2 in my current rig so i dont know what it will detect for my drives.

 

[Colif]

1. do this now before updating - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
2. download the Windows 10 media creation tool and use it to make a win 10 installer on USB
3. Only have the m.2 in the PC when you install, doesn't give windows any choice
4. 4. follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

what are plans with old drive?
If you add it to PC, look in bios/boot order and make sure its not added in here

If you want to wipe it after copying info off it, you can't do it in windows.
go to settings/update & security/recovery
under advanced startup, click restart now
Pick troubleshoot
Pick advanced
Pick Command Prompt
Type diskpart and press enter
Type list disk and press enter
This will show the list of drives currently attached to PC, make note of the drive number of the drive you want to wipe

restart PC afterwards and use DIsk Management to format it again.