Question Installing a fresh Windows 11 to replace the pre-installed one ?

[zoldos]

I have an HP Envy pre-rebuilt system. It had Windows 11 Home pre-installed on a 1TB NVMe M.2 drive. So the question is, can I remove that drive completely, pop in a brand new one, and do a fresh install from my USB drive Windows 11 media that I created? I extracted the original product key. So can I just use that? Will I lose any functionality from the HP system?

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, you can do this. You probably don't even need the license key.

But Why?

 

[Math Geek]

you can do it easy enough. what you'd lose is whatever bloatware HP installed when it left their shop. you'll have to look and see what is there to decide if you need it or not. if you don't need that stuff, then you'll never miss it.

if you do want some of it, then you'll have to look and see if you can download it separately to install later.

personally i don't even turn on a new laptop until it has a install usb in it. i don't even know nor care what bloat is there. i start with a fresh install and put what i want on it. i have yet to run across anything preinstalled that i needed to run the laptop

 

[zoldos]

Yes, you can do this. You probably don't even need the license key.

But Why?

I want to make the current (and slower) 1TB NVMe as secondary storage, and then put in a 2TB 980 Pro Samsung Gen 4 for the system drive.

 

[zoldos]

you can do it easy enough. what you'd lose is whatever bloatware HP installed when it left their shop. you'll have to look and see what is there to decide if you need it or not. if you don't need that stuff, then you'll never miss it.

if you do want some of it, then you'll have to look and see if you can download it separately to install later.

personally i don't even turn on a new laptop until it has a install usb in it. i don't even know nor care what bloat is there. i start with a fresh install and put what i want on it. i have yet to run across anything preinstalled that i needed to run the laptop

Nice. That's what I figured. It is FULL of superfluous HP junk. lol

 

[Math Geek]

they always are. so no biggie at all starting fresh with your new larger drive. it'll still install the drivers and such you need. you'll just only have the MS bloat to deal with and not the rest

 

[USAFRet]

I want to make the current (and slower) 1TB NVMe as secondary storage, and then put in a 2TB 980 Pro Samsung Gen 4 for the system drive.

No problem, then.

Be sure to gather any hardware specific drivers you might need, and go for it.

This is for Win 10, but 99% the same:

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

Download Windows 11

 

[zoldos]

they always are. so no biggie at all starting fresh with your new larger drive. it'll still install the drivers and such you need. you'll just only have the MS bloat to deal with and not the rest

Honestly, I actually like Windows 11.

 

[zoldos]

No problem, then.

Be sure to gather any hardware specific drivers you might need, and go for it.

This is for Win 10, but 99% the same:

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

Download Windows 11

Cool, thanks! I downloaded and created a Windows 11 install media on my USB drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Cool, thanks! I downloaded and created a Windows 11 install media on my USB drive.

Just be sure the new drive is the only one installed when you do this OS installation.
The existing one must be physically disconnected.

 

[zoldos]

Just be sure the new drive is the only one installed when you do this OS installation.
The existing one must be physically disconnected.

Gotcha. Then, once the new one is in and Windows installed, I can pop the old one back in and wipe it for storage?

 

[USAFRet]

Gotcha. Then, once the new one is in and Windows installed, I can pop the old one back in and wipe it for storage?

Yes.
And not just Format in File Explorer, but rather delete ALL existing partitions.
Disk Management, or the commandline function diskpart, and the /clean command.

 

[zoldos]

Yes.
And not just Format in File Explorer, but rather delete ALL existing partitions.
Disk Management, or the commandline function diskpart, and the /clean command.

k, cool. I appreciate the info!