Installing Windows 10 after replacing Motherboard, CPU and Memory

[Cheesedontdie]

I am planning to change my motherboard CPU and RAM and upgrade to the new Skylake platform soon. I currently have a completely working PC with Windows 10 (OEM) installed on my SSD. I also have a HDD for storage. After I upgrade to the new Motherboard, CPU and Memory, I understand that I will have to purchase Windows 10 as I cannot transfer the OEM licence.

My question is, how do I completely format my drives (especially the one with Windows on it) to basically start afresh and reinstall windows as I would, were I building an entire system ?

 

[USAFRet]

I am planning to change my motherboard CPU and RAM and upgrade to the new Skylake platform soon. I currently have a completely working PC with Windows 10 (OEM) installed on my SSD. I also have a HDD for storage. After I upgrade to the new Motherboard, CPU and Memory, I understand that I will have to purchase Windows 10 as I cannot transfer the OEM licence.

My question is, how do I completely format my drives (especially the one with Windows on it) to basically start afresh and reinstall windows as I would, were I building an entire system ?

As of last week, you probably do NOT have to purchase Win 10 again.
Read this: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
Reactivating Windows 10 after a hardware change
"In Windows 10 (Version 1607 or later), you can link your Microsoft account to the Windows 10 digital license on your device. This can help you reactivate Windows using the Activation troubleshooter if you make a significant hardware change later, such as replacing the motherboard."


While you might have to do a full reinstall, you probably do NOT have to purchase a new Win 10 license.

 

[newbcakes]

you'll be given the option to delete partitions on your existing SSD upon attempting to install Win10. Delete them all (provided you don't want them), install to a newly created partition.

 

[RunLuke]

Just format during install, you'll get the option to delete the partition on the system drive, do that and select the drive and click "install". Windows partitions as it requires. The other one you can just format, your storage hdd should not have more than one partition.

Boot to install media and install from that (creating a usb is the easiest way to do it). If you chose "upgrade" from windows it'll do a botch job.
It's very simple and the best way to do it, IMO.


https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows10