Installing Windows 10 on SSD

[Designerluke]

Hi Guys,

Can I install my OS onto SSD on fresh build, and once installed will my motherboard automatically boot from that SSD or will I have to re-arrange the boot priority in BIOS?

Also can I put other files onto the SSD that windows is installed on once inside windows?

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, Designerluke.

If you have a retail copy of Windows - then yes. You can install it on an SSD on a new build. Your BIOS/UEFI should automatically pick up the SSD as the 1st booting device. I'd recommend that you have all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process to avoid possible conflicts in the future. This is because sometimes some of the system files, or the system or boot partitions might be written on one of the secondary drives, which could lead to booting problems.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD

 

[COLGeek]

As long as there is no other bootable device ahead of the SSD in the boot order, then the system will boot from the SSD after installing Win 10. Changing the boot order to ensure not having this happen is easy and straight forward.

Yes, once you install Windows to the SSD, you can install applications to the SSD just like with a HDD. No worries.

 

[Designerluke]

Thanks Boogieman!

I have bought a retail copy of windows 10. Should I plug my SSD into SATA 1?

so I should not connect my WD HDD until after I have installed windows?

Thanks
Luke

 

[Designerluke]

As long as there is no other bootable device ahead of the SSD in the boot order, then the system will boot from the SSD after installing Win 10. Changing the boot order to ensure not having this happen is easy and straight forward.

Yes, once you install Windows to the SSD, you can install applications to the SSD just like with a HDD. No worries.

Thanks so much

 

[COLGeek]

It really doesn't matter which numbered SATA socket you use.

 

[COLGeek]

Thanks Boogieman!

I have bought a retail copy of windows 10. Should I plug my SSD into SATA 1?

so I should not connect my WD HDD until after I have installed windows?

Thanks
Luke

Correct, install Windows to the SSD with only the SSD connected. Once Windows is installed, then connect the HDD.

 

[Designerluke]

Thanks Boogieman!

I have bought a retail copy of windows 10. Should I plug my SSD into SATA 1?

so I should not connect my WD HDD until after I have installed windows?

Thanks
Luke

Correct, install Windows to the SSD with only the SSD connected. Once Windows is installed, then connect the HDD.

Awesome, thank you! It's just this is my first build and want to make sure everything goes well

 

[COLGeek]

Let us know how the install goes. If you have any other issues/questions, we are always here.

Good luck!

 

[Designerluke]

Will I need to initialise the SSD? or is this done during the windows install?

I will need to initialise the HDD though won't I? in disk management

And...Should I partition the SSD so that there is a seperate partition for windows and another for my files?

 

[Boogieman_WD]

You won't need to initialize the SSD, as this should be done when you create the partition/s during the Windows installation. As for the WD HDD, just as any other internal drive, if this is brand new HDD, you'd have to initialize it. If it's larger than 2.2TB you should use GPT instead of MBR in order to be able to use its full capacity. After that you can partition and format it as you see fit.
Partitioning the SSD is really a matter of personal preference. In my opinion there's no need for a second partition if the SSD is 120GB or 250GB. Basically it's up to you.

Here are some tutorials, which could prove useful:
How to initialize or write a signature to a secondary hard drive or Solid State drive in Windows
How to partition and format a drive on Windows and Mac OSX
http://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1950-windows-10-clean-install.html

 

[Kiril_Petkov]

I dont see the point to disconnect other HDD during the new installation if you dont make you SSD to be 1st boot device after installation when you connect your other devices DVD/HDD and if they have some boot files on them you wont boot from SSD 1st(exp: if you have install some OS on your WD HHD and this HDD have prio in boot order then your new SSD then you will boot from your old HDD not from the SSD ). So to be sure you will boot from SSD 1st after install the Windows just enter your BIOS/UEFI settings and make your SSD prime boot(1st boot device). The installation setup should initialize you SSD you need to select SSD when you choose when you want to install Windows. You can install what ever you want on your SSD it is like normal storage device if we are talking of point of view on data storage.

 

[COLGeek]

I dont see the point to disconnect other HDD during the new installation if you dont make you SSD to be 1st boot device after installation when you connect your other devices DVD/HDD and if they have some boot files on them you wont boot from SSD 1st(exp: if you have install some OS on your WD HHD and this HDD have prio in boot order then your new SSD then you will boot from your old HDD not from the SSD ). So to be sure you will boot from SSD 1st after install the Windows just enter your BIOS/UEFI settings and make your SSD prime boot(1st boot device). The installation setup should initialize you SSD you need to select SSD when you choose when you want to install Windows. You can install what ever you want on your SSD it is like normal storage device if we are talking of point of view on data storage.

The purpose of disconnecting the HDD is to ensure that Windows doesn't write any system files to the HDD (vice all to the SSD) during the install process. By design, Windows will write some files to the first HDD. This is only an issue if that HDD is ever removed from the system for any reason.

While a repair can be made to deal with this scenario, disconnecting any and all HDDs during the install process takes care of this from the very beginning.