Just ordered a Samsung 850 EVO 250Gb

[Foebane72]

I thought I'd try an SSD by itself for the first time, and so I ordered this model. I was also hoping to install Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit from scratch, rather than cloning my present 500Gb HDD (mostly empty).

How should I go about doing that? Install the SSD (in bracket) in place of the original HDD and then just try to install from there by choosing my external OD as the boot? Should I make any BIOS changes?

I'm also wondering how long this drive will last for? I will use it for Windows/Programs and the odd modern game, but a lot of retro platform stuff. I also have an external USB 3.0 HDD with my important files on it, so risk of data loss should be minimised.

Advice, please.

 

[leigh76]

So if you want to use your present SSD on which Win 7 is installed and install Win 10, go ahead and do so. It will be activated without any user input.

I've been thinking of trying Win10 again on my current HDD - it'll be a fair while before the Samsung is delivered and so I would like to try Win10 again to make sure it runs more smoothly before I install it on the Samsung and find out only then if I still have Win10 issues. I'm willing to go ahead today, in fact - my data is already backed up.

Do I need a specific version of Win10 for my version of Win7? I have Win7 Ultimate 64-bit. Where can I get the corresponding Win10 version from?

If you search for and run the Microsoft Windows upgrade assistant applet, this will show you all the relevant upgrade options available to you.

 

[ArtPog]

You can download the Win 10 MediaCreationTool from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Click on the "Download tool now" link, NOT the "Update now" link for an update to the above.

We ordinarily use a flash drive to install the "Tool", but you can also download an ISO file to create a DVD if you prefer. The "Tool" contains the setup files for installing Win 10.

 

[Foebane72]

You can download the Win 10 MediaCreationTool from: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Click on the "Download tool now" link, NOT the "Update now" link for an update to the above.

We ordinarily use a flash drive to install the "Tool", but you can also download an ISO file to create a DVD if you prefer. The "Tool" contains the setup files for installing Win 10.

I'm on Windows 10 right now, it seems to have installed without problems, this time.

I downloaded the tool, and ran it then chose to upgrade right there rather than create an ISO.

With the tool, will I be able to create a full install ISO/USB of Win10, or will I still need to install Windows 7 then 10 on top of it?

PS. I think I know what caused Win10 to fail for me last time when I went for the free upgrade, and it wasn't the OS's fault.

 

[ArtPog]

I'm assuming you're planning to fresh-install the Win 10 OS onto a separate HDD for that purpose and you still are planning to retain the Win 7 OS on your usual boot drive. So if that's the case just perform a "Custom" installation of the Win 10 OS. Then you can play around with to see if you like it, etc. When you power-on your PC you can determine which OS you would like to boot to either using the boot menu that's generated by the motherboard's BIOS (you press the appropriate F key to access that menu - check your user manual if you don't know it), or select the OS (drive) from the BIOS itself.

 

[Foebane72]

I'm assuming you're planning to fresh-install the Win 10 OS onto a separate HDD for that purpose and you still are planning to retain the Win 7 OS on your usual boot drive. So if that's the case just perform a "Custom" installation of the Win 10 OS. Then you can play around with to see if you like it, etc. When you power-on your PC you can determine which OS you would like to boot to either using the boot menu that's generated by the motherboard's BIOS (you press the appropriate F key to access that menu - check your user manual if you don't know it), or select the OS (drive) from the BIOS itself.

That's not what I asked, nor is it what I'm planning to do.

1. I have upgraded Win7 on my present HDD (in my PC by itself) to Windows 10 now. I am trying it out extensively now.
2. I want to install the full version of Windows 10 on my new Samsung SSD (which will be in my PC by itself, eventually) if possible. That's what I was asking in my last post.
3. I don't want a boot menu. At all. Zada. Zip. Zilch. I don't care about boot menus.

just perform a "Custom" installation of the Win 10 OS.

How do I do that without the Win7 DVD, or do I still need it?

 

[ArtPog]

Sorry, I misunderstood your objective.
No, you do not need Win 7 installation media of any kind. Just go ahead with the Win 10 Media Creation Tool to fresh-install the Win 10 OS onto the new Samsung SSD. There should be no problem with the activation process since you're using the same motherboard when you obtained the free upgrade from Win 7 to Win 10. The fact that you're utilizing a different drive should not negate the auto activation process.

 

[Foebane72]

So I use the Media Creation Tool to create USB files that I can run from boot, when the SSD is in the computer by itself?

 

[ArtPog]

Yes. The USB MediaCreationTool contains the setup file for the Win 10 OS. That's all you need. And it is best that the SSD be the only drive installed in the PC at that time. It's unnecessary to partition/format the SSD drive prior to the installation of the OS. You can actually do that during the Win 10 setup process. But if you want to partition/format that drive prior to the OS installation (while it's connected as a secondary drive in your system) you're free to do so. It makes no difference insofar as installing the Win 10 installation; it's user's choice.