Question New build. What to do with the old OS Drive?

[NinjaSpartan011]

I've got my OS, and some other applications and files such as Adobe on a Samsung 870 EVO SATA SSD. I've got a new build ready to put together but I'm not sure if I should do a fresh install of Windows, clone the drive, or just move the hard drive and continue to use it as my boot drive.

I have 2 m.2 drives as well. And 980 Pro that already has steam applications on it and a 990 Pro new in the box. If I don't move the OS to the 990 I was planning to use it as the main media cache drive as well as put games that need faster load times on it.

I've never built a computer from scratch before so I would like to keep the process as easy as possible. I would think moving the current OS drive from one machine to another would just require me to reactivate Windows and swap out some programs for certain peripherals but I figured I'd ask first.

 

[USAFRet]

but I'm not sure if I should do a fresh install of Windows, clone the drive, or just move the hard drive and continue to use it as my boot drive.

New system == fresh OS install.

Trying to do it otherwise, with the old drive+OS, or a clone of it (same thing)...
1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It works, but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally had all 3. #3 is the most likely.

 

[NinjaSpartan011]

New system == fresh OS install.

Trying to do it otherwise, with the old drive+OS, or a clone of it (same thing)...
1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It works, but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I've personally had all 3. #3 is the most likely.

So once I do a fresh install can I restore from a backup or will that cause difficulties? Appreciate your response

 

[USAFRet]

So once I do a fresh install can I restore from a backup or will that cause difficulties? Appreciate your response

No, you can't "restore from a backup".

That backup is for the old system and its hardware. That would be no different than trying to use the original drive.

 

[NinjaSpartan011]

No, you can't "restore from a backup".

That backup is for the old system and its hardware. That would be no different than trying to use the original drive.

Ok cool. Appreciate the warning. What can I do with my old 870 after windows has been installed? Do I just plug it into the new build and wipe it? Do I wipe it using my old machine?

Also I'm currently running on windows 10. Should I upgrade to 11 for this new build?

 

[USAFRet]

Ok cool. Appreciate the warning. What can I do with my old 870 after windows has been installed? Do I just plug it into the new build and wipe it? Do I wipe it using my old machine?

Also I'm currently running on windows 10. Should I upgrade to 11 for this new build?

After the system is all up and running, then connect the 870, verify it isn't in the boot order, and delete all existing partitions.

Win 10 or 11? Toss up.
You can do 10 now and upgrade to 11 later, or 11 now.

Where did this current Win 10 come from?
Be sure it is linked to your MS account.

 

[NinjaSpartan011]

After the system is all up and running, then connect the 870, verify it isn't in the boot order, and delete all existing partitions.

Win 10 or 11? Toss up.
You can do 10 now and upgrade to 11 later, or 11 now.

Where did this current Win 10 come from?
Be sure it is linked to your MS account.

Do i check to boot order in BIOS?

Regarding the Windows 10 OS I'm not sure where it came from. I know it's linked to my account. When I checked the product key it was just the generic key.

 

[USAFRet]

Do i check to boot order in BIOS?

Regarding the Windows 10 OS I'm not sure where it came from. I know it's linked to my account. When I checked the product key it was just the generic key.

Yes, boot order in the BIOS.
Just to verify it won't try to boot from the old drive.