New Prebuilt - When to install SSD

[tisbury]

I have a new Prebuilt CyberPower that is still unopened. I will be adding a 250gb Samsung Evo SSD and was wondering if it would be best to install the SSD before I even boot up for the first time, or if I should wait until the computer is up and running.
I will obviously be moving Windows over to the SSD which comes preinstalled on the HDD. I'm assuming I can easily figure out how to move Windows, but haven't seen any posts about doing it on a fresh computer with zero data to worry about. From what I've read, I'll just install Windows (from a download?) on the SSD and then just delete the windows folder on the HDD? Maybe the information I'm reading is dated...

 

[USAFRet]

I have a new Prebuilt CyberPower that is still unopened. I will be adding a 250gb Samsung Evo SSD and was wondering if it would be best to install the SSD before I even boot up for the first time, or if I should wait until the computer is up and running.
I will obviously be moving Windows over to the SSD which comes preinstalled on the HDD. I'm assuming I can easily figure out how to move Windows, but haven't seen any posts about doing it on a fresh computer with zero data to worry about. From what I've read, I'll just install Windows (from a download?) on the SSD and then just delete the windows folder on the HDD? Maybe the information I'm reading is dated...

Power up the system, to verify it actually works.
This will also set up and activate the OS install.

Then, before you start installing things and sucking up space, you can clone the entire contents over to the SSD.
After it is working on the SSD, then delete ALL from the original HDD.

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
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[mazboy]

I agree about starting the new computer first, before you do anything, just to make sure it all works. But I cannot see cloning the new SSD. Let's do a virgin install, on a virgin SSD, the proper way.

For one thing, that's a sure way to avoid any pre-installed bloat-ware the builder put on it...

 

[USAFRet]

I agree about starting the new computer first, before you do anything, just to make sure it all works. But I cannot see cloning the new SSD. Let's do a virgin install, on a virgin SSD, the proper way.

For one thing, that's a sure way to avoid any pre-installed bloat-ware the builder put on it...

True, that avoids the bloatware.
It also leaves off any hardware specific drivers.

Either way works.

 

[mazboy]

I haven't installed a lot of exotic hardware, but I've built and updated/upgraded a lot of stuff, and Win10 will almost always find, at the very least, a driver that will get you started. The first thing anyone should do on a new computer, anyway, self-built or retail-purchased, is to go out and get the latest drivers, because you never know how long ago those parts were first made/packed/wholesaled. I've found CD/DVDs in boxes that were dated before the hardware was ever released...

 

[USAFRet]

For complete clean install...
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html