Question Not Booting into Windows 10

[dwalker83]

Hi, I've just built a new system, and what I'm trying to do is use the old Windows 10 drive in my new system, but this doesn't seem to be working.

In my old system (i5-6600k, Z170k) it, and the cloned M2 SSD boot fine, but in my new system they're not even recognised as bootable disks.

Please help as I'm pulling my hair out! Seriously, any advice is appreciated!

 

[USAFRet]

Hi, I've just built a new system, and what I'm trying to do is use the old Windows 10 drive in my new system, but this doesn't seem to be working.

That is usually the case.

A Windows install is NOT modular, to be moved to a whole different set of hardware.

Your new system needs a fresh OS install.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[USAFRet]

What drives were in the old system?
If more than one, likely the small boot partition is not on the drive you think of as the OS drive.
Hence, not even seen as something bootable.

But, this does not change the fact that you'll need to do a full fresh install in this new hardware.

 

[dwalker83]

What drives were in the old system?
If more than one, likely the small boot partition is not on the drive you think of as the OS drive.
Hence, not even seen as something bootable.

But, this does not change the fact that you'll need to do a full fresh install in this new hardware.

Hi, the boot partition is on the old drive, but the drive is MBR rather than GPT - could that be the cause of my issues?

I'm planning to upgrade to Win 11 as soon as I get booted into my new PC, but really don't want to lose all my files etc that's on the disk.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi, the boot partition is on the old drive, but the drive is MBR rather than GPT - could that be the cause of my issues?

I'm planning to upgrade to Win 11 as soon as I get booted into my new PC, but really don't want to lose all my files etc that's on the disk.

"don't want to lose'.....

All new hardware...
All new OS...

Your files NEED to be backed up somewhere else during this process.


MBR-GPT ....yes, that is another issue.

Win 10 - Win 11...yet another issue.

You're trying to do too many things, with the only copy of your data.
Don't do that.


So.....
Copy your personal files...anything you do not wish to lose...copy them to some other storage device. Have this disconnected and offline.

Win 10 + 11...
Do you have the valid license key for your current Win 10?
If so, you can almost certainly apply that Win 10 license to a new Win 11 install.
No need to try an "upgrade'.

 

[dwalker83]

"don't want to lose'.....

All new hardware...
All new OS...

Your files NEED to be backed up somewhere else during this process.


MBR-GPT ....yes, that is another issue.

Win 10 - Win 11...yet another issue.

You're trying to do too many things, with the only copy of your data.
Don't do that.


So.....
Copy your personal files...anything you do not wish to lose...copy them to some other storage device. Have this disconnected and offline.

Win 10 + 11...
Do you have the valid license key for your current Win 10?
If so, you can almost certainly apply that Win 10 license to a new Win 11 install.
No need to try an "upgrade'.

Hi, yes, I do have the licence key for Win 10, so it should install Win 11. My old PC can't run 11, hence why I need to get my new PC started then install 11.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi, yes, I do have the licence key for Win 10, so it should install Win 11. My old PC can't run 11, hence why I need to get my new PC started then install 11.

No.

You do a brand new Win 11 install on this new system.
During the process, apply your Win 10 license key when it asks for it.