[SOLVED] Re-Installing Windows 10 on new SSD (Licence Question)

[Trey803]

My WD blue caviar is maxing out on start-up causing painfully slow boot-ups. I've just purchased a new Samsung SSD which will be dedicated to OS.

I was wondering if there is anyway to retrieve my windows licence key from my computer (I did not save the key). I would like to do a clean install on the new SSD. There are no important files on my HDD as I use an external SSD for file storage. Where would I download the windows 10 installation files and can I find my licence key somewhere in my OS files? I would then like to wipe my current WD HDD and use this as a storage drive.

Note: My current OS was a free upgrade from a purchased OEM version of Windows 8. I do have the windows 8 Licence but not even sure if the OEM OS will work on a new hard drive. Same computer and motherboard as 8 was originally installed and then upgraded on.

 

[USAFRet]

Installing on a new drive in the same system does NOT trigger any licensing issues.

Just install, skip entering the license key, and it will activate itself when it goes online later.

To obtain the Win 10 install, go here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
You'll need a blank 8GB USB flash drive.

For the actual install, read here:

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

 

[Trey803]

Installing on a new drive in the same system does NOT trigger any licensing issues.

Just install, skip entering the license key, and it will activate itself when it goes online later.

To obtain the Win 10 install, go here:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
You'll need a blank 8GB USB flash drive.

For the actual install, read here:

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

Great, I've just logged onto Microsoft and see my device and OS.

How does cloning using something like easeUS compare to a new installation? I only want OS related files to be on the new SSD.

 

[USAFRet]

Great, I've just logged onto Microsoft and see my device and OS.

How does cloning using something like easeUS compare to a new installation? I only want OS related files to be on the new SSD.

Cloning doen't work like that.
Basically, all or nothing. You can't split out the OS from everything else.

What size/make/model is the new SSD?

 

[Trey803]

SAMSUNG 860 EVO Series 2.5" 250GB SATA III V-NAND 3-bit MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD) MZ-76E250B/AM

 

[USAFRet]

OK.

Yes, a clean install is recommended here.