[SOLVED] Switching To AMD, Will Windows Still Boot From The SSD I Use For Boot Right Now?

[overclockedhuman]

I have an ancient Dell T3500 Desktop (Xeon based from like 2010) that I am currently using to game on, I have all the components to build a new system based on the Ryzen 3 3300x, but I'm unsure about the windows boot process. Ive heard that windows doesn't like having hardware switches. Will it run stably or should I backup windows and fresh install? I boot from a SATA SSD, not M.2.

 

[Barty1884]

In all likelihood it will 'boot' and function, provided the BIOS is set match (a 2010 Xeon might need legacy BIOS enabled opposed to UEFI, for example). You'd just need to install the appropriate drivers once Windows does it's first boot thing - "getting devices ready".

However, I'd highly recommend a fresh install on new hardware.
Taking an old install, especially between AMD and Intel (or multi-generational gaps of the same 'brand') can bring all sorts of gremlins along for the ride. It can be a complete nightmare to troubleshoot.

Best case, it 'works' well enough, with minor hiccups behind the scenes you don't notice.... for a while. You likely will eventually. At least with a clean install, you start from a known good point.

 

[USAFRet]

Coming from a 12 year old Xeon to a new Ryzen?

Clean install, no question.

Trying to boot from the old drive+OS leads to 3 possible outcomes:

1. It works just fine
2. It fails completely
3. It "works", but you're chasing issues for weeks/months.

I strongly suspect you'd be somewhere between #2 and 3.

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