Updating to Windows 10 on an SSD

[jtse321]

I will be getting a new ssd to install in my computer. It currently has a 750GB hdd in it already with Windows 7 and all my files on it. How can I update the os to Win 10 onto the new ssd while keeping the location of downloads, docs, music, etc. on the hdd? Do I have to update to Win 10 on the ssd and then relocate the default file location to the hdd? Also, do I have to uninstall Win 7, or will the Win 10 update automatically remove it?

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

 

[jtse321]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

 

[jtse321]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

 

[jtse321]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

So will I need to keep the HDD plugged in to update to Win 10 so I can actually run the update and do the install onto the SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

So will I need to keep the HDD plugged in to update to Win 10 so I can actually run the update and do the install onto the SSD?

No.
You WILL need to know the Win 7 license key, and input it when it asks.
Do you have this written down somewhere?

 

[jtse321]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

So will I need to keep the HDD plugged in to update to Win 10 so I can actually run the update and do the install onto the SSD?

No.
You WILL need to know the Win 7 license key, and input it when it asks.
Do you have this written down somewhere?

I think the problem I have understanding this is how I am going to update to Win 10 with just a fresh SSD connected. Don't I need to have a way of booting to actually access the Win 10 updater/installer?

 

[USAFRet]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

So will I need to keep the HDD plugged in to update to Win 10 so I can actually run the update and do the install onto the SSD?

No.
You WILL need to know the Win 7 license key, and input it when it asks.
Do you have this written down somewhere?

I think the problem I have understanding this is how I am going to update to Win 10 with just a fresh SSD connected. Don't I need to have a way of booting to actually access the Win 10 updater/installer?

Need to create a USB, DVD or ISO?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Create your install media
Boot from that
Install
When it asks for the license key, input your current, valid Win 7 license key.

Yes, they changed and allowed this as of a couple of months ago.

 

[jtse321]

Multiple issues here. You can't do it all at once.

If you wish to Upgrade, it will end up on the HDD.
Later, you can do a clean install on the SSD if you wish.

On the current HDD in the current OS, create some new top level folders for Doc/Music/Downloads, etc.
Copy all of the data in your current Libraries out to those locations.

Then, clean install Win 10 on the SSD, using your Win 7 license key to activate.
After it is all up and running, reconnect the HDD.
Then, in the Libraries of your new OS install, designate those folders you created as target locations.

How do I install Win 10 onto the SSD if I need the HDD to be running to upgrade to Win 10? Am I missing something?

Assuming you have a valid license key for your Win 7, you can do a clean install of Win 10 and activate it with that Win 7 license.

So basically I would use my OEM Win 7 disc to "install Win 7" which would prompt me to upgrade to Win 10?

No.
With recent Win 10 (after the November update), you can install Win 10, and use your existing valid Win 7 license to activate it.
You do not need to install Win 7 first.

So will I need to keep the HDD plugged in to update to Win 10 so I can actually run the update and do the install onto the SSD?

No.
You WILL need to know the Win 7 license key, and input it when it asks.
Do you have this written down somewhere?

I think the problem I have understanding this is how I am going to update to Win 10 with just a fresh SSD connected. Don't I need to have a way of booting to actually access the Win 10 updater/installer?

Need to create a USB, DVD or ISO?
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Create your install media
Boot from that
Install
When it asks for the license key, input your current, valid Win 7 license key.

Yes, they changed and allowed this as of a couple of months ago.

Ok thanks so much. Sorry for the miscommunication on my part. Cheers.

 

[zarawatsonn]

You can download an ISO file to install the Windows 10 in the SSD, or you can use Window 10 bootable Disc to install Windows 10.