Upgrading from a hdd to a m.2 ssd

[Lucas6ix]

I have a 1tb hdd that came with a pre built wth windows 10 already installed i just ordered a 970 evo and im wondering what my first step is when i install it, i do not need to save anything i have on the hdd so could i just copy windows 10 to a USB and boot my pc with the m.2 or will i need to clone? And will the m. 2 work with thr Windows 10 that came pre installed on a hard drive?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a 1tb hdd that came with a pre built wth windows 10 already installed i just ordered a 970 evo and im wondering what my first step is when i install it, i do not need to save anything i have on the hdd so could i just copy windows 10 to a USB and boot my pc with the m.2 or will i need to clone? And will the m. 2 work with thr Windows 10 that came pre installed on a hard drive?

First...we are assuming that your motherboard actually works with that 970 EVO? You've verified this?

Second, you don't just "copy" windows to that new drive.
Instead, you do a clean install.
Create a USB UEFI install of Win 10.
Disconnect all other drives.
Boot from that, and install on the m.2 drive.

 

[Lucas6ix]

I have a 1tb hdd that came with a pre built wth windows 10 already installed i just ordered a 970 evo and im wondering what my first step is when i install it, i do not need to save anything i have on the hdd so could i just copy windows 10 to a USB and boot my pc with the m.2 or will i need to clone? And will the m. 2 work with thr Windows 10 that came pre installed on a hard drive?

First...we are assuming that your motherboard actually works with that 970 EVO? You've verified this?

Second, you don't just "copy" windows to that new drive.
Instead, you do a clean install.
Create a USB UEFI install of Win 10.
Disconnect all other drives.
Boot from that, and install on the m.2 drive.

ya so I bought a pre built a year ago and took the hdd from that and built my own pc with a asus z270f board knowing i would buy a m.2 in future . i also already have windows 10 on a usb stick from awhile back am i good to go or do i still need to make another usb copy? is that what you mean by clean install?

 

[USAFRet]

ya so I bought a pre built a year ago and took the hdd from that and built my own pc with a asus z270f board knowing i would buy a m.2 in future . i also already have windows 10 on a usb stick from awhile back am i good to go or do i still need to make another usb copy? is that what you mean by clean install?

It is advisable to make a fresh WIn 10 install on your USB stick. That will be current, and include all the current updates.
You can use the one you already have, but then the system will have to run all those current updates anyway.

Faster and easier to just make a new one.

 

[Lucas6ix]

thnak you sir, one more question what is the easiest way to completely wipe a usb stick? thanks again.

 

[USAFRet]

thnak you sir, one more question what is the easiest way to completely wipe a usb stick? thanks again.

Using the MediaCreation tool to make a new OS install on that USB will wipe whatever is currently on it.