Upgrading to windows 11 on a different drive

[OffbeatBryce]

Hello,

I have the ability to upgrade to windows 11 from the update menu of windows 10 but won’t give me the option to select a specific drive? If not how do I do this? I want it on a different drive so I can test it and I don’t want it to overwrite current OS disk

 

[ex_bubblehead]

As an upgrade it doesn't allow this. If you want it on another drive then there has to be an OS already on that drive.

 

[OffbeatBryce]

As an upgrade it doesn't allow this. If you want it on another drive then there has to be an OS already on that drive.

Would I have to clone the OS to a different drive first?

 

[ex_bubblehead]

You can install Windows 11 with no license. You just download the installer from Microsoft and follow the instructions for preparing a USB installer. An upgrade is just that, an upgrade to an existing installation.

Download Windows 11

However, if you do go with this plan you will have to reinstall any software that you want to use as the new installation will not know anything about what's already there. An upgrade avoids this.