[SOLVED] Will I need to reinstall windows if I get a new cpu and mobo with my old hdd and ssd?

[RhysN]

I’ve just ordered a Ryzen 5 3600 bundle which included ram and mobo but I’m going to be using my old hard drive from my PC that has windows 10 already on which I used a code for so I don’t have a disc.
Can I simply connect it all and turn it on and it be fine or is it more complicated than that? I lack knowledge when it comes to PC building so I want it to be as easy as possible

 

[13thmonkey]

You will need to install windows from scratch, download from microsoft. Only have the disk you want to install windows on connected when you do the installation, assume all data will be lost from it (so get a new disk with the rest of the build).

 

[Colif]

ON old PC, before you remove anything, follow this and make sure your licence is linked to a email address - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change

Can I simply connect it all and turn it on and it be fine or is it more complicated than that?

3 things can happen if you swap drives over and just start up.

1. it works fine
2. it works but there are minor issues that can take ages to fix.
3. it doesn't work at all.

Depending on how different the parts are, it may or may not work.

Generally, if you get all new CPU & motherboard the best idea is clean install win 10 on new build. as you get benefit of all new parts and no old files that may cause problems.

Now, if you only have a hdd now, I would get an ssd and install win 10 on it as then you don't lose any info on hdd now and its so much faster

Installing Win 10 is dead easy now - follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

ONce win 10 is installed on new PC, go back to 1st link I showed you and follow the steps to run the activation wizard.

 

[RhysN]

ON old PC, before you remove anything, follow this and make sure your licence is linked to a email address - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change



3 things can happen if you swap drives over and just start up.

1. it works fine
2. it works but there are minor issues that can take ages to fix.
3. it doesn't work at all.

Depending on how different the parts are, it may or may not work.

Generally, if you get all new CPU & motherboard the best idea is clean install win 10 on new build. as you get benefit of all new parts and no old files that may cause problems.

Now, if you only have a hdd now, I would get an ssd and install win 10 on it as then you don't lose any info on hdd now and its so much faster

Installing Win 10 is dead easy now - follow this guide: https://forums.tomshardware.com/faq/how-to-do-a-clean-installation-of-windows-10.3170366/

ONce win 10 is installed on new PC, go back to 1st link I showed you and follow the steps to run the activation wizard.

I have a 1tb hdd and a 500gb ssd,how would I go about deleting windows from my old setup to then being able to launch the new setup? Do I get a pop up that lets me start windows and I just enter my email or is it more complicated? I’ve never built a pc from scratch so this is all new to me

 

[RhysN]

You will need to install windows from scratch, download from microsoft. Only have the disk you want to install windows on connected when you do the installation, assume all data will be lost from it (so get a new disk with the rest of the build).

So on my old setup I need to buy a disc with windows 10 on and put it in my disc drive once the new build is done?

 

[SkyNetRising]

I have a 1tb hdd and a 500gb ssd,how would I go about deleting windows from my old setup to then being able to launch the new setup?

So on my old setup I need to buy a disc with windows 10 on and put it in my disc drive once the new build is done?

1. Make sure your windows license is linked to your microsoft account (details in previous post from Colif);
2. Create windows installation media on USB flash drive (details also in previous post from Colif);
3. Backup user data from your SSD to some other location. If the SSD is new/empty, then you can skip this;
4. Connect only SSD to your new pc boot from USB installation media, clean SSD and install windows 10 on SSD;
5. Connect old HDD and access data on it;
6. Download and install drivers for your motherboard (download from motherboard manufacturer support web site). You can prepare drivers on your old pc. Lan drivers will be necessary to access network. Without those you won't be able to download anything on new pc.

 

[Colif]

Pick which drive you want to install win 10 on, and only have it in the PC when installing
Put it in the PC and run the installer you can make using - Windows 10 media creation tool

run a Fresh install following guide I showed, it will wipe the drive so you don't need to do any extra steps
The guide is pretty impressive and has screenshots.

 

[Abhinav2005]

It is preferred to do so.