[SOLVED] Windows 10 Fresh

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Mista Krank

Mista Krank

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I am buying an 1tb SSD so I can install windows 10 on it. I have a hdd that have windows on it currently. I have a prebuilt and it is really good and its from HP. Do I need my product key or is it stored in the Motherboard like people on reddit said. Also before I Install windows on the ssd do I have to log out of my microsoft account before I start the installation? Do I have to allocate anything before starting?
 
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USAFRet
Jimbooooooo said:
So when the cloning process is complete turn my pc off and disconnect the old HDD from power and mobo , then go into bios and change the boot order, then see if it works, then after that reconnect the HDD and use it for what ever? DO I have to allocate the SSD before I start cloning? I apologize for asking so many questions. Its just the fact that I never done nothing like this so I am trying to be safe as possible and actually understand. BTW I am not buying a Sata ssd I am getting a PCIe Nvme M.2
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No, you don't have to do anything with the new drive beforehand.

And yes, physically disconnect the old drive before you power up the first time after the clone process.
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Jimbooooooo said:
Last question. When I clone windows on the ssd will windows still be on the hdd or will it be gone and will I have the windows icon over the ssd instead of the hdd in file explorer under the "This PC" section?
Click to expand...
Whatever is on the HDD will not be touched. For good reason.
It is up to you to remove everything from that drive later.

All partitions, not just "format in File Explorer.

As noted in the cloning steps, commandline function diskpart and the clean command.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.
www.seagate.com
 
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USAFRet said:
Whatever is on the HDD will not be touched. For good reason.
It is up to you to remove everything from that drive later.

All partitions, not just "format in File Explorer.

As noted in the cloning steps, commandline function diskpart and the clean command.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.
www.seagate.com
Click to expand...
I'm not gonna remove nothing on that the HDD because I have a lot of space and the only thing on the HDD is the files for windows and some HP files.
 
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USAFRet said:
Whatever is on the HDD will not be touched. For good reason.
It is up to you to remove everything from that drive later.

All partitions, not just "format in File Explorer.

As noted in the cloning steps, commandline function diskpart and the clean command.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.
www.seagate.com
Click to expand...
Thank you for helping me with this I really do appreciate you :).
 
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USAFRet said:
Whatever is on the HDD will not be touched. For good reason.
It is up to you to remove everything from that drive later.

All partitions, not just "format in File Explorer.

As noted in the cloning steps, commandline function diskpart and the clean command.
https://www.tomshardware.com/news/format-hard-drive-command-prompt,37632.html

How to Diskpart Erase/Clean a Drive Through the Command Prompt | Seagate US

This article explains the Microsoft Diskpart Erase utility. The command that erases the drive during this process is "Clean". In this article "Clean" and erase are used interchangeably. Cleaning or erasing a storage device removes all data and partitions from the drive.
www.seagate.com
Click to expand...
Can I still use the HDD without deleting anything off it and without formatting it?
 
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Jimbooooooo said:
Can I still use the HDD without deleting anything off it and without formatting it?
Click to expand...
Yes, but the old Windows install and that boot partition will get in the way.

We've seen instances here where...6 months later, something happens and the system boots up from 'the old drive'.
Completely forgetting that old OS was on there.

Unless you are purposely looking for a dualboot situation, having that OS on there is asking for trouble down the road.
 
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USAFRet said:
Yes, but the old Windows install and that boot partition will get in the way.

We've seen instances here where...6 months later, something happens and the system boots up from 'the old drive'.
Completely forgetting that old OS was on there.

Unless you are purposely looking for a dualboot situation, having that OS on there is asking for trouble down the road.
Click to expand...
That article you sent can I use that same method for my HDD mine is the Toshiba DT01ACA100 7200rpm.
 
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USAFRet said:
-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------
Click to expand...
I am not getting a Sata ssd I am getting PCIe Nvme M.2 ssd

So do I ignore this part? "Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive"
 
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