Windows 10 on HDD, Windows 8 on SSD, no more free upgrade?

[StormCloudSeven]

Right now my desktop is running on Windows 10 with a single HDD. This version of windows 10 came from the free upgrade they had back when the OS was just released, the HDD used to be running Windows 8 which I installed myself using a legit CD. Recently I bought a SSD and was gonna do a fresh install on it. But I read that microsoft no longer offers the free windows 10 upgrade, and I only have a windows 8 CD... so does that mean I can't get windows 10 on my SSD if I use the CD? I'll have to either use data migration/cloning or get windows 10 onto a USB?

 

[DookieDraws]

Once you upgraded to Windows 10, it's yours. It's tied to your Microsoft account. Simply log into your Microsoft account and download Windows 10 on a USB drive to reinstall on your SSD. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

[USAFRet]

Right now my desktop is running on Windows 10 with a single HDD. This version of windows 10 came from the free upgrade they had back when the OS was just released, the HDD used to be running Windows 8 which I installed myself using a legit CD. Recently I bought a SSD and was gonna do a fresh install on it. But I read that microsoft no longer offers the free windows 10 upgrade, and I only have a windows 8 CD... so does that mean I can't get windows 10 on my SSD if I use the CD? I'll have to either use data migration/cloning or get windows 10 onto a USB?

Correct. The free upgrade ran out in July.

Now...what are you actually wanting to do?
There are various ways to get your system running Win 10 on the new SSD.

Details of what you want to do, and drive sizes of all drives involved.

 

[clarkjd]

Download the Media Creation Tool from the Micro$oft website, Burn the image onto a DVD or a USB key. Then once you have your SSD installed, set your system to boot from the USB key. Follow the prompts to install Windows on the SSD. Since you have already activated Windows 10, You should be good to go. When the install askes for a product key code, just say "I don't have one" (one of the options). Done!.

 

[StormCloudSeven]

Right now my desktop is running on Windows 10 with a single HDD. This version of windows 10 came from the free upgrade they had back when the OS was just released, the HDD used to be running Windows 8 which I installed myself using a legit CD. Recently I bought a SSD and was gonna do a fresh install on it. But I read that microsoft no longer offers the free windows 10 upgrade, and I only have a windows 8 CD... so does that mean I can't get windows 10 on my SSD if I use the CD? I'll have to either use data migration/cloning or get windows 10 onto a USB?

Correct. The free upgrade ran out in July.

Now...what are you actually wanting to do?
There are various ways to get your system running Win 10 on the new SSD.

Details of what you want to do, and drive sizes of all drives involved.

If it's possible I'll want to do a fresh install of Windows 10 on the new SSD and of course make it my boot drive and software storage, using the old HDD as secondary storage.
I did some trimming and the HDD right now is using 357GB/1TB, and the SSD is a Samsung 850 EVO 500GB.

From what I've read, it is not possible to clone only a portion of the HDD to the SSD, it has to be the whole thing. I keep my PC pretty clean (digitally) but there's bound to be some junk files hidden somewhere that I don't want on the SSD.

So right now in my head these are the steps I have to do?
1. Turn off PC and unplug old HDD, plug in SSD to motherboard and turn on PC
2. Install windows on it like its a new computer then use one of these forum suggestions to make it Windows 10
3. Restart PC, make SSD boot drive in BIOS. Restart again, then plug HDD back to motherboard making it a secondary storage
4. Delete software on HDD and reinstall them on SSD

 

[USAFRet]

So, a new install of Win 10 on the new SSD?
No problem.

Create your DVD or USB with the MediaCreation tool from MS.

Disconnect all other drives except the SSD
Install.
When it asks for the license key, "I don't have one"
A fresh install on the same hardware will activate no problem. You're just changing the drive.