Assist with moving hard drives to a new computer.
Assist with moving hard drives to a new computer.
Hello, I tried to locate a suitable guide for my setup. I'm assembling a new PC and am switching storage from my old machine, which uses both an SSD and a traditional hard drive. I've got Windows 10 on the SSD and another drive for other files. I'm considering a fresh Windows installation since I have a full license, and I've read that it's best to format the SSD and reinstall Windows there. The instructions suggest booting from a USB with the Windows ISO, wiping the SSD, and then installing Windows. I'm wondering if it's possible to format the drive during the installation process and whether I need to use my old license key or recover Windows from scratch. Any clarification would be appreciated.
Formatting is possible directly from the Windows installer. Choose the partitions, remove them, and then click New on the unallocated area. Regarding the license details, I’m not sure—perhaps @GoodBytes can help clarify that.
Ensure your license key is freshly installed for optimal performance. Keep your storage drive disconnected until the installation completes. It may function better when both devices are linked. When using a storage drive, it might not appear in Windows initially—import a different disk through Disk Management to make it visible.
Thanks for the responses. I'm proceeding with the drive swap as instructed. I'll keep you informed if any issues arise.
Regarding licensing, retail copies are fine. OEM licenses are tied to the first motherboard and cannot be transferred.
It's better to use the existing setup rather than reinstalling Windows because the simplest options are rarely chosen.