Choose a fresh installation or clone it.
Choose a fresh installation or clone it.
Sorry if this has been asked before, but I wanted to clear some doubts. I got an SSD of 250GB and I want to make it as my boot drive. I am using 150GB in the C drive, so the space is plenty for cloning. But I am thinking of installing a fresh copy of windows. If I do install a fresh copy of windows, will these steps be enough? 1. Make a backup of the data in C drive to an external hard drive (I have one) 2. Turn off the system and plug in the SSD with the HDD still in place. 3. Change boot priority (SSD on top) 4. Install windows on the SSD and format the C drive during the windows installation (when it gives us the option to where to install OS). Is this the right steps? I know that one should leave some space for provisioning and never to defrag the SSD. Anything else I need to know?
Turn off all additional storage devices except the operating system drive before starting a clean setup. You won’t have to worry about setting up resources. On the partitions screen during installation, simply erase everything and press next—it will generate the partitions automatically. Avoid filling your SSD beyond 90% capacity; that’s why many users face problems with Windows after cloning.
Many people face problems after cloning, so I opt for a new installation instead.
Disappointing is when the same setup is applied every time a disk changes. It doesn’t make sense! Do you know anything about cloning or just repeat the idea that a fresh install is always better? I’ve worked with cloning for many people, even on different hardware. Please don’t say that files are nicer or that tiny details look better when someone claims a fresh install looks better. A fresh install is essential when setting up a new system, like starting with Windows 10 for the first time. Other installs just waste time. I’ve never had issues with cloned systems, and I’ve done plenty of clones. Of course, some tips are always helpful (for example, clone offline), but problems after cloning usually don’t happen. The only time I faced a BSOD was when I tried to use the cloning tool while the system was running. After that, I realized it’s not a reliable method, even if Windows suggests it. I’ve read many discussions here, but most were about switching from fresh to reinstall and then facing problems.
Yes, besides the problems that arise weeks or months later—like failed window updates or a sluggish operating system.
And since someone duplicated his setup, all events after a while might stem from the clone. GPU issue? Well, the system was copied. I actually expected to find more seasoned users on the forum who have deeper knowledge than just installing the same setup repeatedly. Please avoid spreading rumors.
A fresh setup is the best method for transferring an operating system to a new drive or platform. If needed, you can look up "issues after cloning" on google to discover the many challenges it can bring. Often problems arise from old updates or malfunctioning programs due to past migrations. A proper clean install isn't difficult and usually takes just an hour or two. For long-term reliability, anyone aiming for smooth performance should opt for a clean setup, even though it may seem like a waste of time. Ultimately, they’ll still need the clean install to resolve any lingering issues, which could negate the effort saved.