F5F Stay Refreshed Software Operating Systems How do you install Windows on a new computer? You can try moving your hard drive to this new machine.

How do you install Windows on a new computer? You can try moving your hard drive to this new machine.

How do you install Windows on a new computer? You can try moving your hard drive to this new machine.

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NuCleARz
Member
55
10-07-2026, 07:12 PM
#1
Hi, I just got a new computer ready but I don't have a USB cable. Can I put my old SSD into an old PC to install Windows there? Then move that SSD to my new PC and finish the installation from there when I turn it on? I know I could just buy a USB stick now but I have to wait five hours until the shop is open so I don't want to do that!
N
NuCleARz
10-07-2026, 07:12 PM #1

Hi, I just got a new computer ready but I don't have a USB cable. Can I put my old SSD into an old PC to install Windows there? Then move that SSD to my new PC and finish the installation from there when I turn it on? I know I could just buy a USB stick now but I have to wait five hours until the shop is open so I don't want to do that!

M
mccoop03
Posting Freak
910
10-08-2026, 04:26 PM
#2
Usually, it happens this way: different motherboards break things that make the computer's settings file messy. This can lead to blue screens or weird glitches that show up like ghosts. The best fix is often just a full restart with fresh hardware installed. Just wait about an hour before doing anything else.
M
mccoop03
10-08-2026, 04:26 PM #2

Usually, it happens this way: different motherboards break things that make the computer's settings file messy. This can lead to blue screens or weird glitches that show up like ghosts. The best fix is often just a full restart with fresh hardware installed. Just wait about an hour before doing anything else.

I
Indygoz
Junior Member
37
10-08-2026, 07:56 PM
#3
You can, but really don't do it because that's a bad habit. Windows tries to make things work when people skip steps like this, but often it just won't start at all—or worse, everything looks okay while you spend months chasing strange glitches or performance problems. Windows isn't built for doing anything this messy way. Just wait five hours. Anything worth doing should be done right.
I
Indygoz
10-08-2026, 07:56 PM #3

You can, but really don't do it because that's a bad habit. Windows tries to make things work when people skip steps like this, but often it just won't start at all—or worse, everything looks okay while you spend months chasing strange glitches or performance problems. Windows isn't built for doing anything this messy way. Just wait five hours. Anything worth doing should be done right.