Install Win 11 on a drive that already has Windows 10 installed
Install Win 11 on a drive that already has Windows 10 installed
Hi everyone, hoping for some advice and if anyone can verify what I’m saying is accurate would be really useful. I’m definitely not an expert. These details seem minor, but motherboards are an ASUS Z370-A with a recently updated BIOS. My Windows SSD is a Samsung EVO 970 NVME running the latest firmware.
I’ve been trying to check if my system supports Windows 11. I went through several steps and now the only thing left is making sure Secure Boot isn’t enabled. If I turn it on, it seems CSM needs to be turned off. I attempted this but the PC can’t find any bootable devices. I read somewhere that if Windows is installed in the MBR partition style (which my setup uses), it might need conversion to GPT to work with UEFI—something I’d likely have to do before disabling CSM. So, in theory, I might not be ready for Windows 11 just yet. If I wanted to upgrade, I’d probably need to convert the MBR to GPT first, though I’m hesitant to risk my SSD data until I’m sure. I’m planning a fresh install of Windows 11 on the same drive, ideally starting from a blank one as part of the process. Previously, I’d always erase the drive using a USB SATA caddy, but I don’t have an M2 adapter. I’m guessing this would be handled via the Win 11 bootable USB stick, but I’m not sure if there’s an option to wipe the Windows 10 SSD and install Windows 11 fresh. It’s been a while since I installed Windows, and I’m not sure it would cause any issues if I wanted to switch drives. If there’s a simpler way, please let me know.
Thanks, everyone!
MJ.
How To - Windows 11 clean install tutorial This guide aims to assist you through each stage of a clean installation of Windows 11 version 23H2 or later. It can also be used for previous versions, though some visual differences may exist. For more details, visit forums.
The main requirement is TPM 2.0 - Intel Platform Trust Technology must be activated. The system needs to be set up in UEFI mode. Secure boot isn't strictly required. Converting from MBR to GPT is simple and can be achieved using the mbr2gpt utility. It's still advisable to back up data to prevent unexpected issues. If you install in UEFI mode (boot from install media in UEFI) on a clean drive, Windows will be installed there too. In legacy/CSM mode (boot from install media in legacy/CSM) on a clean drive, Windows will remain in that mode. Please follow the instructions in the tutorial.
Thank you for the clarification. The process involves setting up the installation media to boot from UEFI mode, which can be done during the initial setup steps. It is indeed an option when rebooting with the installation disk connected. Alternatively, it may require disabling the CSM before proceeding.
Select UEFI boot method. This example shows a possible boot selection. You receive the boot decision when a certain key (F2, F9, F10, F11) is pressed during startup (depends on BIOS). ADATA USB flash drive represents an older/CSM boot choice. UEFI can also be configured for specific boot options in priority settings.