Installation of Windows 10 from scratch
Installation of Windows 10 from scratch
Hi. You're planning a fresh setup of Windows. You have a 256GB SSD and a 1TB HDD. Before starting, you want to transfer all your files to the HDD. Remove the HDD, then perform a clean installation using only the SSD. You’re worried about losing data. Your main question is how to move the files safely. Since you already have drivers and utilities on the SSD, you should keep them there but format them along with everything else before reinstalling. You can copy the folders from the SSD to the D drive as needed. It’s not a bad idea overall, but make sure to back up important data first. A clean install with both drives is possible if you follow proper steps.
Review your files, videos, downloads, music and pictures folders and reorganize them. Ensure your browser bookmarks are saved or synced to an account. Once done, format the SSD carefully, including programs and drivers—especially drivers—as part of the clean installation process. Be aware you’ll need to re-download and install all software. Large items like games should also be moved over. Certain tasks are more complex; for instance, world saves for Minecraft are stored in the .minecraft folder under AppData->Roaming. Other programs save data in the AppData folder, so you’ll need to check if anything critical is there.
drivers need to be reinstalled; copying doesn't always work like with utilities. It's better to reinstall them, though some can still run after copy-pasting. It depends on the software you're using. Transfer your files to an HDD and unplug it to avoid accidental deletions or formatting mistakes.
Initially, according to the forum discussions and my own observations, it's best not to perform a clean installation and keep using the system as it is. If you encounter any issues, we're here to assist on the forum. Simply reinstalling for fun doesn't make sense.
Hi, I’ve already resolved the issue. I was thinking about a clean install since Windows 10 Pro is unactivated, but I have a home key. I downgraded to Windows 10 Home by adjusting registry settings and reinstalling Windows using the ISO on my PC. Thanks for the helpful advice!