Set up helpClean on a fresh drive and assess how it affects other storage devices in the system.
Set up helpClean on a fresh drive and assess how it affects other storage devices in the system.
I’ve prepared a lengthy update ahead of time. I’m swapping my nearly full 256 GB SSD for a new NVMe unit. Most of my files live on a separate HDD and another SATA SSD—though the HDD and system drive are dynamic disks. Before installing Windows, I removed the old drive to avoid mistakes. After booting from the USB, the installer reported two OSes installed. It chose the first one, but it failed to start. Rushing through some adjustments, I reinserted the original drive and adjusted the boot order. When I tried again, the HDD disappeared, and I spent nearly half an hour recovering it. My main concern is how to install Windows on the NVMe without damaging the other drives. I’m unsure if this matters, but I don’t have a RAID setup either. Have you seen advice on moving HDDs before reinstalling? Any tips on handling boot priorities would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!
Let's walk through the process I suggest. Begin by turning off all additional storage units and any peripherals not required for setup, such as webcams or secondary monitors. Turn off any overclocking features like XMP/DOCP. Boot Windows onto the designated drive and restart. Once in Windows, open the Start menu and search for cmd, selecting it with admin privileges. Execute the following command to verify installation: sfc /scannow. If the scan reports issues, you may choose to reinstall or proceed as instructed.
Next, decide whether to restart the computer or continue if no problems appear after the scan completes. After that, consider another step. You can either uninstall the existing graphics driver from Windows or replace it with the newest version. Once that's done, power down the PC and reconnect any previously removed peripherals. If you have other Windows installations, the system will prompt which one to boot from—ensure you select the correct one after reboot. Upon restarting in the new Windows environment, open Disk Management (via Start menu → Control Panel → Disk Management). Identify the drive containing the old Windows installation; verify it's mounted and note its letter. Transfer everything you wish to retain, though applications will likely need reinstallation later. Remove all partitions, except if the EFI partition remains, use Diskpart in admin mode to delete it. After completion, create a fresh partition by right-clicking the available space.
Now, reinstall programs—some may function without reinstall, others will require it. Games like Steam and Origin typically add themselves automatically, but you may need to set up shortcuts. Also, install drivers for any remaining hardware.