what matters most?
what matters most?
Hello everyone! This is my first time upgrading from Windows 8 to Windows 10, and I’m a bit nervous about doing it correctly. I have a Lenovo laptop running Windows 8 and a ready Windows 10 ISO file plus a product key for the x64 version. My main concern isn’t about the software on my current machine, but about preserving data such as photos and documents in my library.
First question: how should I back up those files? Second, regarding drivers—should I copy them from my computer now or use a backup method? Third, my laptop has two drives: a large terabyte HDD and a smaller 25 GB Samsung SSD. I’m not sure what these do, but I want to know if I should install Windows 10 on the SSD or elsewhere. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time.
Transfer them to an external drive or USB stick. They will automatically install. Launch the task manager, switch to advanced mode, then navigate to the performance section. You’ll see instructions for installing Windows on the SSD rather than the HDD. Do you understand how to create an ISO image or are you just upgrading your current system?
Hello. Please copy your files yourself to an external drive, avoid third-party tools. You shouldn't need to install any drivers unless they're outdated. It's better to use Windows on an SSD for improved speed.
The 25GB serves as a cache storage for Intel Rapid Storage, functioning similarly to an SSHD but with external RAID-based caching. When configured, it may enhance boot speeds if your primary storage is an HDD—though this difference disappears if you use an SSD or SSHD. I recommend simply turning it off, disabling it, or removing it; the gains are minimal. For Windows 10 ISO, utilize the official Media Creation Tool to generate a USB or ISO image. This ensures proper setup and guarantees you receive the latest Windows 10 version. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software.../windows10 You won’t need a product key if your computer comes pre-built with Windows 8, 8.1, or 10. Before starting, verify Secure Boot is active in BIOS, disable legacy/CSM settings, and enable fastboot. When booting from the USB, avoid entering a product key—most systems won’t prompt you. Clear all partitions on the target drive (ideally to an unallocated space) before activation; it will activate using the original OEM license without requiring any key.
Thanks for your feedback. It seems the device is likely a 16 GB SSD intended for caching. Based on what you observed, it wasn’t performing well, which makes sense since it wasn’t doing much. You’re wondering if it’s too small for a Windows installation and whether upgrading to a larger capacity would be worthwhile. Considering you might have used a disk imager tool, it’s possible the drive was formatted or partitioned in a way that affected its performance. Upgrading to a 32 GB or 64 GB SSD could definitely improve speed and reliability, especially for a Windows setup. It’s definitely feasible if you’re comfortable with the process.
If your primary storage is an SSD, simply remove the cache drive from the PC or turn it off in BIOS—it won’t make a difference. Even with an HDD, setting up RAID through Intel Rapid Storage controller isn’t really beneficial. Windows 10 already boots quickly, so adding a cache offers minimal improvement. I wouldn’t bother configuring it. You can upgrade to a bigger SSD instead, as it’s a standard M.2 unit. For Windows installation, you’ll need at least 64GB of space. In this scenario, you’d mount the SSD as your main drive and install Windows there.
It sounds like you're considering switching to a larger SSD for better performance, especially if you plan to boot Windows there. This can definitely improve speed and responsiveness. Regarding the cache, it should still function after installing Windows 10, though performance gains may vary depending on your system configuration. Since this was set up by Lenovo, they might have some guidance or tips for optimizing it.
Thanks for the help, this will be helpful. For a few weeks my PC kept showing a message asking me to activate Windows. It came pre-installed, so I checked the motherboard key and tried using it, but it didn’t work. I talked to Microsoft and Lenovo, but they kept blaming each other and didn’t help much. Fortunately, as a student, buying a Windows 10 key is inexpensive for me.
Yes, it’s straightforward to configure and offers good value for the cost.