Yes, after cloning Windows, it should function properly if everything is set up correctly.
Yes, after cloning Windows, it should function properly if everything is set up correctly.
So I’m duplicating my Windows 10 installation onto a brand-new SSD I just got. I’ve already prepared the Windows Media Creation Tool and backed up my system on an external drive. My main concern is that after cloning, when I start from the new SSD, it should still identify all my previous HDDs and read everything correctly, without issues. Right now I have three drives: one for games, one for general data, and another for recordings and editing files. I’d prefer it so Steam can recognize its own libraries on the HDDs again, rather than having problems like that. Generally I’m fine with a fresh Windows setup, but cloning and reinstalling nearly 2TB of data would be a hassle.
Even if the other drive doesn't have the Steam library installed, you can still set up libraries through Steam. This is the method I used when I reinstalled Windows. I moved my games to a secondary disk, and then when installing Steam, I simply indicated the location of my games, and it usually located them correctly. To be clear, reinstalling Windows doesn't impact data on other drives. In fact, it's best to disconnect all other drives from the system during installation so Windows can place boot files there without interference.
Steam previously warned me about adding empty libraries, which was an issue before I reinstalled Windows without cloning. I accidentally damaged a drive with some boot files, causing the PC to repeatedly ask which Windows version to start. It was frustrating, but I wasn’t sure if it would affect my other drives or require re-partitioning or formatting. I plan to try cloning first and appreciate the reassurance! @Donut417
A few observations came up. Cloning the Windows drive means you don’t need the media creation tool at all. It’s not a fresh install—it simply copies everything over without changes. Yes, it works perfectly. Also, I’ve done this multiple times; my Steam files remained completely intact. Steam can’t detect a cloned drive, so it functions just like the original.
I haven't installed Windows from scratch since 2012 on my gaming PC. I've mostly done in-place upgrades and cloned to new SSDs. Now I'm three generations of hardware in, with four generations of GPU—no need to reinstall Windows anymore. It's just a hassle to reconfigure everything these days. Usually, I use Clonezilla and disconnect any extra disks during cloning and the first boot. Once running, I check Disk Management to confirm everything is fine. Off memory, I used EaseUS to tidy up my partition layout, then unplugged the old SSD to verify it's working without it. I keep my old SSD in its original condition for about a month before discarding or selling it.