Yes, you can create a separate partition for the Win 10 install media on the same hard drive.
Yes, you can create a separate partition for the Win 10 install media on the same hard drive.
In short: I just assembled my new PC. I don’t have an external device with Windows 10 installation media, or a setup that matches my motherboard’s needs. What I possess is an empty M.2 slot where I plan to fit a 16GB MP3 player using a USB 2.0 cable. It’s clean—just wiped it—and I’m running the Windows Media Creation Tool on it as I type. I also have an old laptop HDD that still works, though it holds outdated files. I’m using it as my boot drive because it already has Windows installed. I’m writing this from that old HDD connected to a SATA port on my new desktop, which recently got a brand-new SSD. The previous laptop’s hard drive is still there, but it’s fine for now. I don’t need the old files, but I’m using it as my primary boot source. I’m trying to figure out how to run Windows 10 media installation without any external drives or laptops that can handle it. I’m currently using a Chromebook from work, and the IT team has restricted all external USB storage to read-only. Changing that would risk my job. The MP3 player supports USB-to-SATA connections, but its speed is slow—about 6 MB/s—which makes the installation process drag on. The UEFI can see it, but when I try to boot it first, it says “no bootable media found.” Plugging and unplugging the USB 2.0 cable triggers a warning screen asking if I want to charge or play music. If I don’t act quickly, a brief power drop interrupts transfers, then resumes charging without further prompts. This is why I’m having trouble using it as boot media. My idea is to copy all files from the MP3 player once the tool finishes into a new 16GB partition on my laptop HDD (drive B). Should this work? Do I need to switch drive B to the active partition? I’m aware this carries risks—like making the HDD unusable if things go wrong. Still, I hope I can safely restart and access the installation media. If there’s another way with an active Windows drive, an MP3 player, and my M.2 drive, let me know. Edit: I just discovered a way to mount the Windows 10 ISO in Windows Explorer, which might be useful if it helps. https://www.indexofapps.com/how-to-insta...-partition
I’m familiar with setting up Windows on various systems, especially older ones. You mentioned using an old Windows 10 installation on a specific drive connected to your new PC. If that’s the case, you could clone the drive and perform a fresh install on the new M.2 slot. Alternatively, you might reset everything or restore from a recovery partition, depending on what you have available. Just avoid unnecessary changes to free space, and it should work smoothly. If needed, I can walk you through the steps in more detail.
Also, if you’re unsure about licensing, having a budget Windows 10 license would help. Let me know if you’d like further guidance.
I’m not familiar with disk cloning tools, especially given the mix of Intel+Nvidia laptops and AMD systems. The cloned disks seem complicated due to driver issues from past use. If the software lets you skip problematic elements, that might work. I revised my earlier comment to reflect this idea and checked a blog guide for similar steps. It looks promising—let me know if you’d like more details. Your setup doesn’t appear risky, as long as you follow the recommended method.
You tried several motherboard choices and ended up in the Windows 10 setup. I'm still figuring out which one you used, but I'll note it down for future reference. If everything works out, I'll mark this as answered.
In cloning, drivers aren't crucial as long as the system is refreshed after cloning and it's functioning properly. Avoiding the creation of a recovery partition helps save space, which Windows 10 typically doesn't need. Using tools like minitool partition wizard simplifies the process with guided steps. I didn't find the instructions you were looking for, but perhaps they were omitted. It's important to clarify that you're not setting up a recovery partition, based on what I understand. Edited March 7, 2021 by Wiebenor
Sorry, I underlined my edit to draw attention to it, but then hyperlinks are also automatically underlined, so skinning over it you couldn't see it, bc it looked like normal text. I will fix it, but for now here it is: https://www.indexofapps.com/how-to-insta...-partition
After reviewing the various installation options, the one you're thinking of is the #2 type. Once you install it on the new drive, just in case you mixed things up... There are more efficient methods for installing on a PC without CD/DVD drives. Ideally, keep a USB drive ready, and stick to using only thumb drives—only. Some motherboards have Sd-card readers, but not everyone has them or they function differently, which is why I focused on thumb drives exclusively. Most MP3 players won’t work either, since their design doesn’t support it. This was edited on March 7, 2021 by Wiebenor
Oh yeah I absolutely know this. I am just not at home right now, left my drive at home, and it is too far away for me to bother getting it. And where I am at currently the only USB thumb drive I can find has extremely confidential medical information on it that I am not to touch.
I possess a USB stick in my Ford Focus, allowing me to enjoy music without ads and easily replace it if needed. If I ever require another USB device but don’t have one, I’m happy to erase my music files specifically for that use. I’m not suggesting you do it, but it’s something I’m comfortable with. One thing I dislike is how hard it is today to find quality cases with CD drives, yet they still ship DVDs with their products. You’d expect USB support regardless of upgrading hardware—like adding a new motherboard or graphics card—to remain reliable. I recently purchased a USB drive just for this reason, since my case lacks a built-in DVD drive. Edited March 7, 2021 by Wiebenor
I did the same thing, having around 10GB of music on my MP3 player since it lasts longer than my phone. I cleared it (backing up all my music to OneDrive just in case) and ran the Windows 10 media creation tool, but my motherboard didn’t recognize it as boot media—it treated it like a storage drive.