Clean install of windows 11 on SSD (current OS on HDD)

Hi,

I am going through the exact process right now. However I keep getting an error. Would you be able to help? I thought it's best to post here than creating a new thread.

I am quite puzzled by this. I have a desktop PC that is currently running Windows 11. This PC upgraded to Windows 11 from Windows 10, following the recommendation of Microsoft to only update to Windows 11 when prompted to do so.

Now, after using Windows 11 for a while, I decided I wanted to do a clean installation of windows. The main motivation behind this was to install windows on a new SSD that I bought and since I have had some driver issues recently I thought it was a good chance to start clean.

I built a USB installation media using the Microsoft tool and I went through the installation as described here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/reinstall-windows-d8369486-3e33-7d9c-dccc-859e2b022fc7

[I have done fresh installations of windows 7 & 10 a few times before but after (spoiler alert) failing on my first try with Windows 11 I decided to check the article above. During that first try the only difference that I saw was the way I booted up the USB drive using the motherboard menu rather than the Windows Advanced Restart.]

After I selected the Windows version that I wanted to install. I got an error saying "This PC can't run Windows 11" followed by a link to the Windows 11 Requirements.

I thought this is weird as my computer was already running Windows 11 and it had been upgraded automatically from Windows 10. I went through the UEFI menu and I saw that Secure Boot was disabled. I enabled it and tried again, but I keep getting the same message.

Note: TPM2.0 UEFI Spec Version is set to TCG_2 in the UEFI menu.

For reference, I am trying to install Windows 11 Pro, but I did an attempt with the Home version and got the same result.

Also, I used this very same computer to create the USB Installation Media and selected to use the recommended settings for this computer.

I am stuck here and I couldn't find any info on this.

My PC configuration:

CPU: Ryzen 5 2600

MB: ASRock B450M Pro4

RAM: 2X8GB (Corsair 178300 Vengeance)

GPU: RX 6700

Current Windows Installation Drive: Sata SSD (SanDisk SSD Plus)

Installation Drive to be Used: M2 SSD (Samsung 970 EVO Plus)

TL;DR

PC already runs Windows 11 after official upgrade from Windows 10. Message "This PC can't run Windows 11" shows up during fresh installation from USB Installation Media

Hi Tenzin Kalden,

I am Dave, I will help you with this.

1

Clean installing Windows is a big job, and if you have not done that previously, it may be best to get someone there to help you.

The full steps to clean install Windows can be found on this link:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/for...

2

Basically these are the steps.

You first need to backup all your personal files first

Click this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-downlo...

to download the Media Creation Tool and use that to create a bootable Windows 11 USB on an empty 8GB USB Flash Drive

Then, Boot your PC from the Installation Media you just created (change Boot Order in your BIOS) to begin installing Windows 11

The method to boot form a SB varies from PC to PC, it would be best to check the manual for your PC on how to do that.

During the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 11 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue.

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the reply. I have some questions,

1. After installing the SSD, do I need to change something in bios or will it automatically show the drive?
2. I have HDD in my system and a SSD slot ( Sata M.2). I am planning to use both. In order to boot windows from the SSD, do I need to delete the previous windows in the HDD?
3. Will the files in HDD get formatted or will they remain untouched? I have created 2 partitions in my HDD, one for OS and another for personal files. Is it ok to delete only the partition containing the OS?
4. What is the most important thing to keep in mind?

2. I have HDD in my system and a SSD slot ( Sata M.2). I am planning to use both. In order to boot windows from the SSD, do I need to delete the previous windows in the HDD?

Add to other given instructions:

Disconnect old HDD before doing clean install to SSD. If you don't do that it will create dual boot system and all boot information is located to that old HDD.

When new OS is installed to SSD you can reconnect old HDD, but go to BIOS and make sure that SSD is set to first boot device.

a) Backup files manually to another disk drive or the cloud

b) Clean install Windows 11 on the SSD

c) Install drivers displayed on the computer, motherboard, or component manufacturer websites

d) Install applications

e) Manually restore files

f) Clean the HD for storage

1. Find a flash drive that you can format (> or = 8 GB)
2. Create a bootable Windows 11 Media Creation Tool (MCT) (Windows 11 iso)

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/download-official-windows-11-iso-file-from-microsoft.1009/

https://www.microsoft.com/software-download/windows11

3. Boot to the MCT
4. Perform a clean install of Windows 11 on the SSD

https://www.elevenforum.com/t/clean-install-windows-11.99/

5. Install drivers displayed on the computer, motherboard, or component manufacturer websites
6. Install applications
7. Restore files from the backed up source
8. Open administrative command prompt and type or copy and paste:

diskpart

lis dis

lis vol

sel dis W (replace the letter W with disk number of the HD)

det dis (confirm that it is the hard drive)

Type:

ctrl + a

ctrl + c

Paste into this thread typing:

ctrl + v

9. Commands can be posted to delete only the Windows partitions and maintain the storage portion

There are no BIOS settings that need modification, however upgrade the BIOS to the most up to date non-beta BIOS.

Consider making free backup images and saving the images to another disk drive or the cloud.

(Acronis, Aoemi, EaseUS, Macrium, Paragon, etc.)