Reinstalling windows

Question

I have a very old drive in my PC which has windows installed on it. I’d like to completely take the drive out of my PC and put my windows on a SSD. I am fine with wiping my whole PC. I also have a windows 10 key and usb from awhile ago.

Answer 1

I have a very old drive in my PC which has windows installed on it. I’d like to completely take the drive out of my PC and put my windows on a SSD. I am fine with wiping my whole PC. I also have a windows 10 key and usb from awhile ago.

install windows

Answer 2

Hello, Nicholas Andrasi

Welcome to the Microsoft community.

Thank you for your feedback. I understand that you want to move Windows 10 from your old HDD to a new SSD or M.2 storage device. Here are the detailed steps and considerations.

How to: Perform a Custom Installation of Windows 11 and Windows 10 - Microsoft Community

Preparation

Back up important data: Since reinstalling Windows 10 will likely involve formatting the disk, make sure you have backed up all your important data.

Ensure the hardware is properly connected: Make sure the new SSD or M.2 has been properly installed in your computer and can be recognized by the BIOS.

Steps

Create a Windows 10 bootable installation media:

If you already have a Windows 10 installation USB, you can skip this step.

Download Windows 10

Otherwise, you can use Microsoft's media creation tool to create a bootable Windows 10 installation USB.

Setup BIOS/UEFI:

Reboot your computer and enter BIOS/UEFI setup (usually by pressing F2, F10, DEL).

Set the USB as the first boot item.

Save and exit BIOS/UEFI setup.

Install Windows 10:

Insert the Windows 10 installation USB and restart the computer.

The computer will boot from the USB and enter the Windows 10 installation screen.

Select the language, time, and keyboard settings and click Next.

Click Install Now.

Enter your Windows 10 product key (if required).

Accept the license terms and click Next.

Select “Customize: Install Windows only (Advanced)”.

Select the installation location:

In the Disk Selection screen, locate your SSD or M.2 drive (usually shows as “Unallocated Space”).

Select your new SSD or M.2 as the installation location and click Next.

Windows will begin the installation, which may take some time.

Finish the installation:

Once the installation is complete, the system will automatically reboot and the USB will be unplugged.

Continue to complete the initial setup of Windows 10, including creating user accounts, network configuration, and so on.

Additional Notes

Data Migration: If necessary, you can reconnect the old HDD to the system after the installation is complete, copy the data and then format the old hard disk.

Driver Installation: After the installation is complete, it is recommended to download and install the latest drivers via Windows Update or the manufacturer's website to ensure optimal system performance.

Disposing of the Old HDD

Formatting the old HDD: After confirming that important data has been migrated, you can use File Explorer or Disk Management tool to format the old HDD to free up storage space.

By following the steps above, you should be able to smoothly move Windows 10 from your old HDD to a new SSD or M.2 drive and get faster system performance.

I look forward to your feedback.

Best Regards,

Aaron| Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Answer 3

I have an old HDD which Windows 10 is currently installed on. I’d like to move windows to my SSD or M.2. I have a windows 10 usb and key that I purchased when I built my PC. Can I just unplug my HDD I want to get rid of and plug in the usb and boot from that? Also, will doing so wipe my PC clean?

Answer 4

I have a M.2 as well. It’s currently on a HDD from about 2009

Answer 5

If you think an ssd is going to result in better real world performance - think on :(