Windows 10: Clean install of 10 on new SSD

I am about to get a new 240Gb SSD and have been advised to clean install Windows 10 on it. This SSD will replace a SATA HDD in my existing computer running Windows 8.1. I know that I qualify for the free upgrade; I have the "Get 10" icon on my task bar.

My first question is, can I get the 10 installation media without buying it and if so, how?

Do I need to upgrade the computer to 10 before replacing the OS hard drive with the new SSD and clean installing?

I'm not very knowledgeable about these processes so I apologize if my language is incorrect. If somebody could give me a step by step process guide to achieve this, I would be most grateful.

:)

 

Clean install of windows 10 OS on new SSD-best procedure for eliminating current windwos 10 OS on old hard drive

Don't try to copy the old OS from the HDD, it is much better to clean install Windows 10 on the SSD

If you do not have Windows 10 Installation Media Click HERE to download the Media Creation Tool (Click
on Download Tool Now), with that you can download the latest Windows 10 ISO (Select Create Installation Media for Another PC), you can create a bootable USB flash drive (min 4GB) using that tool or create the ISO file which you can later burn to DVD

Once you have the bootable installation media created:

• Shut down your system. remove the old HDD and install the SSD (there should be only the SSD attached to your system during the installation process)
• Insert the Bootable Installation Media
• Go into your BIOS and if SATA Mode is not set to AHCI, change it
• Change the boot order so the Installation Media is top of the boot order
• Save changes to BIOS and Reboot your system
• The Installation should start
• During the installation process skip the steps which ask for a product key and select the option 'I am Reinstalling Windows 10 on this PC', and activation will not be an issue, your PC will have a digital entitlement
  stored on the Microsoft Servers
• During the installation process, your system will reboot, at that point, you may need to go into your BIOS and change the boot order so your system boots from your Hard Drive, otherwise the installation may start all over again -
  do not remove the installation media at this point
• When Window 10 has finished installing and the desktop appears, shut your system down
• If you have a second HDD bay install the old HDD into it and start your system
• Make sure you can see both drives in Windows File Explorer, if not you may need to restart a couple of times for Windows to recognise both drives
• Install any required drivers (can be obtained from the support page on the Website of the manufacturer of your system
• When your system is up and running,

• copy your data (files, images, music . . . etc.) from the old HDD into a temporary folder in the SSD
• format the old HDD and name it Data Drive
• copy the files back onto the old HDD
• Delete the temporary folder from the SSD

That's It!

 

Clean install of Windows 10 on new SSD w/o data migration from a previous hdd

Thank you again Andre. Your help is much appreciated.

 

Hello Canuck, and welcome to Ten Forums. *Smile

Yes, you'll need to upgrade to the free Windows 10 offer on your activated Windows 8.1 PC first to register the Windows 10 activation on the Microsoft activation servers for your PC.

Afterwards, you'll be able to clean install on the PC.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/2...tallation.html

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/1...n-install.html

 

Download from Microsoft here: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/9...-download.html

Yes, after you've upgraded your PC will be activated. When you clean install skip the points where you're asked for a product key and your PC will get automatically activated when its finished.

 

I recommend swapping in the new SSD, or any other hardware upgrades, while still on Windows 8.1, then upgrade to Windows 10 to avoid any complications activating Windows 10 if you later choose to perform a clean install. A clean installed Windows 10 will be expecting the same hardware as what you received the free upgrade. With all that said you still should be able to re-activate (if you later choose to clean install) via calling Microsoft if there are any problems since its perfectly reasonable to upgrade/install a new SSD. Most probably would prefer not having any reason to call Microsoft to re-activate so thats why I offer my above recommendation.

 

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