Windows 10: Upgraded to Win10 in old HDD - Now want to do clean install in new SSD

Hi All,

I successfully upgraded from Win 8.1 to Win 10 (both Pro 64-bit) in PC's old HDD. Now I want do a clean install on a brand new SSD. I have a few questions before I buy the SSD.

1. First off, is it possible to do a clean install of Win 10 in the new SSD especially after I upgraded from Win 8.1 to Win 10 in the old HDD?

2. If 1 is possible, then at any point do I need to enter the Win 10 license key? I have used a Win 10 license key viewing tool to find out what it is.

3. Should I use the Win 10 Media Creation tool to create the ISO or just download an untouched Win 10 Pro 64 bit ISO, burn it to a DVD and do a straightforward install?

3. What happens to the Win 10 in the old HDD? Does it get deactivated on its own?

Thanks!

:)

 

Upgraded to Win10 in old HDD - Now want to do clean install in new SSD

1-Yes (After upgrading)

2-there is not direct ISO so you have to use the media creation tool

3-There should be no need for a key simply skip the step where it asks for one.

4-No the old win 10 does not get "deactivated" on its own

Good Luck

 

Upgraded to Win10 in old HDD - Now want to do clean install in new SSD

Hi Tamzed,

Thank you for posting in Microsoft Community and your interest in Windows 10. We understand your concern. We are happy to help and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Regards,

 

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Yes, create ISO
3. (S/B 4.) Nothing. You can probably boot either and it will work but legally you should only use theone on teh SSD when ready.

 

I'm not sure that Win 10 key you found is useful. It's likely a generic key and NOT a unique key and not needed from here on out.

You could try to do the clean to the SSD while the HDD is still installed. I don't know how that will work out.

But--worst case scenario: you should be able to clone or image the existing Win 10 upgrade install on the HDD to the SSD using something like Macrium or maybe the cloning software included with the SSD and then do a clean directly from the SSD, with the HDD disconnected.

Re question 3: I assume either would work, as long as you create a bootable DVD when you burn the downloaded ISO.

 

All Win 10 upgrade keys are the same - generic. You will not have to enter a key when you do a clean install. If it asks you for one then you are trying to install a version different that you upgraded to.

 

Hi guys, thanks for your replies.

So even though the upgrade key is generic, when I remove the existing HDD and attach the new SSD and boot the PC, wont MS just think that I am just trying to intall a new Win 10 Pro OS on a new SSD drive by using the generic key? In other words, will they think I am doing something illegal since I will be having 2 drives (HDD & SSD) with Win 10 Pro?

Thanks.

 

You are not legally allowed to have the free Windows 10 upgrade installed more than once on a system. If you clean install to the SSD then you should remove the HDD with Win 10 on it.

How or if MS tracks this I have no idea.

 

So it seems I won't be able to do a clean install on an new SSD even if I remove Win 10 from old HDD..

Only solution I was given is cloning or imging the Win 10 install drive from old HDD to the new SSD. But that is not also tried and tested.

 

I may be wrong but I believe they said it could be possible to use the new SSD so long you remove the old hdd first. From what I been reading the validation key is tied to the motherboard not hdd. Since you already activated you would just skip over the screen about entering the product key when installing onto the new SSD. I would give it a try, worst case just reinsert you're old hdd and be back up and running. I was thinking about doing the same thing, upgrading on existing hdd then clean install on a new SSD. Let us know if it works!

 

You can clean install to the SSD, just disconnect the HDD. Once the SSD is done and activated reconnect the HDD, copy whatever you want off it then format it and use as a data disk.

When you upgrade from 7 or 8.1 to 10 you are giving that key up for as long as you have Windows 10 installed. If you remove Windows 10 you can reinstall or re-image the original OS and it will remain activated.

 

Hi Ztrucker, thanks for the advice. Just one question, when you say "You can clean install to the SSD, just disconnect the HDD." how will Win 10 be activated? should I be connected to the internet during the install or do an offline install?

Thanks!

 

I've seen mention of a key a few times, when I get the go ahead from MS, will the key be included in the email?

 

When you do the free upgrade from within your old OS, it ties the key to your motherboard, at least from newer UEFI 8.1 PC's.

 

ok thanks. I have official os versions so should not be a problem.

I have a hybrid HDD and an HDD in mine.