Windows 10: Upgrading to SSD from HDD thinking Clean install of Windows 10

Hello Everyone,

I just bought a new Solid State Drive that should be here Monday. I'm thinking about doing a clean install for my Windows 10 but I'm not sure how I can do this. I cannot find the email where I purchased Windows 10 and I'm not sure what email I used at that time. I do know when I go to my setting > Updates and Security > Activation... it shows "Windows is activated with a digital license linked to your Microsoft account". I do know how to get into my Microsoft account but I'm not showing Windows 10 in the recent purchases and this is the account that is setup on my laptop. What do I do to be able to do a clean install without the disk or ISO file?

I also know I can clone my current HDD and have it copied over to the new SSD but I wanted to make sure I get rid of all the junk files that maybe on my hard drive if I do it this way.

What way would be the best way to do this?

Laptop Info:
Toshiba Satellite
Factory OS was Windows 8.1
Upgraded to Windows 10 later
16.0 GB ram
1 TB HDD Toshiba
(New - Getting Monday) 1 TB SSD Samsung

Thanks,
Veronica

:)

 

windows 10 clean install product key

Upgrade from W7 to W10 on old HDD and clean install on new SSD?

I just purchased a new dell computer with Windows 7 Pro installed on a HDD.

I want to change the HDD to a SSD and upgrade from W7 to W10.

I want to do a clean install of W10 on the new SSD and install the appropriate device drivers.

It is my understanding that before I do a clean install on an empty drive I first need to upgrade to Windows 10 from an activated install of Windows 7, then when I do the clean install I can leave the product key blank and the clean install will still activate
successfully?

My question has to do with the new SSD. The Dell computer is brand new .
Can I do the Window 7 to Windows 10 upgrade on the old drive HDD and then put in the new SSD and do a clean install, or do I need to change the HDD to the SSD before doing the upgrade? which would then require than wiping the new SSD to do a clean install?

I would like to save the step of copying the Dell HDD image to the new SSD prior doing the upgrade, but I'm concerned that by upgrading on one drive and than trying to auto-activate on a new drive might result in an activation issue.

 

Changing drive after free upgrade.

My parents have an old Dell Inspiron 15R and I'm thinking of upgrading the HDD to an SSD.

The laptop was upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 Home Premium (OEM, from Dell) during the free upgrade period.

My question is, will Windows 10 activate on the computer if I do a clean install?

(Clean install will be done using a USB install disk created using the Media Creation Tool)

 

Welcome to TenForums @SunWers

Your digital license means you can do a clean install of the same edition of Windows 10 as you had before (Home or Pro) and, if asked for a key, skip entering one by clicking 'I don't have one'. As soon as the PC can contact Microsoft's activation servers it will activate automatically from your existing digital license.

You may not even get asked which edition to install or to give a key. Setup may detect the Windows 8.1 key embedded in your Toshiba's firmware and use that.

You can make the media to install windows 10 using Microsoft's Media Creation Tool, either as an ISO file or, probably of more use here, use the MCT to make a bootable USB.

Download Windows 10 ISO File

 

When I've done a clean install, usually with the MCT/Media Creators Tool USB Thumb drive or with a DVD created from the .iso, I've gotten the Activation when either it was connected to the 'net during install or at first bootup after plugging in the cable or getting a Wi-Fi connection to the active Router. Or there is a place in Settings where one can start. It didn't seem to be important whether using a Microsoft Account or Local Account.

 

No, it doesn't matter. The license is tied to a unique hardware ID for your PC, you will be pleased to know that the HDD is not part of this hardware ID, so you are free to upgrade it.

For a clean install I would recommend always setting up the first account as a local account, that way you can control the name given to your user folder. If you use your MS account to set up the PC you have no choice, your user folder gets the first five characters from your email address.

Set up a local account in a name of your choosing, then switch it to your MS account after you have signed in.

Switch to Microsoft Account in Windows 10

 

Depending on what brand of SSD you bought there should be data migration software to move the OS from your existing drive to the SSD.

I've done this a few times with Samsung SSD's using the Samsung Data Migration software with no problems at all. Install the drive manufacturers data migration program, connect the new SSD to a USB port using the adapter cable, run the migration, swap the drives, boot the computer with the new drive.

At that point if you still feel you need to, go ahead and do a clean install. By doing it that way there should be no activation issues, there shouldn't be any anyway since you've got the digital license. Once you're running from an SSD you may find everything is fine as far as any performance issues.

 

THANK YOU for reminding me of just what steps to take using the Samsung software. It's been a long time since I did this for my old windows 7 system. I am waiting on delivery of a new computer with W10Pro. My idea is to migrate the current OS installed on a small SSD 250G drive to my larger Samsung SSD 850 Pro drive, then replace. The only thing I'm not certain of is how the SSD is physically installed in the Dell XPS 8920. I watched a Youtube video where it looked like it was hanging on an inside wall of the case, it didn't look like it was in a sleeve or a holder of any sort. So, will have to wait until it gets here and see if I think it's something I can handle. If not, then I guess I'll just use the larger SSD as the secondary drive, replacing the 2TB hard drive that is now set up as a secondary storage drive.

Either way, I do want to make an image of the clean OS as a backup before I begin to install software. Thanks again for your helpful comments.

 

It will be very easy to do the exchange, no matter how it`s installed *Smile

Just take your time and don`t break anything.

 

If its a 2.5" SSD it is no different than any other 2.5" hard drive, you can buy a 3.5 to 2.5 adapter some of them set up to hold 2 SSD's, if your currently on a 32 Bit system I would clean install to 64-bit system
The adapters usually come with the required screws, this is important since normal hard drive screws are the same thread the 2.5 drives ones are only about half of the length standard screws

 

I use that one in my C70 *Smile

 

AFAIK there is no discernible size difference in relation to 250G or an 850G, I've got mine in an adapter mounted in one of the drive bays. You could do that, those are easy enough to install, a few screws for the SSD, a few more for the adapter in the drive bay, easy-peasy.

The video where it appears the SSD is just hanging there could be how it actually is, they're very lightweight, don't really generate much heat so it could just be hanging loose on the cable.

I wouldn't do that, but some might, I've heard of people using tape, velcro, or just tucking it in in a convenient spot inside their box.

Using your 850G as the OS drive, the big HDD for storage you've now got a spare 250G SSD. If you didn't have any use for it right away, after you do the transfer and get the 850G set up, just set it to the side. You've got a hard backup, any failure you can just reinstall the 250G and you're back up.

 

And most 3.5" hard drive trays today have a design where it has 4 holes already there and all you have to do is screw the ssd down to it. That is if you can spare that hard drive bay, and if the ssd comes with screws, most don`t.

If not Velcro is fine and you can put it where ever you want, I just used a 3/4" square piece to hold my new 860 on top of the hard drive cage.

 

Did the same in November. SSD drive came with srews and purchased the 3.5" to 2.5" adapter separately(8$).

Didn't do anything special, on the first boot machine went directly in the Win 10 flash drive. Clean Install took about 10 minutes.