Need Help With New SSD

[Christianm916]

When I built my rig I had a hard drive before I was able to purchase my m.2 SSD, and so my boot drive currently my hard drive and I want to migrate my OS to my m.2, I am unsure how to and don't want to mess up my boot files, let me know what to do. Thanks!

 

[Viper9]

The best way to do it would be to backup your files, clean install Windows on your SSD and format your hard drive. 

 

But if you really want to clone your drive you can use this tool: Macrium Software | Reflect Free Edition

[Darkwing Drex]

Back up your files and format your drive from bios. Then clean reinstall windows.

[Christianm916]

The only thing I am worried about is my windows key resetting and paying for another one, I haven't looked too much into it and just want to make sure before I go and do a fresh install and I need to buy another key

[Darkwing Drex]

If you registered your copy of windows, it shouldn't matter. Just log in when you're prompted during installation. It will recognize your PC automatically. The key is bound to your MoBo, if i remember correctly.

[Christianm916]

Ah I see I'll give it a shot, should I just do a fresh install off a flash drive, or through the windows settings?

[Daethz]

1 hour ago, Christianm916 said:

The only thing I am worried about is my windows key resetting and paying for another one, I haven't looked too much into it and just want to make sure before I go and do a fresh install and I need to buy another key

log in with the same windows account your logged into now.

It should have the key binded to your motherboard and saved online and should auto-activate.

Atleast the last half dozen times I reinstalled Win10 fresh it did.

[Daethz]

1 hour ago, Christianm916 said:

Ah I see I'll give it a shot, should I just do a fresh install off a flash drive, or through the windows settings?

I don't think you can reinstall on a different drive through the windows settings.

 

If i was doing it I would delete everything on the drives, wipe all the partitions, and allow windows installer (from the USB) to re-partition the ssd ittself (making sure to actually select the ssd instead of a different drive)

(and then repartition all secondary drives directly from windows when your booted up through the in-windows partition manager)

 

Reminder to back up any files you don't want to permanently lose if you do this.

[Christianm916]

6 hours ago, Daethz said:

I don't think you can reinstall on a different drive through the windows settings.

 

If i was doing it I would delete everything on the drives, wipe all the partitions, and allow windows installer (from the USB) to re-partition the ssd ittself (making sure to actually select the ssd instead of a different drive)

(and then repartition all secondary drives directly from windows when your booted up through the in-windows partition manager)

 

Reminder to back up any files you don't want to permanently lose if you do this.

Yea that’s what I did I don’t have too much on the pc as is so I wiped it and reinstalled everything and it’s running off my ssd and my pc boots in a quarter of the time thanks