What is the best way to reinstall windows?

[Hirschi]

Hey everybody, I'm a little new to PC building and I have a question. I have windows 10 installed on a 240Gb SSD, and I'm upgrading my processor RAM and motherboard to the X470 platform. I'm guessing I'm going to need a new Windows install. So this is my question. Once I install my new parts do I just use a USB with windows on it to install over the old one or is there some other way it needs to be done?

[Mobmaker55]

@Hirschi, before you upgrade, just download the necessary drivers for your RAM and Motherboard. Don't run them yet. Then, upgrade and just pop in the SSD. Run the drivers for your devices now, and voila! Up and running, at least that is what I did after upgrading from AMD to Intel.

[jde3]

Ideally if you want a fresh copy install you should blank the drives partition table out. That will allow windows to recreate fresh and new recovery partitions.

 

How to go about that? idk windows is a confusing OS.

[ARikozuM]

Note: I'm assuming you're moving from one chipset to another. 

Since you're moving to a new board you should focus on clean installing Windows. BACKUP YOUR DATA!!! Get Windows 10 onto a USB drive, delete all of the partitions on the disk you're looking to install to, and create the drive for the OS. 

 

2nd note: You're going to want to grab your network and chipset drivers and add those to the USB drive so that you're not left without internet access. 

[Drak3]

Move all of your pictures, videos, documents, and music to another HDD/SSD/Large thumbdrive

Download network and graphics drivers, put them on the same drive as your personal data

Create a list of programs use (except Intel specific stuff), maybe download those installers (Ninite.com can help make this faster) and put them on that same drive (if you have a laptop, you can also do this while Windows is installing)

 

Reinstall Windows.

[uzivkovic97]

Backup you data, Download network drivers, wipe your HDD/SSD and then make a bootable USB with OS you want and install it.

[Hirschi]

3 minutes ago, uzivkovic97 said:

Backup you data, Download network drivers, wipe your HDD/SSD and then make a bootable USB with OS you want and install it.

How do I wipe the drive?

[uzivkovic97]

5 minutes ago, Hirschi said:

How do I wipe the drive?

I don't know is it allowed to put link to other websites here. 

Just type ''How to wipe hard drive'' in your browser.

[ARikozuM]

9 minutes ago, Hirschi said:

How do I wipe the drive?

You don't have to do this as Windows will format before installing. 

 

If you still want to clean/wipe the drive: 

Boot into your Windows USB,

Find the option to start Command Prompt,

type "diskpart",

type "list disk",

type "select disk #" where # equals the actual number of the drive,

type "clean all override". This will delete AND zero all bits on the drive. Data recovery will be impossible without a third-party recovery service.