I'm currently running Windows 8.1 on my laptop however I want to upgrade to Windows 10 on a new 250gb SSD that I've just bought. What would be the best way to do this?
Would I need to backup all my data, create a Windows 8 bootable USB, install Windows 8 on the SSD, put all my data onto this hard drive and then go through the Windows 10 upgrade process or is there a simpler way?
Thanks,
Tom
Sounds like you already figured it out.
There's no 'easy' way to do what you want to do.
Create a disc image of your HDD as a back up,
then install 8.1 to the new SSD drive,
make sure it's 'activated',
upgrade to Windows 10,
(Choose the option to keep your programs and settings even though there won't be too much in the way of options and settings to keep!)
make sure it's 'activated',
then format and clean install to Windows 10,
it will activate automatically,
then reinstall your programs and files.
Simple, eh?
Last edited by teachermark; 02 Aug 2015 at 05:59.
Hi I did an upgrade Windows 7 to free Windows 10, registered and the used a app to show my installed product code for the newly installed Windows 10 .
Burnt iso Windows 10 to bvb. Installed a fresh w10 on a new drive keeping all my old stuff intact on the old drive, when installing it asked for the product code which I had and it works find so far.
Thanks for the help. So you'd recommend doing a clean install of Windows 10 rather than transferring all the data back onto Windows 8.1 and then doing an upgrade with files and settings?
Thanks,
Tom
It's VERY important that you upgrade your 8.1 before you ever do a clean install. This is because the upgrade is what will attach your existing license to Windows 10. If you miss this you will not get activated on a clean install.
I would do the upgrade on your current hard drive then you can do a clean install on the SSD.
Jim
That's not what I would do.
(I'm NOT saying that it won't work, but it might not.)
Every change of hardware (and the HDD / SSD is a significant piece of hardware) will lessen the chances of you being able to have your new Windows authenticated and activated.
If you have a licensed copy of Windows 8.1 then wait for your new drive, install it on that and follow my instructions above...
It's best to be sure.
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