SSD Upgrade

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  1. whs
    Posts : 1,935
    Windows 7
       #11

    I don't think you need a tutorial. Installing on a SSD is the same as installing on any old disk.

    A different question is activation.. You should have a Windows product key on the COA sticker of your Envy. If you install the system version which is specified there, then you can use that key. For any other Windows version you would have to buy a key.
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  2. Posts : 2
    10
       #12

    OK thanks all, I'll look for product key and copy drivers just in case.
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  3. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #13

    jbdiesellife said:
    I have a Dell laptop that was preloaded with Win10. I'm getting ready to upgrade from the 1TB HDD to a 500GB SSD. What is the best way to migrate (or install) Win10 to the new SSD?

    Thanks!
    Assuming you've already downloaded Windows 10 installation media from: Windows 10 Download - Tech Bench and put it in a USB stick.

    Since you've already have Windows 10 on the 1TB HD. First, save all the drivers currently installed to a USB stick so that you can restore all of them in one sweep:
    OPTION 1:
    Download Driver 4.1 Backup Download . Unzip and run to backup all current drivers in your PC to a USB stick and later on you can restore from it, saving the trouble of having to re-install every single driver.

    OPTION 2:
    Use Windows built in DISM command. Open Admin Command Prompt. Copy and paste the lines below and run. It will save all the drivers to a folder: X:\Drivers, NOTE: X is the drive letter of your USB stick,
    md X:\Drivers
    Dism /Online /Export-Driver /Destination:X:\Drivers
    @echo Done

    Now, disconnect the 1TB HD and connect your 500GB SSD with Internet cable plugged in and perform a fresh, clean install. You need not to make any backup since you've already have everything in the 1TB HD in case things go wrong, just re-connect your HD and you're back to normal.

    Your PC will run a lot smoother without all the bloatware, trial software, Antivirus junk etc... and most important is the partition scheme will be correctly organized, this will avoid problem with future update/upgrade.

    After the Windows Installation, run the program again to restore all the drivers to the SSD, run Windows Updates then it's time to make the first backup image of your clean install using Macrium Reflect Free

    GWZee said:
    Hi I'm in the process of a similar upgrade and have a question. New HP Envy that has windows 10 installed. I have a new SDD that I'm going to install. I'd rather do a clean install vs cloning the HDD. Which tutorial do you recommend? I don't think I have a product key? Will I be able to connect to the net and have windows automatically see that it's valid? Sorry for the noob Qs...
    Follow the step above to save the drivers. You don't really need any tutorial. Here's the steps to do a clean install:

    1. In the BIOS, disable Secure Boot if enabled then boot up the Installation Media with only the SSD you intend to install Windows connected.
    2. On the first screen, press <SHIFT> + F10 to open the command prompt then type:
      diskpart
      select disk 0
      clean
      exit
    3. Continue with the installation, select custom, select the unallocated partition, click Next (do not create partition/format)
    4. When ask to enter the product key, click on "Skip this step" or "Do it Later"
    5. Once done, windows should be activated automatically.
    6. Restore the drivers.


    Last edited by topgundcp; 29 Dec 2015 at 00:48.
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  4. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #14

    topgundcp said:
    saving the trouble of having to re-install every single driver.
    It only takes a few minutes to do this, and you are guaranteed to have the latest each time.
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  5. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #15

    DeaconFrost said:
    If your current Windows 10 is showing as activated, then you won't have any trouble with a clean install activating, either. I would have at least the chipset and network drivers downloaded to a USB flash drive first, so you can easily reconnect to the Internet after the clean install.
    If I remove the old Windows 10 HDD, install a new SSD and clean install Windows 10 on the new SSD then I should still have an activated version of Windows 10 - is that correct? What happens if I then reinstall the old Windows 10 HDD - will Windows 10 still be activated?
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  6. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #16

    Steve C said:
    If I remove the old Windows 10 HDD, install a new SSD and clean install Windows 10 on the new SSD then I should still have an activated version of Windows 10 - is that correct? What happens if I then reinstall the old Windows 10 HDD - will Windows 10 still be activated?
    Correct on both questions.
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  7. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #17

    topgundcp said:
    Correct on both questions.
    When I swap between the Windows 10 installations on the HDD & SSD (on the same laptop/PC), does Windows 10 reactivate each time the disk is replaced or are both disk installations independently recorded by Microsoft as activated? It's good to know I can clean install on a new SSD but still go back to the old installation for temporary use if the SSD installation needs to be fixed.
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  8. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #18

    Steve C said:
    When I swap between the Windows 10 installations on the HDD & SSD (on the same laptop/PC), does Windows 10 reactivate each time the disk is replaced or are both disk installations independently recorded by Microsoft as activated? It's good to know I can clean install on a new SSD but still go back to the old installation for temporary use if the SSD installation needs to be fixed.
    The only thing that requires re-activation is if you replace the Mother Board. Any other devices such as SSD/HD/DVD etc... are OK.
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  9. Posts : 7,871
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       #19

    topgundcp said:
    The only thing that requires re-activation is if you replace the Mother Board. Any other devices such as SSD/HD/DVD etc... are OK.
    Is this activation done on the fly each time you run the PC or is the activation stored in a file on disk or the registry? I'm guessing an activation file or registry reference must be written to the new SSD when Windows 10 is first clean installed - is that correct? The original HDD already has an activated copy of Windows 10 for the same PC so I guess that already has an activation file / registry entry?
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  10. Posts : 3,453
       #20

    Steve C said:
    Is this activation done on the fly each time you run the PC or is the activation stored in a file on disk or the registry? I'm guessing an activation file or registry reference must be written to the new SSD when Windows 10 is first clean installed - is that correct? The original HDD already has an activated copy of Windows 10 for the same PC so I guess that already has an activation file / registry entry?
    Yes, digital entitlement is stored in the file: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\ClipSVC\tokens.dat as a store licence.
    There are registry (WPA key) dependencies as well though, that store the encrypted hash of the licencing files.
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