Moving to Windows 10... finally

Hi, the normal case is that you install Win 10 to unallocated space. Assuming you're referring to a UEFI installation (MBR installs are different) 4 partitions should be created by the installation process.

As you can see, of them, only the Windows partition is allocated a drive letter.


You can create further partitions yourself once Win 10 is installed of course, and allocate them whatever letters you wish.

You can complete the installation without an internet connection, using e.g. a bootable flash drive you previously created using MS's media creation tool. (That's assuming you don't have an older machine in need of more specific drivers of course)

Once you boot up and log in, Windows Update will do the rest.

how should I partition the SSD before I install Windows 10?

Best not to worry about that- install Win 10, then create the other 2 partitions you want.


Want Windows on only 1 partition? For MBR see:
YouTube

UEFI- have a look at
YouTube

I've never tried this, perhaps others here will comment further. Nor do I have any idea how doing that affects the regular Windows feature updates (upgrades).

The way I would do it is to first create two partitions on the drive using a partition manager. First partition of 200GB and give it a letter then what's left partition it as letter 'P' say. Delete the first partition so that it becomes an unallocated space and install Windows to that. Check it's booting etc. You're now left with two partitions - C: and P: . You can now delete the P partition and use a partition manager to create your D: and E: partitions assuming you have no optical drive using the letter D:

Partition the drive AFTER you install windows, with Partition Wizard.

The Best Partitioning software on the planet

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

I should have added that to partition the new drive - first it would be needed to be connected to a working PC via a USB enclosure. Then inserted to the PC to which Windows 10 is to be installed. A lot less faffing about with partitions in my humble opinion.

AddRAM said:

Partition the drive AFTER you install windows, with Partition Wizard.

The Best Partitioning software on the planet

Best Free Partition Manager for Windows | MiniTool Partition Wizard Free

How would I install Win 10 to an MBR partition then?
The top pic in your album, is exactly what I want. I currently have Win 7 installed that way.

Is MBR or GPT a choice during the Win 10 install? Is there an associated BIOS setting I have to be concerned with?
Also... to install Win 10 to an MBR partition, do I make the "C" drive one large partition... or can I just leave the 500GB SSD unallocated, then shrink, and add the "D" and "E" partitions later?

In 2012 it took me a few Win 7 installs to finally figure it out.. this time I'd like to get it on the first shot. :)





/e Last time I messed with Win 10 was before Win 10 was released. Insider Program I think.

Well, I always set up my Drive with a Partition Wizard boot CD. I booted the disc, then chose my 256GB ssd. Then I created 1 NTFS partition out of the entire SSD and marked it Active and also Aligned it. The SSD has to be initialized as MBR to be able to install in Legacy mode. I did it so many times I could do it in my sleep LOL. I learned how to install W7 on 1 partition because I no longer wanted a System Reserved partition. And having only 1 partition makes it so much easier to image the drive. I found no speed advantage using UEFI so I just stick with MBR, it works great on all of my PC`s

I think this is the shot you are referring to. The 2nd pic is from Partition Wizard showing the same install. ALSO, with 32GB of memory I don`t use a Page File and have never had 1 issue with it, ever.

I can set the Bios on my Z170 to Legacy & UEFI so that`s how I leave it, it came that way and I never had to change it. When I hit F8 I bring up my boot menu, and then I just choose my non UEFI usb stick. It gives me 2 items in the list of choices, a UEFI choice and a non UEFI usb stick choice. I just choose the non UEFI choice

And yes, your SSD has to be initialized as MBR to install in Legacy mode, if not you`ll get the dreaded "Windows can not be installed to this disk message" if it`s GPT, you have to convert it to MBR.

I`ll dig up the picture of the Boot Menu shot.

I would make the 500GB SSD 1 partition, no need to split it up, unless you really want to. I`ve considered buying a 970 Evo Plus 500GB M.2 for the Z170, but I just don`t need a drive that large for windows, I put a 960 Evo 250GB I had in there and it`s doing great. W10 was imaged over to the 960 from the 860 Pro 256GB. The 860 Pro is still in there as a backup, it`s just not powered up now.

And your storage drives can both be GPT, like my setup. They can be converted safely if you want to, there are tutorials here explaining how, but I think Partition Wizard can do it safely without losing any data, but for the time being, leave them alone.

I have my Z170 and my X299 both setup this way, the only difference is the X299 has 1 more 4TB drive. When booting from the DVD the Boot Menu (not the Bios) should show 2 listings for the DVD, a UEFI choice and a Non UEFI choice.

I like your "I don`t need to I want to" attitude

From your picture above it says you can set it like I do, Legacy & UEFI, so set it like that and leave it that way.