I'm in the process of building a new rig. I would like to transfer the OS from my current 512 SSD to a 1tb SSD. My Os is already linked to my MS account and I printed out the steps about using the troubleshooter after a significant hardware change. The Question is: Can I clone the 512 to the 1tb or does it require a clean install? OS is Win 10 Pro.
Going from a smaller disk to a larger(it doesn't matter HDD or SSD), is the easiest thing to do.
Just create a system image(with Macrium Reflect or what ever software you use), and swap the disk, boot to the system imagers recovery USB, and reimage to the new disk.
Then just either expand your C: partition, or, create an additional partition in the +/-500GB unallocated space.
Personally, I when I get a new drive I prefer to do a clean install.....new drive equals clean install....just my opinion. But cloning is very easy to do as Cliff is pointing out.
I myself would like a clean install, got kinda used to that with the older versions of windows, however I have the original ISO copy of Win 10 when it first came out. If I used it, and because I have my digital license linked to my Microsoft account would I have any problems? Or just go ahead and install 10 and then go through the reactivation?
Changing the SSD from a 512GB to a 1TB SSD is not considered a major hardware change. Windows 10 will see it as exactly the same computer and reactivation will be automatic - either with the product key stored in firmware (if the computer shipped from the factory with Windows 8 or 10), or as soon as it is connected to the internet. If the Windows 10 installation asks for a product key, click on the link for "I don't have a product key" (or something like that). Then pick the exact same edition of Windows 10 that was on the computer before, such as Home or Pro. If it was Home Single Language or "N", then you have to select Home Single Language or "N" -regular Windows 10 Home would not activate in that case. Likewise if you had just plain Windows 10 Home installed, Single Language would not activate it, nor would Windows 10 Pro.
Navy, he said he`s building a new rig, which means new hardware :)
Xpac, If you used your Iso, you would have to do a bunch of feature updates.
Create a new installer if you want to do a clean install.
Download Windows 10
Last edited by AddRAM; 16 May 2018 at 15:13.
Windows 10 is very good at resolving drivers on new hardware. You could just clone old drive to new drive and try it.
If it does not work, put new drive in old pc and use sysprep to remove hardware drivers.
See
Create Windows 10 ISO image from Existing Installation | Windows 10 Tutorials
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