Seeking help with moving Windows when new SSD arrives...

CountMike said:

Can you show Disk management ? 2TB is not going to fit in 120GB.

This is a new pc that hasn't yet been delivered. The 2TB drive that is included will have only the OS (and I assume some bloatware which I will remove).

You can always do a clean install to that 2 TB immediately rather than fiddle with the bloatware.

I think most clone tools will recognize that the 2 TB drive is mostly empty and so will tolerate transferring the system to the much smaller 128 GB.

You could always shrink that 2 TB way down before attempting any clone/image if necessary.

Just recalled that this pc comes with Win 8.1 (got a great deal on it). I'll want to do the free upgrade to 10 so should I just immediately upgrade on the 2TB, shrink it, and clone?

I guess the alternative, as CountMike mentioned, is to just install Win 10 directly onto the SSD. I just thought I would run into activation issues with 10 since it's an empty drive.

dalchina said:

This may help now we better understand what it is you're actually doing..
Clean Install Windows 10 Directly without having to Upgrade First

Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

Will I still be able to upgrade for free (given my scenario)?

dalchina said:

If you've read the tutorial:


And note that if you read further, you must collect certain info from your Win 8 before installing Win 10.

I.e. if you do this, take care to follow the tutorial.

And in all circumstances, make use of disk imaging appropriately.

Apologies for not reading through before posting. Thanks all...great info!

AshleyQuick said:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/401545836769

Looks like it originally was bundled with a limited version of Acronis True Image. I don't find a download link for it, unfortunately. Maybe Macrium Free would be your best choice.

@AshleyQuick,

If the computer comes from the factory with Windows 8.1 installed, then it should have a product key for Windows stored in BIOS/UEFI. You should be able to boot the computer from a Windows 10 installation USB flash drive that you can create for free:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

The Windows 10 installer will read the product key in BIOS/UEFI and should not even ask you which version you want to install or for a product key. Install it directly to the blank SSD, it will activate on it's own and you will be good to go with a clean install of Windows 10 with none of the factory bloatware. You don't have to do anything at all with the Windows 8.1 installation that will be on the HDD.

When I get a new computer, I like to save an image of the original factory software using Macrium Reflect Free, then wipe it and start with a clean install.
Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

If I got the new computer, I would remove the HDD, leave it removed, install the SSD and install Windows 10 directly to the SSD. Once you get that going and see that it is activated, then reinstall the HDD for a secondary storage drive.

If for some reason the install directly to the SSD does not work, then you still have the HDD untouched to fall back on.