[UEFI] Added ssd, clean install windows on it without bootable usb?

e46m3gtr · 25 Dec 2019

Hello,

Is it possible to install a fresh copy of windows 10 to the new ssd without having to create a bootable usb drive? The notebook already has a hdd with windows 10 (uefi) in it.

Moreover the activation tab in settings shows the windows have digital licence. Does this mean the activation will be carried over to new windows after logged into microsoft account?

Asking for a non-tech-savvy friend. I can use remote desktop app to create a bootable media (rufus) however he seem bit confused with accessing uefi/boot menu and losing activation after clean installation.

Please guide me how to get this done. Thanks in advance.
Early merry Christmas and happy new year everyone!

dalchina · 25 Dec 2019

I suppose you could clone the existing installation then refresh it
Refresh Windows 10
but that would be rather a daft way to do it.

For a clean install- just use the Microsoft Media Creation tool (Google) which creates a bootable USB - no need for Rufus if you want the latest build.

Clean Install Windows 10
Create Bootable USB Flash Drive to Install Windows 10

From the searchable tutorial list - please bookmark:
Windows 10 Tutorial Index

NavyLCDR · 25 Dec 2019

Download the ISO file and save it to your hard drive:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

The Media Creation Tool has an option to save the ISO file. Then mount the ISO file and run the setup.exe found in the Sources folder. Select the Custom Install option, then on the next screen you should see the SSD listed as a disk with unallocated space (assuming it is brand new). Click on the unallocated space, then next. Make sure you run the setup.exe in the Sources folder, and not just in the root folder. Also, when the computer reboots during setup, you'll have to go into UEFI or BIOS settings and change the boot order to boot from the SSD first. If you don't, you're likely to just boot into your old Windows install.

If that doesn't make the SSD bootable by creating a system partition on it, it is possible to manually create a system partition on the SSD and create a partition for the OS and manually apply a Windows image from the ISO file to the SSD to make it bootable.

Berton · 25 Dec 2019

I guess one could say I'm a little different. I use the MCT process to create the Bootable USB Thumb drive and to download the .iso file used to create the Bootable DVD disc [exact copy of the original]. But for my needs I get the 32-bit/x86 plus 64-bit/x64 versions which require an 8GB through 32GB Thumb drive and the DVD+R/DL discs. Anything on the Thumb drive will get deleted as it is formatted as FAT32 which has a limit of 32GB regardless of capacity [made that mistake once with a 64GB drive]. The DVD DL/Dual Layer disc can hold up to about 8GB but are not easily found in local stores, I buy the 25 or 50 "cake box" offerings as needed, also good for archiving data.

NavyLCDR · 25 Dec 2019

Berton said:

Anything on the Thumb drive will get deleted as it is formatted as FAT32 which has a limit of 32GB regardless of capacity [made that mistake once with a 64GB drive].

The 32GB FAT32 capacity limit is artificially imposed by Windows. Third party partitioning tools can format FAT32 up to it's real size limit of 16TB. But for maximum compatibility, you will probably want to stick with MBR partitioning for the flash drive, so that sets the limit to 2 TB.