Easiest way to reinstall OEM OS on different drive than current OS?


  1. jmsnyc
    Posts : 124
    Windows 10
       New #1

    Easiest way to reinstall OEM OS on different drive than current OS?


    I have a desktop with several drives. I am prepping to sell to someone else. My pc was sold with Win10 Home I believe. I currently have Win10 Ed.

    My current Win10 Ed OS is currently identified as disk 3 , has my C drive and other system partitions. That drive I will remove and keep prior to selling.

    The drive I want to install the original WinHome OS (with updates of course) is currently identified as Disk 2 with a drive letter of H.

    I want to do this with minimal effort and prior to physically detaching any drives if possible. I also want to double check that if I install the OS on H if it will load as C once I do physically remove the other drive.?

    Looking for suggestions on best way to do this prior to starting and also should I do full format first or wait until the install. Not sure if the built in reset feature should be used to .

    Thanks in advance!
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  3. Winuser
    Posts : 7,128
    Windows 10 Pro Insider
       New #2

    The drive you install Windows 10 on will be drive C: when the computer starts. When installing Windows 10 it is recommended to only have one drive connected so Windows won't install the boot partition on the wrong drive.
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  4. jmsnyc
    Posts : 124
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       New #3

    So is the easiest just to use media creation USB?
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  6. Winuser
    Posts : 7,128
    Windows 10 Pro Insider
       New #4

    That would be the best way to go. If the computer came with Widows 10 installed it should install the version that is registered in the BIOS.
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  7. Megahertz
    Posts : 6,299
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       New #5

    - If your drive that is going to be sold with the computer has data that you don't want to be retrieved (even if it has been erased), you should do a complete format (not the fast one) before installation.
    - Detach ALL other drives (SATA or power cable) leaving on ONLY the target drive.
    - Boot from the Win 10 installation disk, go to install, delete all partitions and then proceed. Make sure you install same version that came with the computer (Home or Pro).
    Last edited by Megahertz; 22 Jun 2020 at 09:39.
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  8. Paul Black
    Posts : 18,044
    Win 10 Pro 64-bit v1909 - Build 18363 Custom ISO Install
       New #6

    Megahertz said:
    - If your drive that is going to be sold with the computer has data that you don't want to be retrieved (even if it has been erased), you should do a complete format (not the fast one) before installation.
    - Detach ALL other drives leaving on ONLY the target drive.
    - Boot from the Win 10 installation disk, go to install, delete all partitions and then proceed. Make sure you install same version that came with the computer (Home or Pro).
    Yes, do exactly as @Megahertz has stated above!
    I would also write down the Product Key to give them as well, just in case!

    I hope this helps!
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  9. Megahertz
    Posts : 6,299
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       New #7

    Remember:

    To install as Legacy-MBR you MUST boot from the installation drive as Legacy (NOT UEFI).

    To install as UEFI-GPT you MUST boot from the installation drive as UEFI (NOT Legacy).
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