Installing Windows 10 on HDD, then on SSD

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  1. Foebane72
    Posts : 41
    Windows 7
       New #1

    Installing Windows 10 on HDD, then on SSD


    I have recently upgraded my PC from Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit to Windows 10 (because I took advantage of the free upgrade offer last year), but have created an ISO file for a full install as I want to fully install Windows 10 by itself.

    My plan is, if the install works and my free upgrade is recognised, then I would like to replace my main HDD with an SSD and install Windows 10 on that as well, with the HDD out of the computer. Will Microsoft let me install Windows 10 on two drives, one after the other, on the same desktop PC? Will auto-registration be a problem?
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  3. dalchina
    Posts : 42,983
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       New #2

    You can change and replace drives and shouldn't have to worry.

    Best to clean install on a SSD so you use AHCI (faster performance than IDE protocol)

    Even if you clone to a SSD, you can change.. there's a tutorial available, as there are for obtaining an iso and doing a clean install.
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  4. Ztruker
    Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       New #3

    Skip the HDD step. Go directly to SSD. Win 10 will install and activate on the SSD with no problems.
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  6. AddRAM
    Posts : 4,594
    Windows 10 Pro
       New #4

    Ya, no need for the hard drive, use it for storage.

    Disconnect any and all other drives when installing W10.
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  7. Steve C
    Posts : 7,904
    Windows 11 Pro 64 bit
       New #5

    Do you want a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD or to preserve your currently configured Windows 10 installation?

    If a clean install, then just install directly on the SSD and Windows should activate.

    If you want to preserve your settings then create an image of all OS partitions using Macrium Reflect Free and save that image to an external hard drive. Then create a Macrium Reflect USB drive, install the SSD, disconnect the HDD, boot the Reflect USB drive and recover the image to the new SSD. You can then reconnect the old hard drive when you have checked the PC and use that drive for storage.
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  8. Foebane72
    Posts : 41
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #6

    Yeah, I've decided to wait until I can purchase the Samsung 850 EVO (which is unbelievably great according to Amazon) and install it and Windows 10 on my PC next week.

    Who here has the 850 EVO 250Gb? Is it really that great, and do I need the driver DVD for it or do I just put it into the PC and boot with my Win10 DVD?
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  9. CountMike
    Posts : 19,518
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #7

    Just make sure that SATA is set to AHCI mode in BIOS before you install windows on it.
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  10. Foebane72
    Posts : 41
    Windows 7
    Thread Starter
       New #8

    Don't I also need the AHCI driver after installation of Windows? Or does Win10 already have it? It seems my mobo manufacturer provides a driver, but I would really prefer Windows to have all the drivers I need.
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  12. CountMike
    Posts : 19,518
    W11+W11 Developer Insider + Linux
       New #9

    Foebane72 said:
    Don't I also need the AHCI driver after installation of Windows? Or does Win10 already have it? It seems my mobo manufacturer provides a driver, but I would really prefer Windows to have all the drivers I need.
    Windows 7 (Sp1 and later) and 10 have an AHCI driver although you may want to update it later on if it's some older MB.
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  13. ThrashZone
    Posts : 7,724
    3-Win-7Prox64 3-Win10Prox64 3-LinuxMint20.2
       New #10

    Foebane72 said:
    Yeah, I've decided to wait until I can purchase the Samsung 850 EVO (which is unbelievably great according to Amazon)?
    Hi,
    The evo line is good but the pro line is a lot better and worth the little extra it costs which now that the 950 and 960 line is out the 850 pro's are even better priced :)
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