If I buy a solid state drive will I have to reinstall windows 8.1?

Jimbo · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:41

As title. I'm gonna buy a nice new solid state drive to replace my main sata2 mech drives. Now will I need to reinstall or can I clone the existing C: drive? I'm after a 240/250 gb ssd. : )

SC0TTRS · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:43

Personally I would do a fresh install, but you can clone if you wish.

tom_e · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:43

You should be able to clone it.

Vimes · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:47

As noted, just clone it - using Macrium. There is no need at all to do a fresh install if you are just changing a drive.
I just did the same when I installed my new 120GB SSD.

linktoinsanity · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:49

Just make sure you perform any necessary tweaks to Windows for the SSD...

Jimbo · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:56

Il just clone it. Will I need to reactivate windows again? I recently changed to a new 7970 gfx card and I had to ring up ms to reactivate. No biggy I suppose.

Vimes · 7 Apr 2014 at 15:58

What tweaks could be called necessary under Windows 8.1 when using an SSD...?
Apart from ensuing AHCI was enabled, but that was in the BIOS, I haven't done anything in Windows.

@Jimbo - I did not need to reactivate Windows when cloning to another drive, both of the PC's I did this on were fine for activation.

Jimbo · 7 Apr 2014 at 16:07

That's great thanks : )

bledd · 7 Apr 2014 at 16:57

I'd go for a fresh install, you'll see how blisteringly fast an SSD is then

Jimbo · 10 Apr 2014 at 08:43

Just ordered this... Samsung 840 EVO 250GB 2.5 inch Basic SATA Solid State Drive

My first ever SSD. Cant wait. : ) I'l try clone drive first with Macrium see how that goes.