Installing a new mobo and CPU with old storage

Alex Adamson · 21 Aug 2018 at 18:54

So I want to build a new PC but keep some parts because their only a few months old, notably my storage, an SSD and an HDD. But I'm installing a new motherboard and a new CPU and going from a 4th gen intel to an 8th gen intel.

Will that all be fine or will I have problems with drivers? Should I wipe the storage prior to building the new one, or after it's started up, or will I not have to at all?

pastymuncher · 21 Aug 2018 at 19:43

Windows 10 is pretty good with installing new hardware but I would still be taking the option of doing a fresh install of windows because you are going to have a mess of redundant drivers left over. Whether you do a fresh install or use your existing install you will most likely need to reactivate windows, especially if it's not a retail version.

EsaT · 21 Aug 2018 at 19:44

That's going to be such hardware change that fresh install operating system would be good.

Storage drives you can just plug in after having installed new PC to operating condition.
Unless having drives encrypted they can be esily used in any PC.

Big Frank · 21 Aug 2018 at 22:34

If you have anything less than windows 10 it won't work on the 8th gen hardware.

Happened to me on my new build 2 weeks ago. I was forced to move from my beloved windows 7 to windows 10.

Quartz · 21 Aug 2018 at 22:57

Alex Adamson said:
So I want to build a new PC but keep some parts because their only a few months old, notably my storage, an SSD and an HDD. But I'm installing a new motherboard and a new CPU and going from a 4th gen intel to an 8th gen intel.

If you have Windows 10, you should be able to just plug in the drives and go. Windows will likely need reactivating. Copy the driver files onto the drive with Windows first.

That said, a clean install is a better idea.

Alex Adamson · 24 Aug 2018 at 11:52

Quartz said:
If you have Windows 10, you should be able to just plug in the drives and go. Windows will likely need reactivating. Copy the driver files onto the drive with Windows first.

That said, a clean install is a better idea.

Thanks. To do a clean install would I need it on an ISO? Or will the computer allow me to do a clean install when starting up? Would it be better to do the install from the boot or when I'm already in Windows 10?

Quartz · 24 Aug 2018 at 12:21

Alex Adamson said:
Thanks. To do a clean install would I need it on an ISO?

I have always done so.

Or will the computer allow me to do a clean install when starting up?

I don't know if you can do this.

Would it be better to do the install from the boot or when I'm already in Windows 10?

Boot off a USB stick.

Jamin280672 · 24 Aug 2018 at 12:36

If you're using Windows 10 then install your new hardware, boot up your old version of windows, then immediately go to settings, update and security thrn I think it's in the recovery menu you'll see an option labelled, reset this pc, that's a factory reset, it will wipe anything you added after installing windows, same as when you factory reset your mobile phone, drivers, apps, files, everything.

Make sure you backup anything you want to keep and unplug all hard drives except the one with windows on it.

Hey presto, you have a fresh clean install of Windows 10 without doing a fresh clean install.

Alex Adamson · 24 Aug 2018 at 13:25

Quartz said:
I have always done so.

I don't know if you can do this.

Boot off a USB stick.

When reinstalling Windows 10 will it automatically delete the previous version? Just so it doesn't take up unnecessary space or accidentally boot up the previous version?

bremen1874 · 24 Aug 2018 at 13:29

It'll depend on whet options you select during the install.

If you want it completely clean delete all of the existing partitions when you get to that stage.

Big Frank · 24 Aug 2018 at 13:59

Easiest way is to have a blank USB Pen drive at least 8gb formatted as NTFS then download a boot able copy of windows 10 from the Microsoft website that's what I did.