Need A Bit Of Help..

BeadyRoller

BeadyRoller

BeadyRoller

Associate
Joined
21 Apr 2013
Posts
1,536
Hi!

Basically, I am eligible for the Windows 10 update but haven't got round to doing it yet but have some free time over the next couple of days so thought I might as well go for it!

Currently I have Windows 7 installed on my HDD, I have a 250gb SSD installed so thought it's about time I got the most out of it and did a clean install of Windows 10 on my SSD to make my PC faster!

I'm not sure how to go about this though, what are the steps needed for me to be able to this? I'm not very tech savvy so any help would be appreciated.

Cheers!
 
  • Create windows 10 install onto a USB drive
  • Upgrade your windows 7 to windows 10 on old hard drive and make sure windows 10 is activated. Windows 10 then becomes tied to your mobo.
  • Unplug old hard drive and install SSD... do fresh install of windows 10 to the SSD using the USB drive you put windows 10 on..
  • Windows 10 should activate from you Motherboard ID once you go online.
 
Hi, I Still haven't got round to doing this as I'm still unsure what I need to do!

I'm not bothered about losing the files I have as I will just install my games etc again once Windows 10 on my SSD is running.

I read off someone else that I can install Windows 7 on to my SSD then upgrade from there? I just want to have Windows 10 on my SSD as well as a couple of my most played games and everything else on my HDD.

What's the easiest way to do it?

Cheers.
 
Basically what ^^^ enigma27 said.

Download the 'Media Creation Tool' from MS and use it to download w10 onto your USB thumb drive. Choose the correct version to download, if your w7 is 64bit Ultimate or Pro then choose w10 Pro 64bit (non N version if you want the media apps).

Use 'Disk Management' in Windows to remove partitions from SSD, leave it as unallocated space.

If you want your system to be more resilient to a virus infection at start up then you need to set up secure boot. This requires a few things though, a GOP enabled VBIOS on the graphics card, GPT rather than MBR on the SSD (can set this in 'Disk Management' step above). After you've done the upgrade on the old hdd and w10 is activated and the old hdd has been disconnected whilst pc turned off, reboot to BIOS, change boot type in BIOS set to UEFI, boot to UEFI USB directly from BIOS to start the install process. After install complete, reboot into BIOS and enable secure boot and fast boot options. In Windows confirm in System Information that secure boot is recognised as being on.

After you've upgraded w7 to w10 on old hdd, shut down Windows / PC, then disconnect old hdd. Make sure in the BIOS it has SATA type set to AHCI. Ideally you'd have also downloaded the correct Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver and copied it on to the USB too as you can provide this during the install when it's asking you about which drive to put Windows on to.


If not doing the secure boot method then put USB thumb drive in a free USB port and boot up, without the old hdd connected it should boot from the USB thumb drive.

During the install process running from the USB, choose the custom option which will give you a clean install on to the SSD. Skip any requests to enter the product key. Create a local user when asked with whatever you use for a username. If you have a MS account you can change the local user over to a MS sign in type after install has finished (this gives a better result for your user folder).

Let MS download and apply updates, safely remove USB and reboot.

Install various drivers obtained for your motherboard from their website if they're newer. Check graphics driver version against latest available and upgrade as appropriate.

Shut down, reconnect old hdd, boot up, use 'Disk Management' to remove partitions from old hdd, set to GPT, then create new basic partition on the whole of the unallocated space. You can now use the old hdd as user data / doc storage, alternative steam library location.
 
Last edited:
Thanks very much thenewoc! Very detailed reply which is what I needed.

Once Windows 10 is installed on my SSD, I was thinking of clearing my HDD of completely everything so it gets rid of traces so it's a completely fresh install, how would I go about doing that?
 
BeadyRoller said:
Thanks very much thenewoc! Very detailed reply which is what I needed.

Once Windows 10 is installed on my SSD, I was thinking of clearing my HDD of completely everything so it gets rid of traces so it's a completely fresh install, how would I go about doing that?
Click to expand...

No probs.

Whilst the PC is switched off, reconnect the old hdd, the SSD should have a higher boot order in the BIOS so it should boot from the SSD and once you're back in Windows you can go into Disk Management. Inside DM you can delete the partitions from the old hdd and then create a new partition on the unallocated space which if all the partitions have been deleted, this would relate to the space of the whole drive. When you create a new partition it will give you the choice of also formatting it at the same time as well as assigning a drive letter to it.
 
Thanks very much mate, going to have a go at this now. I wont be doing the secure version, do I have to disconnect HDD as my PC boots up from USB first anyway?

Cheers.
 
Just tried my Windows 7 product key and it's not working when with Windows 10? saying it isn't activated. Been reading you need to upgrade first then do a clean install which I haven't, I've just done a clean install first...
 
BeadyRoller said:
Just tried my Windows 7 product key and it's not working when with Windows 10? saying it isn't activated. Been reading you need to upgrade first then do a clean install which I haven't, I've just done a clean install first...
Click to expand...

Umm we did say upgrade to 10 first before doing the fresh install.

You'll have to do a quick format and reinstall 7 again, then I think you need to let that upgrade to SP1 and wait until it's activated. Then do the upgrade to 10 and wait until its activated. Then you can do the fresh install of 10.
 
Bloody hell, you think they'd let you just upgrade it this way wouldn't you!

So what are the steps I need to take now? What do you mean quick format and SP1? Can I get a media creation tool for Windows 7?

Sorry, as I didn't see you say it in your post I didn't think you needed to do the upgrade first, feel stupid now!

Cheers for all the help mate, really appreciate it.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom