Is it possible to transfer a previously used hdd to a new build and preform a new install then?

tomf.guido · Jun 26, 2018

Hello! I have purchased several new parts for my new build, and was hoping to salvage several parts from my current one. I was hoping that i could move my HDD, and once installed in the new machine, perform a clean install of windows. I've searched for similar threads but they're about preserving the files, which I don't care about. I can't really completely wipe this hard drive so I was hoping one of you guys could tell me if this would work.

Also, most unused HDD would boot a detected flash drive or disk carrying Windows, if I were to attempt to perform a clean install on a previously used drive w/ a new motherboard, would it boot the Windows Install Media on the first activation or would I manually have to boot the drive through the mobo's BIOS.

Sorry for the long post, and thanks in advance for reading!

USAFRet · Jun 26, 2018

The physical drive? Sure.
Boot from your OS install media, start the install, delete all existing partitions, and move on.

Which OS is this?
Are you buying a new OS license for this new hardware?

Calvin7 · Jun 26, 2018

You can select the drive you want to boot from in BIOS.

On first screen during Windows install there you can select the option to Delete all the existing partitions on your drive. That will give you an empty drive to start the installation of Windows on.

Ralston18 · Jun 26, 2018

Yes.

Just remove the existing HDD, if there is one, and put your used hdd in its' place.

However I have a question: Why are you unable to completely wipe the hard drive?

Should be just a matter of backing up your data to some external location, verifying that the data is readable, wiping the drive, and proceeding with the new install.

What am I missing...…?

tomf.guido · Jun 26, 2018

USAFRet :

Thanks for responding. Im installing windows 10 and using the the microsoft account link to reactivate it.

USAFRet · Jun 26, 2018

tomf.guido :

No problem then.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

tomf.guido · Jun 26, 2018

Ralston18 :

I have no idea how to perform a full wipe that deletes all the partitions so i figured it'd be easier to just install the new drive with everything in it and then perform a fresh install

Ralston18 · Jun 26, 2018

Will defer you back to USAFRet link regarding how to do a clean install.

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Is it possible to transfer a previously used hdd to a new build and preform a new install then?

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