Help with New Windows Install on SSD

12pak

Distinguished
Nov 7, 2011
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The last of my new parts will be here tomorrow, and I'll be ready to rebuild my beast. I do need help with the SSD though.

I have a Samsung 850 EVO, and I've been using it with Windows 10, (originally upgraded from Windows 7), for a long time now. I have a Windows 64bit home USB install drive, and I've already ensured that my Windows 10 digital license is linked with my Microsoft account. I would like to completely wipe all traces of my existing Windows install and start with a fresh Windows 10 install with my new hardware. The problem is, I don't really know how I should go about it.

I've got new board, cpu, ram, and video card. The only things I'm not changing out are the PSU, case, and SSD. What step should I start with? Should I swap everything out and then reboot the computer without formatting the SSD in it's current state first? Or should I attempt to format the SSD before I break down the old hardware? I've built a few PC's in my day, but I've never been in this particular situation as before I've always had a Windows disk and hard drives, which were easy to format from the start with fresh hardware. Please Help!
 
Solution
1. Correct.

2. ....maybe. It might "work" and boot into the OS (once it configures drivers etc).
I'd still look to clean install though, to avoid driver conflicts etc.
IF you booted into Windows pre-clean install, it's not going to do any harm. Just reboot when you're ready and boot from the USB instead.

12pak

Distinguished
Nov 7, 2011
131
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I think I understand. After installing the hardware I would set the boot drive as the flash drive with Windows and then follow the instructions from there, correct?

This leads me to another question: Would it possibly work if I changed all the hardware once WITHOUT doing a new windows install, and firing it all up once to make sure all the new hardware works, then rebooting and doing the install? Would this pose any danger to any of the hardware?
 

Barty1884

Retired Moderator
1. Correct.

2. ....maybe. It might "work" and boot into the OS (once it configures drivers etc).
I'd still look to clean install though, to avoid driver conflicts etc.
IF you booted into Windows pre-clean install, it's not going to do any harm. Just reboot when you're ready and boot from the USB instead.
 
Solution

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


It may completely fail to boot up, telling you absolutely nothing about the state of your new hardware.

Just install, wiping all partitions as you do this.

How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10
Section II, Step 6 & 7 speaks to deleting all the previous partitions.