Can I remove my HDD for fresh install on SSD, put back in and keep files on HDD?

[djbanana81]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

 

[clarkjd]

ANY fresh install of Windows will require that you re-install any programs and apps that you want to use. You would be able to use any data files on the HDD after an install such as you propose, but programs not so much.

 

[djbanana81]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

And by applications you mean things such as browsers games and steam, discord etc?

Sorry to be so bad at this but, when selecting what to keep for the fresh install, do i select nothing as the files are on my HDD? Thanks

 

[clarkjd]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

And by applications you mean things such as browsers games and steam, discord etc?

Sorry to be so bad at this but, when selecting what to keep for the fresh install, do i select nothing as the files are on my HDD? Thanks

A fresh install is just that; Nothing is kept on the target drive/partition and only the operating system is installed.

 

[djbanana81]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

And by applications you mean things such as browsers games and steam, discord etc?

Sorry to be so bad at this but, when selecting what to keep for the fresh install, do i select nothing as the files are on my HDD? Thanks

A fresh install is just that; Nothing is kept on the target drive/partition and only the operating system is installed.

Ok thank you for clarifying

 

[USAFRet]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

And by applications you mean things such as browsers games and steam, discord etc?

Sorry to be so bad at this but, when selecting what to keep for the fresh install, do i select nothing as the files are on my HDD? Thanks

For a fresh install on a blank SSD, when the only drive connected is the SSD (as it should be), there is nothing to 'keep'.
There will be no selection for this.

 

[djbanana81]

I have an SSD and want to put Win10 onto it and not on my current HDD. Would I be able to setup a USB drive for the install of Win10, with the HDD removed, install the OS onto the SSD and then put the HDD back into the PC and use the files I have on it like before? And would this mean having the USB only put the OS and no files onto the SSD?

With qualifications, yes.
Actually, this is the preferred way to do a fresh install...have only the target drive (in this case the SSD) connected.

I say 'qualification', because what currently lives on the HDD is oK, except for any applications on it.
Those would have to be reinstalled.
Files such as doc/music/video...all OK.

And by applications you mean things such as browsers games and steam, discord etc?

Sorry to be so bad at this but, when selecting what to keep for the fresh install, do i select nothing as the files are on my HDD? Thanks

For a fresh install on a blank SSD, when the only drive connected is the SSD (as it should be), there is nothing to 'keep'.
There will be no selection for this.

Yeah sorry I just confused looking at this site and wanted to check as I want to do this right