Perform Windows 10 Fresh Install on SSD

Installing Windows 10 on an SSD (Solid State Drive) can significantly enhance your computer's performance. Compared to traditional HDDs (Hard Disk Drives), SSDs provide faster boot times, quicker file transfers, and improved overall system responsiveness. This article will guide you through the process of performing a fresh Windows 10 installation on an SSD and introduce an alternative method: cloning your current Windows 10 installation to a new SSD using AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

Advantages of Performing Windows 10 Fresh Install on SSD

1. Improved Speed and Performance: SSDs are much faster than HDDs, resulting in quicker boot times and faster application launches.
2. Enhanced Reliability: SSDs are more resistant to physical shock and have lower failure rates than HDDs.
3. Better Energy Efficiency: SSDs consume less power, which can lead to longer battery life in laptops.
4. Quieter Operation: With no moving parts, SSDs operate silently, reducing noise levels in your workspace.
5. Compact and Lightweight: SSDs are smaller and lighter than HDDs, making them ideal for ultrabooks and slim laptops.

How to Fresh Install Windows 10

Step 1. Create a Windows 10 installation USB

If you already have prepared an installation USB, just ignore Part 1 and go straight to Part 2. Otherwise, you should create one by using Microsoft’s media creation tool.

1. Download the media creation tool and run it as an administrator.

2. Hit “Accept” in the “Applicable notices and license terms” window.

3. Tick “Create installation media for another PC” and hit “Next”.

4. Select language, architecture, and edition and click on “Next”.

5. Tick “USB flash drive” and hit “Next”.

To ensure a successful Windows 10 installation, the USB flash drive needs to be at least 8 GB.

6. Choose your prepared USB flash drive from “Removable drives” and then, hit “Next”.

7. Once completed,  Windows 10 will be installed to the device and thus, the installation media is created.

Step 2. Boot the PC from the USB drive

1. Shut down the machine and  install SSD on the computer.

2. Then, plug the prepared USB flash drive to the PC.

3. To boot the computer, press and hold the BIOS key right away (F2, Del, F10, or F12, depending on the manufacture) until the BIOS screen is displayed.

4. In BIOS, navigate to Boot Manager and set the installation USB to be the first boot device.

5. Save the settings and quit BIOS. Then, your PC will boot from the installation USB.

Step 3. Start installing Win 10 on SSD from bootable USB

1. When the computer boot again, you will enter Windows Setup. There, you’ll select language, time and currency format, and keyboard or input method. After it’s done, click on “Next” to proceed.

2. Click on “Install Now”.

3. To activate Windows 10, you must enter your product key. If you don’t have one, just click on “I don’t have a product key” and you can still finish the installation.

4. Select your desired Windows 10 edition from the list.

5. Tick “I accept the license terms” and hit “Next”.

6. Select the custom installation.

7. Select the SSD drive where you want to install the OS and hit “Next”.

8. Now, Windows 10 is being installed. Just wait the installation to be completed.

9. When it’s finished, your PC will be rebooted again.

10. Once Windows 10 restarts, immediately press and hold the BIOS key again to enter the BIOS. Then, select your SSD drive as the first boot drive.

11. After Windows 10 reboot, select a region and hit “Yes”. On the next page, select your keyboard layout and hit “Yes”.

Step 4. Finish the set.

Now, what’s left is to follow the onscreen guide to finish the setup of your computer. Answer the questions appearing on the screen and set up an account to log in to Windows 10. Both Microsoft account or a local offline account is allowed.

Wait a few minutes. Windows 10 will get all things ready and automatically log you onto the desktop. After that, you can install any drives you want to make your Windows 10 PC run more smoothly.

Cloning Windows 10 to SSD

While a fresh install is beneficial, cloning your existing Windows 10 setup to an SSD can save time and retain your current configurations and installed programs. This method is ideal if you want to avoid the hassle of reinstalling software and transferring files. AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional is a powerful disk management tool that simplifies the process of cloning your Windows 10 installation to an SSD. 

Whether you update your complete computer drive or migrate Windows 10 OS to the new SSD, it's advisable to utilize reputable OS migration software for assistance rather than the manual technique, which is risky; if you're unfamiliar with PC, this is the best option for you.

To put your current Windows 10 operating system onto a SSD from an HDD, the easiest way is to use some third-party software to migrate OS from your old drive to the new SSD. In this way, you needn’t reinstall the operating system, which frees you from much trouble. Here, I recommend AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional that supports migrating Windows 10 between MBR disk and GPT disk within clicks. More than this, this software is also able to clone hard drives, clone partitions, and wipe disk.

Warning: If you migrate OS from MBR to GPT or GPT to MBR, you must change the boot mode (either from Legacy BIOS to UEFI or from UEFI to Legacy BIOS) to let the OS boot normally. 

Step 1. Connect your new SSD to your PC.

Install and launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional; click "Clone" > “Migrate OS” in the toolbar.

Step 2. Choose target space.

Select a piece of unallocated space on your target SSD. Then, hit “Next”.

Step 3. Adjust partition size.

Here, you’re able to customize the size of the partition on the destination disk. After it’s done, hit “Next”.

Step 4. Apply your operation.

After returning to the main interface, click on “Apply” on the upper left and hit “Proceed” to start the migration.

Step 5. Reboot your computer.

After it’s completed, you should boot your computer from the destination SSD.

If you want to transfer all data (not only the operating system partition but also other data partitions) from the old drive to the new SSD, please consider trying the feature of disk clone.

Conclusion

Whether you choose to perform a fresh install or clone your existing Windows 10 setup, moving your operating system to an SSD can greatly enhance your computer's performance. A fresh install provides a clean slate, while cloning saves time and retains your current settings. Tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional make the cloning process straightforward and efficient.

FAQs

1. Is it better to do a fresh install of Windows 10 on an SSD or clone my existing system?

• A fresh install is recommended for optimal performance and a clean system. Cloning is ideal if you want to save time and retain your current configurations and installed programs.

2. How long does it take to install Windows 10 on an SSD?

• The installation process typically takes about 20-30 minutes, depending on your system's speed and the size of the installation.

3. Will I lose my data if I perform a fresh install of Windows 10?

• Yes, a fresh install will erase all data on the installation drive. Ensure you have backed up your important data before proceeding.

4. Can I clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD?

• Yes, using tools like AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, you can clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD as long as the used space on the HDD is less than the total capacity of the SSD.

5. Do I need to reinstall drivers after cloning Windows 10 to an SSD?

• Generally, you do not need to reinstall drivers after cloning. However, it is advisable to check for driver updates to ensure optimal performance.