I'm building a new PC since my old one is on its last legs, and I'd like to reuse my current SSD that has Windows 10 installed. However, I'm a bit confused about the best approach: is it better to wipe the drive first, or can I just plug it in as is and boot up? I've read differing opinions on this, and it's left me anxious about the whole process. For context, I'm upgrading my motherboard from a B450 Tomahawk Max to a B850 Tomahawk Max, my CPU from a Ryzen 3700x to a Ryzen 7800x3d, and my GPU from a 2070 Super to a 9070xt. I'm considering reusing my RAM but might upgrade it later. Thanks in advance for any tips!
1 Answer
I'd recommend doing a full wipe of the SSD before using it in your new build. Windows can get a bit quirky with leftover configurations from the previous setup, which could cause issues down the road. Even though it might seem to work fine initially, you could face compatibility problems later on due to those remnants!
Quick question about that—if I copy all my files from the SSD to an external drive, can I wipe the SSD and then put everything back afterward for a fresh Windows install? Just trying to avoid carrying over any unnecessary files or drivers.