I recently added a new M.2 SSD to my computer, and I have a SATA SSD and HDD that are currently in use. My Windows installation is on the SATA SSD, and I'm looking to move it to the new M.2 SSD. I also want to clear everything from my PC since I have a lot of unwanted apps and files, and I'd like to start fresh by installing only the programs and games I actually use. What should I do first? If I transfer Windows, will it wipe everything, or will my files still be there?
2 Answers
To do a fresh install of Windows and wipe your files, first, you'll need a USB stick. Use the Windows 10/11 media creation tool to create bootable media on that stick. After that, you have to boot from the USB by changing your BIOS settings (look up how to do that for your motherboard). When it's time to choose the drive partition, delete all existing partitions so they turn into unallocated space. This method will ‘delete’ your data, but just know it could still be recoverable unless you use a drive wipe tool before installing Windows. If you want to truly wipe it permanently, look for a bootable drive wiping software first. Just keep in mind, that can take a long time! Feel free to ask if you have any questions!
Just a heads up, I’d recommend checking out some YouTube guides on this—it can be a bit overwhelming if you’re doing this for the first time! There are plenty of step-by-step videos that break it down.
That sounds helpful! Do you have a specific video you found useful?