Hey everyone! I'm looking for some help upgrading my old PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I've recently built a new PC setup with a new CPU, motherboard, and RAM, but I plan to keep my existing GPU, PSU, and SSDs. My main question is: can I just install my SSD into this new build, plug in a Windows 11 flash drive, and start the installation? Or do I need to format the drive or perform a clean install first?
3 Answers
For a visual guide, check out this video on upgrading from Windows 10 to 11: [YouTube Guide](https://youtu.be/BHUAEFauh7k?si=zYMyt_aOwvre8a1x). It really breaks down the process! Also, if you want to see how mine turned out, here’s a picture: [Build Image](https://imgur.com/a/4nrHROW).
You can install Windows 11 from a USB flash drive with a clean install without waiting for an upgrade option. Since you’re moving from an old setup to a new one, it’s usually easier to start fresh. This helps avoid potential driver issues with mismatched hardware between your old PC and the new components.
When you get to the installation screen, make sure to delete all the partitions on the SSD until it shows as "unpartitioned space." Select that for a clean install. Just a heads up, since you've swapped your hardware, be prepared to handle the "changed hardware" update in your Microsoft account. You might want to see if Windows 10 can still boot so you can activate it first before moving on to the fresh install.
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