Setting Up My New PC: Need Help with OS Installation

July 17, 2025 1 answer
Asked by TechWizard2024
Hey everyone! I just built my first custom PC and need some guidance on the OS installation process. I've read that I should start by updating the motherboard's BIOS using a flash drive, then I'll need a Windows 11 installation USB. My main question is: can I use my old OS drive from a pre-built system in this new setup? I've backed up all my important files and disconnected that drive. Should I format it first? Once it's safe to move to the new PC, can I then run the Windows installer? Also, can I use the same USB drive for both the BIOS update and the Windows 11 installation? Do I need any storage connected when updating the BIOS? Thanks in advance!

Answers

OldSchoolBuilder
You can absolutely use your old OS drive in your new PC, but remember you'll need to get a new Windows license for that. When you perform the clean install of Windows 11, it's best to have only that one drive connected to avoid any confusion. If your PC boots up without needing a BIOS update, go ahead and install Windows first, then you can update the BIOS only if there are fixes you need later on.
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