My girlfriend has an older PC (about 10 years) that we want to upgrade. We recently got a working AMD PC from my brother, but her current setup is Intel. The only parts we'll be transferring are her HDD and SSD, which is her boot drive. I'm wondering if I need to do anything to those drives before moving them to the new AMD PC, or should I just buy a new small SSD (around 256GB) to use as her new boot drive?
3 Answers
For a smooth transition, it's best to do a clean install of Windows when moving to a new PC. Your old drive will likely get wiped during this process, so that's something to consider. You might also need a new Windows license after the upgrade.
Since your brother's PC is fully functional, you really don't need to do anything with the drives if you don't want to. If you prefer not to use his SSD and HDD, just disconnect those drives and slot in new ones – it really is that simple. Just make sure not to mess with the CPU or cooler during this process!
Yeah, the AMD PC is in good shape. I just want to avoid that annoying 'activate windows' watermark I got after my last upgrade.
Buying a new boot drive is a smart move for an easier setup. This way, you can keep her current drive as a backup. If you stick with the old drive, Windows will likely complain about the new hardware, and you'll end up needing a new license anyway. Plus, the old drive will have outdated drivers that you'll need to clean up, so a fresh install saves you a lot of hassle. You can also decide to only move over the important files to keep everything neat. Just remember, having the old stuff accessible is a good backup plan!
Should I install the other drives after I've booted up the new setup for the first time?
Got it! Should I transfer everything from the current SSD to her HDD before the installation?