Installing new SSD

Scrub206

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 20, 2011
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99
I'm sorry if this this should be in the OS thread but I have a question on the easiest way to swap drives.

So I have a Lenovo y510p laptop with a measly 1tb 5400 rpm HDD and a 28GB SSD (msata i think). I want to swap the HDD with an SSD. The OS is installed on the HDD currently. So my question is which is the easiest way to go about reloading the OS onto the SSD? Should I reinstall then clone the base OS onto the 28gb SSD then install the 1TB SSD and clone it back? Or is there a way to just reinstall after installing the 1TB? The laptop came with windows 8.1 and we've upgraded to windows 10. I just want to throw that back onto the PC as I do not have a cd or usb with windows 8 on it. So I cant just use the key on the system with windows 10... Or can I?
 
I bought the 850 Evo. Huh.. I'll have to take a look and what that entails. I did not know about that.
 
It's at home. I'm making this post from work so I have an idea what to do when I get home. I'll take a look. Thank you!
 
Usually what i do in order to transfer OS from one harddrive to another is, make recovery disks from lenovo and use them when reloading the OS onto the new ssd
 
Usually it's worth doing a clean install getting rid of that cruft that accumulates over the years however.
 
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Well my only issue is being able to keep the windows key and not having to purchase a new one since I'm completely replacing the HDD. So I'll reinstall, then move the OS to the secondary drive, then install the SSD and transfer it back. HOPEFULLY I DONT HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW WINDOWS 10 KEY. Installing tonight or tomorrow.
 
Windows 10 should not have this issue. Microsoft ties your licence to your pc on their end.
 
So even if I install windows 10 i can put the windows 8.1 key on and it'll go through?
 
Oh sorry. I forgot that you said you had 8 installed on the laptop.

Upgrade from 8 to 10 on the hard drive first. After 10 is installed (and activated) on the laptop you no longer have to worry about keys for future installs of 10 on the same laptop since your hardware profile is sent to Microsoft.
 
Usually it's worth doing a clean install getting rid of that cruft that accumulates over the years however.
Always a good idea. OTOH, a Lenovo may reinstall its own cruft, starting from firmware...

So even if I install windows 10 i can put the windows 8.1 key on and it'll go through?
Recent Win10 builds accept keys from 7 or newer. Just use the media creation tool & you should be good.
 
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