Do I need to format drives if I move them to a new pc.

stoggs1 · Jan 10, 2021

Hey guys, I just bought a new pc today, ryzen 2600, asus strix, 16 GB ddr4, 240 GB samsung m.2 nvme ssd etc.

I plan on using my old ssd and hard drives as well and my question can I reuse them as is and not re install windows and just plug them and not lose data or performance?

Thanks in advance.

80-watt Hamster · Jan 10, 2021

Are you planning on just plugging in your old boot drive as the boot drive in the new PC? That can work, but in my experience usually doesn't, at least not without a bunch of extra effort. If, on the other hand, you intend to use them as extra storage with the new machine's NVMe as boot, then no problem whatsoever.

stoggs1 · Jan 10, 2021

I was planning on using the nvme as the boot drive and using my sata ssd and hdd's as storage.

So that should be ok then, I shouldn't give up any performance?

80-watt Hamster · Jan 10, 2021

stoggs1 said:
I was planning on using the nvme as the boot drive and using my sata ssd and hdd's as storage.

So that should be ok then, I shouldn't give up any performance?

None at all.

stoggs1 · Jan 10, 2021

Ok that's good it'll save me some time then thanks for your help.

Bill_Bright · Jan 10, 2021

You could always just do a quick format. That just takes seconds - even on a slow hard drive. Formatting (even quick formatting) ensures no potentially corrupt, compromised, outdated, or otherwise unwanted data is accessible to the system through normal use once it is setup anew. And more importantly, IMO, it ensures "all" of the available free and no longer used space is now marked as "free" space and is now available to you and the OS in your new setup. For this last reason alone, I would format them.

Zach_01 · Jan 11, 2021

Even if it works, I would format the NVMe OS drive and reinstall a clean Windows. Always goes a long way.
Also when installing OS, always keep other secondary drives disconnected until OS installation finishes. It can keep you away from issues.

chaosmassive · Jan 11, 2021

Im speaking from my personal experience,
I did upgrade from i5 2500 to r5 3600, reuse old ssd with no formatting
everything boots up and works just fine.

Shou Miko · Jan 11, 2021

chaosmassive said:
Im speaking from my personal experience,
I did upgrade from i5 2500 to r5 3600, reuse old ssd with no formatting
everything boots up and works just fine.

Windows 10 will boost 9 out of 10 times and install drives if avalible but changing hardware will leave drivers behind which can cause problems later.

Usually it's recommand if you upgrade from one HDD or SSD to a new or larger SSD you can clone it.

But if you do not want to reinstall and want all drivers gone but want your profile, data and so on there are serial programs data can remove the drivers in the windows folder, but windows have it's own feature build in called sysprep look it up.

Sysprep can be used when you make either a image for a lot of machines, PXE to install Windows if you want it modified to your specs but can also be used to go from one PC to the next.

I don't have any recommened links or videos been several years since I used it but have to looking to it again because it's nice.

kapone32 · Jan 11, 2021

The number one benefit of having multiple drives is you don't have to touch your data as long as it's on a 2nd drive. Some Programs like Epic need a workaround but Steam and the rest of them all find your Game no problem once reinstalled.

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