Stupid Windows question| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

1988RedT2 MegaDork
10/6/21 12:22 p.m.

Just to be clear, it's Windows that's stupid, not the question!

Let's say I want to install Win10 to a new 1TB SSD in a system now running Win10 from a single 2TB HDD. (Please understand it's for my son as I do not use Windows). I know I can't just migrate the OS to a smaller drive, and there are reasons to favor a clean slate.

Can I just download the .iso from the MS site and save it to the new SSD, then boot from the SSD and install from there?

Stampie MegaDork
10/6/21 12:27 p.m.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

I don't think so as you'll have to partition the drive and copy files to it. You should be able to download to a USB stick and install from it. That's how I do it.

matthewmcl HalfDork
10/6/21 12:27 p.m.

You can migrate as long as the larger drive is not using more than the capacity of the smaller drive. I have only had to do that in 7, but I was going from a standard drive to a SSD.

1988RedT2 MegaDork
10/6/21 12:35 p.m.

In reply to matthewmcl :

Does windows have that utility built in, or did you have to use third-party software?

matthewmcl HalfDork
10/6/21 12:38 p.m.

In reply to 1988RedT2 :

I used a freebie backup program to make a bootable backup drive.

Duke MegaDork
10/6/21 12:53 p.m.

I don't mean to threadjack but this thread is relevant to my interests:

Is there a reliable, free Windows disk imaging application?

I have a WD portable HDD (maybe SSD? I forget) that I use as backup for a laptop. Right now it is backing up important data using the drive's utility, but it would be more convenient for recovery if it just mirrored an image of the entire laptop.

Thanks.

matthewmcl HalfDork
10/6/21 1:02 p.m.

I have been through a couple over the years, I will check what I have now, rhis evening.

02Pilot UltraDork
10/6/21 1:05 p.m.

In reply to Duke :

I have had good luck with Clonezilla.

matthewmcl HalfDork
10/6/21 7:27 p.m.

I used to use Xclone, or something like that, but then it went away. I currently have Aomei Backupper since I was going for some of its extra features (that it does not sound like you need). Any type of disk clone should do the trick.