Can I install Windows 10 on a new hard drive without cloning old drive
I bought a desktop computer with Windows 7 and have followed the upgrade to Windows 10 and everything worked smoothly until about one month ago. Suddenly I could not print to my attached printer, a Kodak AIO 5300. I purchased a Kodak Verite thinking it was a driver problem, but I am having the same problem. Six months ago I had received popup that hard drive was possibly corrupted and I should move to new drive so I purchased a new drive but never installed it. I have now installed it in my computer but it is still blank. I would like to move Windows 10 to the new drive to see if I can solve the problem. But if I clone the drive I will just move the problem to the new drive. Is there any way I could load the data to the new drive without a clone?
I am thinking about using the Windows 7 disk that came with the computer and loading it on the new drive and updating it to Windows 10. Then I would copy all the program files and data files to the new drive. Then I would copy the registry from the old drive to the new drive.
I do not know if that approach would work or not. I am hoping to find somebody else with a suggestion. or advice.
I am thinking about using the Windows 7 disk that came with the computer and loading it on the new drive and updating it to Windows 10. Then I would copy all the program files and data files to the new drive. Then I would copy the registry from the old drive to the new drive.
I do not know if that approach would work or not. I am hoping to find somebody else with a suggestion. or advice.
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I missed that bit r.e. copying the registry => definitely NOT what you want to do !!
ASKER
I want to thank everyone for their comments. Gary Case told me how to build the media creation and that is a key. Peter Vfi wondered why I would do anything with the registry. I had been thinking about avoiding reloading all my software, but since I do have installation media for all my programs I will just reload everything. I did not want to clone because I would just bring my problems over. I had troubleshooted my Kodak printer, and even the new one I received. The only advice I could get on the new printer was to contact Microsoft for assistance so I was looking for an alternative. I will try to go with these ideas later today. I think that by paying attention to all these suggestions it will be successful. If so I will let you know when I close the question.
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Since you may be "fiddling" a good bit with the Kodak issue, I'd do the following:
(a) Load a clean copy of Windows 10 (as I outlined earlier)
(b) Install the programs you need to reinstall that you are certain work fine with '10
(c) Check for updates until there aren't any more (i.e. the system's fully up-to-date)
(d) Now make an IMAGE of the system, using your favorite imaging utility (I like Image for DOS, but Acronis, RunTime's DriveImage XML, etc. all work fine -- or even the built-in Windows 10 System Image utility)
THEN you can install the Kodak software with no real danger of doing anything that would corrupt the new install -- since you can always simply restore the image you created in (d)
(a) Load a clean copy of Windows 10 (as I outlined earlier)
(b) Install the programs you need to reinstall that you are certain work fine with '10
(c) Check for updates until there aren't any more (i.e. the system's fully up-to-date)
(d) Now make an IMAGE of the system, using your favorite imaging utility (I like Image for DOS, but Acronis, RunTime's DriveImage XML, etc. all work fine -- or even the built-in Windows 10 System Image utility)
THEN you can install the Kodak software with no real danger of doing anything that would corrupt the new install -- since you can always simply restore the image you created in (d)
ASKER
Thanks to everyone for your comments. I have the new drive up and running and using the printer. I have a lot of work ahead of me loading all the programs from the old drive, but fortunately I have media and keys for all purchased software and will be able to reload the free software.
Glad it's all working well => don't forget to image the final setup so if you ever need to reload in the future it'll be a simple job of just restoring the image.
OK, great! And now, please, the last service to the supporters, the rating ....
And don't forget NOT to install stuff you don't need before you do the image. A fresh install is always a good chance get a fresh system without all the software you don't really need that can cause problems and slow the system.
If you want to reinstall Windows on new drive then you should follow the advice above.