Want to install SSD but Windows 10 won't currently boot up

DoaM

Why? Why would you want to load your lovely new SSD with all the old crud and bloatware that is likely sitting on the HDD? Far better to clean install Windows to the SSD and then load up the applications you need. Assuming the HDD still works then put it into a USB caddy so you can access any files (although this shouldn't be necessary as the files can be recovered from the backup ... you do have a backup, don't you?)

TheRightOne

davetrousers said:

TheRightOne said:

64-bit (x64)

Are you sure about 64 bit? As a basic laptop I'd have expected 32.

What makes it 'basic' is that slow HDD. Clean install 64-bit to an SSD and you'll be happy to use it again.

davetrousers

I have an SSD on order.  So my plan is to put Windows 10 onto a USB stick and install it onto the new SSD, then use the old HDD in a caddy to copy files over.

How can I check if I need 64 bit or 32 bit Windows 10 ?  It's  a 3 year old acer with an "Intel Pentium Quad Core Processor N4200" 4GB DDR3 L Memory and a 1000 GB HDD.  Obviously if the machine was working OK I could check quite easily, but as I can't currently boot it up I don't know.

Thanks

debitcardmayhem

It is 64bit

poppellerant

debitcardmayhem said:

It is 64bit

Indeed, as confirmed on Intel's own page for the processor here.

The only time you should be installing 32 bit Windows is if your system only has < 3 GB of memory and you have no plans to increase the amount of memory.

grumpycrab

poppellerant said:

debitcardmayhem said:

It is 64bit

Indeed, as confirmed on Intel's own page for the processor here.

The only time you should be installing 32 bit Windows is if your system only has < 3 GB of memory and you have no plans to increase the amount of memory.

Or you have a 32bit CPU?

poppellerant

grumpycrab said:

poppellerant said:

debitcardmayhem said:

It is 64bit

Indeed, as confirmed on Intel's own page for the processor here.

The only time you should be installing 32 bit Windows is if your system only has < 3 GB of memory and you have no plans to increase the amount of memory.

Or you have a 32bit CPU?

In which I would expect to see 2 GB of RAM, so the natural move would be to install 32 bit Windows.

davetrousers

I fitted the SSD, put the USB stick with Windows 10 (64bit) and switched the laptop on.  Basically it installed Windows in about 20 minutes.  Then connected old HDD to laptop using a caddy and copied over files etc.

The whole process was so easy. Thanks for your help

TheRightOne

Did you go for a Microsoft account login or the usual local account login? They try to push you towards the Microsoft login.

SSD transforms the experience doesn't it?

But now go back in and start switching off at least some of the spyware: https://pixelprivacy.com/resources/windows-privacy-settings/