TRANSFER SYSTEM TO NEW PC

[Meninspex]

I am in the process of ordering a new custom build PC without operating system, the main drive will be a 500GB M.2 SSD. My current PC has a 250GB SATA SSD as the C: drive with W10 Pro on it. I realise I will have to use cloning software but I’m a bit confused about which way to transfer the system to the new PC, particularly about what to plug in to where. Any advice gratefully accepted.
I will not be keeping the old PC and will deactivate Windows on it before activating on the new PC.

[Bruce]

I will not be keeping the old PC and will deactivate Windows on it before activating on the new PC.

that is if you are allowed, and that depends on where you got your current Win10 from?
did it come pre-installed on the PC, or did you upgrade from Win7 or 8 to Win10?
or did you buy Win10 from a retailer?

[phillpower2]

In addition to that advised by Bruce;

You cannot clone the whole drive to a new computer, the drivers for the old computer will also be cloned and render the new computer unbootable.

[Meninspex]

Thanks for that phillpower2, that was something that hadn’t occurred to me so I guess I’ll be betteroff doing a clean install on the new PC? My copy of W10 is a retail copy btw.

[Bruce]

clean install would be best, clean slate and all that.
and being a retail version of Win10, you’ll be able to activate it on the new rig.
then you can upgrade to Win11 if you wanted and the hardware meets the requirements.

[phillpower2]

You are welcome Meninspex

I suggest that when you do the clean install that you put Windows on it`s own partition, make it at least 200GB to allow for the many updates that will come over the next few years, doing this makes Windows easier to back up and protects it from both data corruption and malware attack.

[Bruce]

@Meninspex - still need help?

[Meninspex]

@Bruce, thanks, I think I’m good to go now, I just want to add that the assistance I’ve received from this forum has been great, thanks everybody. How do I end/conclude a thread?

[phillpower2]

You are welcome and thank you for the kind words