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May 10th, 2022 18:00
Inspiron 3670 - replace SSD and re-install Windows 11
Hi
I am looking for some guidance....the 128GB SSD that came with my Inspiron 3670 went bad on me. I bought a new 256GB SSD from Dell and plan to install this week. I used the Dell OS Recovery Tool to pull my data from the bad SSD.
After installing the new SDD, what do I need to do to re-install Windows 11 on the new SSD?
Can I use the OS Recovery Tool or do I have to create bootable USB using the Windows 11 media creation tool and go that route? I am a novice so what would be my best and easier option?
Once Windows 11 is back installed, how do I get my apps on the new SSD or do they all have to be re-installed too?
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
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RoHe
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May 11th, 2022 12:00
Be better if you use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool for Win 11, which is probably more up-to-date than the OS Recovery Tool. That way you should have fewer updates to install. You need at least an empty 8 GB USB stick to use Microsoft's tool. You can create this USB using any PC.
Plug that USB into PC with power fully off. Then power on and start tapping F12 when you see the Dell splash screen to open the boot menu. Select the option to boot from USB which should launch the installer. And then just follow the prompts.
Windows should install all the drivers you need, but if it misses any, enter your Service Tab here (don't post it in this thread) and the Dell site will show you all the drivers for your specific system.
You do have to install all your apps again, so make sure you have their product keys and installation media, if you can't download the software from the net.
You didn't mention if you have a HDD in this system, along with the SSD. A 256-GB SSD is relatively small, so if you have a lot of apps, you could direct them to install on the HDD (drive D). Or at least configure your apps and Windows to store their output files on the HDD.
Spikesdad
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May 14th, 2022 11:00
@RoHejust curious, but will Win 11 install on a machine that was originally sold with Win 10 on it? Will it recognize the OEM authorization key on the system?
I've reinstalled the OS on a Dell we used to have using the OS Recovery tool from Dell for that service tag before. It was an older AIO that came with Win 8.1. Had to do that twice in the 7 years we had it with 2 failed drives 3 years apart. Each time after setup, I was then able to update to Win 10 using the MS update site (which they never did shut down). I never tried just installing an Win 10 ISO directly, so that's why I'm asking. I may have incorrectly assumed it wouldn't work.
(Doesn't really matter anymore as that machine died completely a year ago)
@Duke07, Ron is certainly right that even at 256 GB, that's not a lot of space. Assume that the system files alone (OS, hibernation, swap files, etc...) will take up almost a quarter of that space. And that's before considering application installs - some that don't even give you an option of an install location. I believe that MS Office, if you use it, does not give you a choice - it goes to the same drive as the OS - which is typically the C: drive. Even the Windows "Settings" - "Storage" - "Where New Content is Saved" is not always honored.
You can get by with that size, but really only if there is a much larger secondary drive. Many apps will let you specify an install location, and you can set Windows to save all user data (documents, images, media...) to that secondary drive too. So, it is workable. But you do have to constantly manage it. Sometimes the temp and download folders get pretty large regardless of which drive you may point the "Download" folder to.
NJDave
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404 Posts
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May 14th, 2022 19:00
If the earlier Windows 11 install was associated with a Microsoft account (which Microsoft says is mandatory), the license is linked to that account, so reactivating a new install should be a snap. If it's a private account, I'm not entirely sure. Under Windows 10, I believe the license was tied to the hardware, but I'm not sure whether Windows 11 will act the same.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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May 15th, 2022 12:00
@Spikesdad Yes, you can freely update to Win 11, even if the PC was sold with Win 10 (or Win 8.1, for that matter). Windows Update keeps offering me Win 11 and my PC came with Win 10, back in 2019. You can do an update via Windows Update or use the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to create a USB so you can do a clean install of Win 11, if you prefer a clean install of everything.
It's always better to do a clean install using the Microsoft Media Creation Tool because it's very likely to be more up-to-date than the OS Recovery Image, and that saves lots of time installing tons of updates, or even a newer OS.
Big hogs for drive space are email in/out boxes, if you don't use web-based mailboxes to read/send email. And, of course, photos, music.
Spikesdad
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May 15th, 2022 14:00
@RoHe, I know it can be updated. As I said, I've done that before - from an original Win 8.1 to Win 10.
I was asking about the initial OS install on a brand new drive on an OEM system like a Dell. I've only used the OS Recovery matching the system to install the original OS on a new drive (and then upgrade after that). But you were suggesting using the Media Creation Tool to put Win 11 directly on the new drive, bypassing the original Win 10 OS version (that would have been on the OP's system) and its auto activation.
And that's the question I have - would such an ISO of Win 11 directly from MS see the OEM activation upon first time install on a new drive, and never ask for the activation code just like the OS Recovery install doesn't, even on a brand new drive.
I'm not sure if the question I'm asking makes sense. I'm really only curious.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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May 15th, 2022 17:00
@Spikesdad Short answer: Yes...
The "digital license" is stored on the motherboard so you can install a brand new drive and use the Media Creation Tool to install the OS and get it activated when you enter your Microsoft account info as part of the OS installation.
Spikesdad
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May 15th, 2022 20:00
@RoHeGot it. Thanks.
Duke07
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May 16th, 2022 12:00
Thanks guys! I really appreciate your help. I do have a 1TB secondary HDD and I have most of my data pointed to that drive. I realize that the original 128 MB was small and is the reason I went up to 256. I just mainly use it for Windows and apps. I do not have a ton of apps so it has not been a problem.
For the record, I ended up using the OS Recovery Tool since I was worried about drivers and then used Windows Update to upgrade back to Windows 11. As @RoHe said, it probably took longer but as a non-techie, I just felt more comfortable going that route.
Thanks for helping me out!