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November 11th, 2022 06:00
Migrate Virgin Dell OS to SSD
I have an off-lease Dell Optiplex with the 'virgin' OOBE Dell OS installation of Windows 10 on a mechanical HDD. It has not been booted up, and I have not gone through the 'Out Of Box Experience' yet.
I also have a much older Optiplex with a functional and running Win10 install on an SSD.
Choices:
1. Move the SSD to the new hardware and go through the 'detect hardware' steps, then run the Dell Assist program.
2. Migrate the data off the SSD, somehow clone the OOBE HDD partition to the SSD, and run it from there, then migrate the data back.
3. Migrate the data off the SSD, run the OOBE and set up the HDD, then migrate the OS to the SSD, and finally migrate the data back to the SSD.
Thanks!
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fireberd
11 Legend
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November 11th, 2022 07:00
What "off lease" model do you have? Most I've seen that were refurbished and Win 10 installed was not an official Dell OEM version.
If you are going to use the new(newer) Optiplex then I would do Option 1. Win 10 is fairly forgiving and it will probably (usually) install what is needed. I upgraded my home built Win 10 desktop from an ASUS Z370 motherboard to a Gigabyte Z390 and upgraded CPU. Used the same OS drive (an M.2 SSD) and Windows took care of everything.
I would avoid the Dell Support Assist.
Tesla1856
10 Wizard
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November 11th, 2022 08:00
You would install only the SSD (for now) and clean-install Windows-10 from microsoft.com .
Off-Lease ... no telling what is on there ... it needs to be erased completely.
It's an Optiplex, so nothing from Dell is required to make it work.
WoodyTX
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November 11th, 2022 12:00
I bought two, and booted one. (It's going on a new SSD for a media PC, so I'm setting it up manually, then cloning it to the SSD.) The one I booted gave me the full Dell OOBE, complete with Dell startup and desktop screens, apps, etc.
But I'm open to building from scratch. I haven't done it in a while. Will the OS installer detect the Dell hardware and automatically activate?
Tesla1856
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November 11th, 2022 15:00
Yes, the genuine installer flash-drive from Microsoft.com (and Windows Update) should have everything you need since it's an Optiplex (basic Intel chipet, etc ... but good).
You don't say what model. Most recent ones should have Windows-key burnt-into motherboard.
Sounds like you can just disconnect the existing HDD (with Dell OOBE) install (only) a SSD ... and try it for yourself.