Clean win10 pro install on 572 predator

DosWasBest
DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
edited November 2023 in 2018 Archives
I've done zillions of fresh installs on older computers.  Let me know tips on the following plan for my Helios 300 g3 572...

Preinstall.... I have used macrium reflect to set up a bootable flash drive which also contains a  fresh win10 pro image dwnlded from Microsoft which I bought (standalone, not oem).

1. Remove the Intel SSD 256gb m.2 (as well as my secondary sata data drive.
2.  Pop in a new 500gb 970evo 500gb nvme (leaving the sata d drive out until install is complete).  Old 256gb SSD goes to the shelf in case something goes wrong.
3. Boot up predator with bootable flash drive in USB slot....I'm assuming the bios will see the flash drive...in poking around the bios, I notice something called smart boot or something in the uefi area.  Not seeing anything that let's me choose boot order of stuff like on older systems....system should simply see the flash drive, right?

4. Install wn10 pro from the flash drive.  Let it create a recovery partition too (which I historically don't do but will for this pc).  Let win10 dwnld whatever drivers.  After install completes, if I notice anything missing in device mgr, I'll grab those direct from the Acer dwnlds page...including predator sense etc.

5.  After complete install, win updates, and a little testing, I"ll back up the new install to external hard drives etc with macrium....plus will have to figure out backing up to the recovery partition I have on c....like I say, I've never particularly liked recovery partitions, much less incremental backups (I never ever use "system restore" on any win xp, 7, or other win10 systems.

6.  Put my sata d drive back in and go back to work.

Tips? Comments? Thx

Answers

  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    >>>Old 256gb SSD goes to the shelf in case something goes wrong.>>>

    Sounds like a plan to me. As long as BIOS firmware isn't touched if some things don't seem to go according to plan.  Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ

  • Deejay_tech
    Deejay_tech Member Posts: 356 Seasoned Practitioner WiFi Icon
    good plan & procedure. =)=)
    make sure the usb drive is gpt formatted.
    legacy MBR is not supported by newer acer bios.
    My personal Acer m/c's
    1) Gaming: Acer Predator Helios 300 PH315-51
    Config:Core i5 8300H, 16GB, 250GB SSD, 1TB HDD, 1050ti GPU

    2) Daily Use: Acer Aspire A315-53  59GR
    Config: Core i5 8250u, 8GB, 256 SSD, 1TB HDD, IPS FHD 

    3) Linux Learning: Acer Aspire A315-53 P4MY
    Config: Pentium Gold 4417U, 8 GB, 256 SSD, 500GB HDD.
  • DosWasBest
    DosWasBest Member Posts: 28 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    Thanks.  Looks like my best bet is to leave bios on secure boot in the uefi area... basically not change the bios at all.... then....
    use Rufus to make a bootable flash that uefi can see, formatted for gpt.... place the win10 image on the flash drive... and proceed.
  • JackE
    JackE ACE Posts: 44,868 Trailblazer
    You might have to change the BIOS menu settings but NOT the BIOS firmware. For example, you may have to set a BIOS menu supervisor password in order to disable secure boot. Jack E/NJ

    Jack E/NJ