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Fresh Windows install on new SSD

rujur6
Level 7

I'm thinking of purchasing an Asus Tuf A15, which only comes with a 512GB SSD. I plan to remove this drive and install two larger SSDs (will be running both Windows and Linux).

How easy is it to do a fresh Windows install on a new SSD and have all the custom Asus software work as expected?

I expect I need to do the Windows install and then head over to the Asus website to grab the drivers for my laptop model? I hear some people say they need to be installed in a certain order though. Sounds a bit finicky to be honest...

I appreciate any advice or guidance you might be able to share with me!

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9 REPLIES 9

kikimahe
Level 10

hi,

Clean installing Windows on a new SSD is easy.
All you need is a bootable USB stick.

There are 2 keys you will need to know on the ASUS boot image.
- F2 maintained to enter bios
- ESC maintained to choose to boot on the USB key

Intel VDM:
If you choose to leave "Intel VMD" Enabled in the bios, you will also need to have the Intel RST drivers on the USB key so that the SSD is displayed during the Windows installation ; https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1044458/ 

With Intel VMD Disabled, you won't need it.

Drivers:
There is no problem for ASUS drivers and no order to respect. Windows update will install them automatically. The others can be installed manually if they are missing.

Others:
You will not be required to install Armory crate and MY ASUS.
The excellent "GHelper" software does the same job without bugs and using much less resources and without the many services of Armory crate and MY ASUS.

TUF GAMING F17 (2022) FX707ZM
I7 12700H / RTX 3060 / 32 Go

Raibex87
Level 11

I just wanted to chip in and say that Windows Update will do everything you need other than installing Nvidia drivers, which can be done easily through Geforce Experience.  You don't need to install any drivers from the Asus website.

The only thing you need to know is that in the Windows installer, the touchpad didn't work for me (I have TUF F15 2022), so you have to make sure to plug in a mouse.  Also, you may have to download the Wi-Fi drivers from the Asus website and copy them over with a flashdrive.

@kikimahe is completely right in mentioning G-Helper.  I would strongly recommend you use that over Armoury Crate and MyASUS, as it is much easier to use and has a much smaller performance/RAM footprint.

fran678
Level 12

Opening the computer voids the warranty.
An authorized center could do it but you should inquire.

The first thing to do is a backup of the entire disk, because a clean installation may not be the same as the original installation and there will be swearing later.

You can also make a backup of the drivers, which can be very useful in case of updates that give problems.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Snappy+Drivers+Installer+Origin.

At that point it's better to buy an external HD or SSD, at least until the warranty expires, because you have 512 GB anyway, which is not little.

 

@fran678 Source for this?

If ASUS literally gives you a free M.2 slot, I don't see why they would void the warranty.  Typically companies have a sticker that you have to break the seal for if it voids the warranty, and that laptop doesn't.

@Raibex87


https://www.asus.com/za/support/article/590/

there is not only this type of seal, but there are different types, such as on the screws, which go to show that the laptop has been tampered with.

You also have to be careful when buying a used PC where it says there is a residual warranty.
In fact, if the PC has not been opened by an authorized center, it no longer has a warranty.

It often happens that a half-new PC is sold because it has some problem that the owner tried to fix on his own. Then he goes bankrupt and sells the PC saying it is under warranty, when in fact it is no longer under warranty.
Or just because he tried to expand SSD, RAM, etc. and in good faith thinks the Laptop is under warranty.

So it is always good to obtain valid documentation for legal purposes, certifying that the PC has not been opened and tampered with.

Thanks for that article, that's good to know.  My brand new TUF F15 had no warranty stickers, and the screws look normal to me.  As long as you don't purposely destroy your laptop when opening the back, I'm not sure how they would know if you opened it.  From my experience, companies don't check too closely to see if you opened it (unless there's a sticker).

You can use an external SSD, but your speeds will be slower, latency will be higher, and your ports can be damage or loosened quickly.  Trust me, I used one for years, and it's not a good experience.

Ultimately, it's up to @rujur6 what they want to do, but from my point of view, I don't think ASUS would refuse service just from putting in an SSD as long as you didn't cause any damage to the laptop doing so.  They can't give you a free M.2 SSD slot and not expect you to use it.  If you have any evidence of ASUS enforcing this policy, then I would definitely reconsider.

It also depends on the manufacturers.
For example, Dell or Lenovo are not fiscal in this regard; in fact, if the warranty has not expired and the pc breaks, they send you the parts to replace and tell you how to replace them.

ASUS, on the other hand, voids the warranty if it finds that the laptop has been opened and tampered with by unauthorized personnel.
They can detect that the system has been tampered with even by small marks, such as screws that are not in their original position, small scratches, or pimple marks.

The warranty is also voided if you replace the original ASUS OEM image of the operating system.
If your PC originally had Windows Home and you put Windows PRO or Linux Mint on it, you have lost the warranty unless you put the original system back on before sending it in for repair, in case you have a backup.

As for the portable hard drive, it also depends on your use.
I find it more convenient because I only plug it in when I need it.
It gives me more peace of mind regarding ramsoware, viruses, etc.
Then I move it from one pc to another.
There are also external SSDs (e.g., WD BLACK P50) that have read and write speeds of 2 GB/s, if you have USB 3.2 Gen 2X2 ports.
So a speed higher than or comparable to the TUF's internal NVMe.

Raibex87
Level 11

Well even if my experience with ASUS was good before (which it isn't), I certainly wouldn't be buying another laptop after hearing they void the warranty if you do a clean Windows install.  That being said, I'd like to hear a real-life story about this happening, because that seems quite hard to believe that they would actually go by that rule.

Also, internal SSDs get up to 3.5 GB/s transfer speeds and are half the price of external SSDs (while also not having a chance of breaking/loosening a port and just getting in your way in general).  You can get a 2 TB Intel 670p for $70 on Amazon, which is far faster than a WD Black P50 and a third of the price while having double the storage.

fran678
Level 12

In the ASUS terms of sale, it says that the laptop must run on the original OEM operating system.
Which is different even from a clean installation of that OS, which is why many people after a clean installation have malfunctions and don't know where to go crazy.
Even when they realize, after much effort, that the problem is the OEM OS, they don't know where to get an image of it, because they formatted the PC.

If you read this link, it says:
https://www.asus.com/za/support/article/590/
Exclusions from limited warranty service.
The warranty does not apply if :
- you experience damage caused by improper installation or improper connection to a peripheral device
- damage caused by third-party software or viruses occurs;
- damage occurs from the use of parts not manufactured or sold by ASUSTeK;

So even the software or operating system or a virus, can cause damage to the laptop, which is not dependent on a factory defect.
If the laptop falls while riding a bike, or because you drop the coke on the keyboard, it seems pretty obvious to me that you can't claim warranty repair.
And even if you put in an SSD drive or a RAM bank, other than ASUSTeK, the warranty is void.

Until recently, I didn't know all this either.
Now I know it and I'm careful and it's not the reason why I'm changing ASUS, because I have a romantic relationship with my laptops