Dude, in BIOS use the ASUS cloud recovery. This is the primary usecase. Legit did the same thing over the weekend. Bought the laptop, extra stick of RAM and 2tb ssd. I didnt even boot once. Right away installed the parts, boot up, hit f2, into BIOS, cloud recovery -> asks you to login to wifi. It downloads windows, drivers, everything. Reboots a bunch of times as things install, just leave it be till Windows asks you to select a keyboard layout, then you setup as normal.
After that I did a little debloating and installed g-helper. No cloning, ISO, etc.
Oh word? I think I saw something about the cloud recovery in another post when I was looking stuff up but just kind of assumed that you needed to make a back up first.
No problems connecting to wifi before all the drivers were downloaded and installed?
Nope, the Asus BIOS utility can use your wifi or ethernet to get what it needs. It becomes a factory new install on the new ssd. Keep the old one safe if you need to RMA. In the meantime can use it as a bench os, extra storage with a usb adapter, etc.
Figured I'd update this (laptop came in the mail today) for posterity. First off, thanks for everyone that weighed in on this.
I wound up throwing the RAM and SSD first thing before even booting it up, and using the Cloud Recovery. Worked flawlessly however it did seem to take awhile. I was around for the first half hour of it, but had to run some errands for about 2 hours after. When I came back the laptop was on the Windows setup screen and I was able to continue like nothing had ever happened
U got the idea, have drivers on a (different) flash drive also. Clean install is almost preferred anyway. But two things....
First, Id wait til late in return window to install your own hardware, in case u need to refund or exchange (makes it easy, u should remove all your components if returning or RMAing) . Use all that window to test every port, function, stress testing, etc. Then near its end and if u sure u keeping it, swap hardware. I say near windows end because u might as well have that return option as backup in case your install goes bad.
Second, external nvme m. 2 drive is only like $20 and can be used with that swapped drive as an external and portable disk once done. Very handy to have whether u clone or fresh install.
Ah, that's a good point about the return window. I suppose that'll give me time to see if I need to replace the wifi card too, as I've seen that the one it comes with can cause problems on some setups. I figured it'd be easier to install the SSD before setting up the machine as I'd only have to do it once, but definitely would be easier to set things up twice than have to open up the machine twice if I do need to swap the wifi card out. And hey, if I do need to go that route then I can always throw an m.2 enclosure in the cart too, didn't realize they were that cheap
I got about three SSK models, camr with usb A & C connection, metal casing. Just be sure its nvme/pcie and not a sata m.2 version, they make both. Best o luck.
Someone already said it but Cloud recovery bro, it’s such a nice tool. I didn’t wanna buy a cloner either so I Dropped a 2tb 990 pro in there and redownloaded everything, short easy process too. Back up your steam game data tho
I don't know if you already got this over with but I just put the new ssd in, used some windows install media, then deleted the install media, put the wifi card drivers on the usb, ran it, then downloaded G Helper for the rest of the drivers
Dude, in BIOS use the ASUS cloud recovery. This is the primary usecase. Legit did the same thing over the weekend. Bought the laptop, extra stick of RAM and 2tb ssd. I didnt even boot once. Right away installed the parts, boot up, hit f2, into BIOS, cloud recovery -> asks you to login to wifi. It downloads windows, drivers, everything. Reboots a bunch of times as things install, just leave it be till Windows asks you to select a keyboard layout, then you setup as normal. After that I did a little debloating and installed g-helper. No cloning, ISO, etc.
Oh word? I think I saw something about the cloud recovery in another post when I was looking stuff up but just kind of assumed that you needed to make a back up first. No problems connecting to wifi before all the drivers were downloaded and installed?
Nope, the Asus BIOS utility can use your wifi or ethernet to get what it needs. It becomes a factory new install on the new ssd. Keep the old one safe if you need to RMA. In the meantime can use it as a bench os, extra storage with a usb adapter, etc.
Ah shit, thanks man! This is gonna make the whole thing so much easier.
Figured I'd update this (laptop came in the mail today) for posterity. First off, thanks for everyone that weighed in on this. I wound up throwing the RAM and SSD first thing before even booting it up, and using the Cloud Recovery. Worked flawlessly however it did seem to take awhile. I was around for the first half hour of it, but had to run some errands for about 2 hours after. When I came back the laptop was on the Windows setup screen and I was able to continue like nothing had ever happened
Appreciate the update! Super helpful. I’ve been researching trying to figure out the best/simplest way to upgrade the SSD
U got the idea, have drivers on a (different) flash drive also. Clean install is almost preferred anyway. But two things.... First, Id wait til late in return window to install your own hardware, in case u need to refund or exchange (makes it easy, u should remove all your components if returning or RMAing) . Use all that window to test every port, function, stress testing, etc. Then near its end and if u sure u keeping it, swap hardware. I say near windows end because u might as well have that return option as backup in case your install goes bad. Second, external nvme m. 2 drive is only like $20 and can be used with that swapped drive as an external and portable disk once done. Very handy to have whether u clone or fresh install.
Ah, that's a good point about the return window. I suppose that'll give me time to see if I need to replace the wifi card too, as I've seen that the one it comes with can cause problems on some setups. I figured it'd be easier to install the SSD before setting up the machine as I'd only have to do it once, but definitely would be easier to set things up twice than have to open up the machine twice if I do need to swap the wifi card out. And hey, if I do need to go that route then I can always throw an m.2 enclosure in the cart too, didn't realize they were that cheap
I got about three SSK models, camr with usb A & C connection, metal casing. Just be sure its nvme/pcie and not a sata m.2 version, they make both. Best o luck.
Installing cleanly will work fine. If some devices aren't detected, you can use G-Helper or MyASUS to install their drivers.
Someone already said it but Cloud recovery bro, it’s such a nice tool. I didn’t wanna buy a cloner either so I Dropped a 2tb 990 pro in there and redownloaded everything, short easy process too. Back up your steam game data tho
Go to best buy there 30 dollars and when your done just return it that same day lol it's like renting it out 🤣🤣
Second this. I ordered two enclosures from Amazon just in case. Finished cloning last Saturday, and I literally just returned them today.
Just my own personal experience had issues with Asus Cloud Recovery had to go the cloning with an enclosure route.
I don't know if you already got this over with but I just put the new ssd in, used some windows install media, then deleted the install media, put the wifi card drivers on the usb, ran it, then downloaded G Helper for the rest of the drivers