Reinstall USB copy of Win 10 on new SSD in HP Omen

[Timster67]

I have an HP Omen I purchased in 2017. It uses a 32GB Optane NVMe and 1.8TB HDD. I just installed a 512GB SSD and want to install Win10 to it from a USB drive. Going into the BIOS options doesn't seem to allow me to do this. Can I not work with this machine as I would a standard PC? I do not want to use the Reset Windows option because I don't believe that will let me choose the new SSD as the install drive. Thoughts? Advice? Thanks.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

If you installed a 512 GB SSD, you should disable the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software in the BIOS and disable the Intel Optane memory.

Optane memory is only needed when you have a mechanical hard drive.

https://support.hp.com/in-en/document/c05591811

To install W10 on your new SSD, you should be able to boot from the USB flash drive by turning on the PC, immediately press/tap the ESC key.  Select the F9 boot options menu and from that, select the USB flash drive with W10 on it, and press the Enter key.

[Timster67]

Thank you - I did that and was able to reinstall to the new SSD. I didn't disable the Optane memory? Can I (should I) still do that, and if I do, am I able to utilize that 32GB of storage for anything? Does it hurt to still have it enabled in this new setup?

Thank you for your reply!

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

The HP article indicates that it is OK to leave the Intel Optane memory enabled, which I wasn't aware of.

Another forum member installed a SSD in his PC and it ran awful with the Optane memory enabled.

I suggested he disable it and he reported the PC ran great afterward.

If your PC is running fine with the Optane memory enabled, then leave it be.

Here is an article that demonstrates that having Intel Optane and a SSD is fine.

https://www.thessdreview.com/our-reviews/intel-optane-memory-h10-with-solid-state-storage-review-512...