Question about moving Windows 10 onto an SSD
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Question about moving Windows 10 onto an SSD
Question about moving Windows 10 onto an SSD. I bought a new computer, cheap but speedy. It came only with a 256GB SSD with pirated programs on it. I have now fitted my old hard drive with genuine programs on it. I have Googled for info and the results are numerous and sometimes conflicting. Any advice from your similar experience would be much appreciated. I cannot screw this up.
The SSD wants to dominate even though I have set BIOS and BOOT to use the HDD. My question is I want is to move only the Windows and essential apps to the SSD but keep everything else on the hard drive. If I do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD, I assume I will have to reinstall all the programs that were installed through Windows in the past onto the HDD.
Once again thanks for any advice on this.
The SSD wants to dominate even though I have set BIOS and BOOT to use the HDD. My question is I want is to move only the Windows and essential apps to the SSD but keep everything else on the hard drive. If I do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD, I assume I will have to reinstall all the programs that were installed through Windows in the past onto the HDD.
Once again thanks for any advice on this.
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
What size is your HDD? How many partitions, of what size, particularly the one containing the C drive?
What OS is on the HDD?
Yes, that's correct.
Do you still have the installation media / licence keys for the applications you want to keep?
I would think about cloning the existing C drive to the SSD (assuming that the original OS is what you want), provided that the C drive partition is the same size or smaller than the SSD.
It's possible to use disk tools to split and / or resize existing partitions, but it might be simpler to just buy a bigger SSD - storage is so cheap nowadays, about £50 for a 1TB SSD.
What OS is on the HDD?
If I do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD, I assume I will have to reinstall all the programs that were installed through Windows in the past onto the HDD.
Do you still have the installation media / licence keys for the applications you want to keep?
I would think about cloning the existing C drive to the SSD (assuming that the original OS is what you want), provided that the C drive partition is the same size or smaller than the SSD.
It's possible to use disk tools to split and / or resize existing partitions, but it might be simpler to just buy a bigger SSD - storage is so cheap nowadays, about £50 for a 1TB SSD.
Legacy BIOS boot - MBR on Disk. Master Boot Record
UEFI boot - GPT partitioning Scheme
This seems like quite a decent article.
https://www.howtogeek.com/56958/htg-...lace-the-bios/
If you start changing the BIOS settings make SURE you record everything so you can put it back after.
The way I have done such, a long while ago, a couple of times is: Connect new disk to computer via a borrowed disk-docking device with a USB cable. Format new hard disk if needed. Use <can't remember which> software to clone old disk onto new disk. Swap disks.
Have a look at the brand of the two drives involved. Usually one or both brands will offer the use of some sort of disk partitioning/cloning/setup/data migration software and through this, you should be able to clone the contents of your 'old' drive to the SSD as has been mentioned above. The limitation being the size of the drives of course. If your old drive has more data on it than the SSD can hold, you'll need to bring this down first.
I have used Acronis True Image for this in the past (Western Digital is one brand that supplies this), but other packages will offer the same options I'm sure.
I have used Acronis True Image for this in the past (Western Digital is one brand that supplies this), but other packages will offer the same options I'm sure.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What size is your HDD? How many partitions, of what size, particularly the one containing the C drive?
What OS is on the HDD?
Yes, that's correct.
Do you still have the installation media / licence keys for the applications you want to keep?
I would think about cloning the existing C drive to the SSD (assuming that the original OS is what you want), provided that the C drive partition is the same size or smaller than the SSD.
It's possible to use disk tools to split and / or resize existing partitions, but it might be simpler to just buy a bigger SSD - storage is so cheap nowadays, about £50 for a 1TB SSD.
What OS is on the HDD?
Yes, that's correct.
Do you still have the installation media / licence keys for the applications you want to keep?
I would think about cloning the existing C drive to the SSD (assuming that the original OS is what you want), provided that the C drive partition is the same size or smaller than the SSD.
It's possible to use disk tools to split and / or resize existing partitions, but it might be simpler to just buy a bigger SSD - storage is so cheap nowadays, about £50 for a 1TB SSD.
**HDD is 2TB, no made partitions.
What OS is on the HDD?
**Windows 10 Home Edition 64 bit fully up to date. Original and activated.
Quote:
If I do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD, I assume I will have to reinstall all the programs that were installed through Windows in the past onto the HDD.
Yes, that's correct.
Do you still have the installation media / licence keys for the applications you want to keep?
**Yes I still have the original Windows 7 64 bit. I can download Win 10 from the Microsoft site through my account.
I would think about cloning the existing C drive to the SSD (assuming that the original OS is what you want), provided that the C drive partition is the same size or smaller than the SSD.
**I am hoping to just have just the OS transferred and I assume all the previously attached apps available as what would be a short cut.
It's possible to use disk tools to split and / or resize existing partitions, but it might be simpler to just buy a bigger SSD - storage is so cheap nowadays, about £50 for a 1TB SSD.
**The computer came with an SSD and for the cheap price the 256GB was the largest one to choose from. A clean install of Win 10 is about 27 GB if memory serves me right. If I take that option all other programs except WhatsApp and a few others would be on the HDD in the hope of keeping speed.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Indonesia
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I seem to have sorted that bit out. The BIOS has a trick page. Its a Megatrends BIOS. After doing all the selections the last page has the Boot options yet again. Odd. All seen now and my old HDD is available.
My apologies I am have problems replying to you. Thanks for the advice and I will let you know how it goes.
My apologies I am have problems replying to you. Thanks for the advice and I will let you know how it goes.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,073
Received 2,942 Likes
on
1,253 Posts
You can get a kit, that’s what I used.
I had mine onto a ssd stick that went into an external housing then I removed it and fitted it to the motherboard, but this does similar and comes with a ssd.
I had mine onto a ssd stick that went into an external housing then I removed it and fitted it to the motherboard, but this does similar and comes with a ssd.
Last year I built myself a "new" old but upgraded computer, based on the one I had for over 10 years 
. Bits bought mostly on eBay or Amazon if new.
Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 to GA-X58A-UD5 motherboard
Intel i7 950 to i7 980x (the 990x is still too expensive) CPU
12gb Ram to 24 Gb of faster Ram
Nvidia Quadro K2000 to K4200 graphic card
1TB Hard drive to 2TB SSD
The strategy was to have the old one available while I got the "new" one up and running and to subsequently have a backup with all my old files and software, ready to run just incase.
As the hardware was essentially the same, I figured that a clone of my existing hard drive to the new SSD would work. And it did
. I used a two bay docking station with a clone facility to do this.
. Bits bought mostly on eBay or Amazon if new.Gigabyte GA-X58-USB3 to GA-X58A-UD5 motherboard
Intel i7 950 to i7 980x (the 990x is still too expensive) CPU
12gb Ram to 24 Gb of faster Ram
Nvidia Quadro K2000 to K4200 graphic card
1TB Hard drive to 2TB SSD
The strategy was to have the old one available while I got the "new" one up and running and to subsequently have a backup with all my old files and software, ready to run just incase.
As the hardware was essentially the same, I figured that a clone of my existing hard drive to the new SSD would work. And it did
. I used a two bay docking station with a clone facility to do this.Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Hanging off the end of a thread
Posts: 33,073
Received 2,942 Likes
on
1,253 Posts
When I did mine, I did 2 SSD's and then disconnected one, that way if I ever need to reformat, I just need to disconnect the drive in use and reconnect the disconnected drive to have me an up and running PC with a base point to start from.
