Cloning ONLY the OS to an SSD

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Status
Not open for further replies.
P

purpleninja

Honorable
Feb 15, 2013
82
0
10,630
Hey guys! I looked on the Internet for a solution for this and I couldn't seem to find one. Anyway, here's my question.

I am currently using a 1 TB Western Digital Blue SATA HDD. It works fine now with no problems, but I eventually want to get an SSD for better performance. The only issue with SSDs are a lack of sufficient storage space. So, I figured I could have a dual hard drive setup with a SSD containing the operating system, in my case Windows 7 64-bit, and a HDD containing all of my games, media, and programs. I bought the OEM version of Windows 7 and as far as I know, I can't re install it due to licencing issues. Please correct me if I am wrong.

I would prefer to keep my data intact during the transfer processes, so I want to know if there is a way to clone the OS to the SSD and keep everything else on the HDD, then set it up to auto install everything to the HDD?

Sorry for writing a novel with this post. Any help is appreciated. Thanks!
 
Solution
N
You can clone the whole drive, but not just Windows. Even if you could clone just Windows, you would have to reinstall everything anyways because all the other programs won't be in the location Windows will think it is (your SSD would be the new C: drive, and it will think all programs are in C: but they would be on the HDD which would now be the D: drive). Basically you either clone the whole drive or you start fresh, and since you can't clone the whole drive since you don't have the space, you have to reinstall Windows and all your programs.
Sort by date Sort by votes
P

purpleninja

Honorable
Feb 15, 2013
82
0
10,630


What I'm asking is if I have to re install the OS to an SSD and reinstall everything then configure it for dual drives or if I can somehow clone only the OS.

And are you saying that I can use the OEM disc to re install it with the already used activation code.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

purpleninja

Honorable
Feb 15, 2013
82
0
10,630


So I have to start from scratch and re install everything? That's the only way to do it? And is it worth that?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
N

navysealbrian

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2006
214
0
18,760
You can clone the whole drive, but not just Windows. Even if you could clone just Windows, you would have to reinstall everything anyways because all the other programs won't be in the location Windows will think it is (your SSD would be the new C: drive, and it will think all programs are in C: but they would be on the HDD which would now be the D: drive). Basically you either clone the whole drive or you start fresh, and since you can't clone the whole drive since you don't have the space, you have to reinstall Windows and all your programs.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
P

purpleninja

Honorable
Feb 15, 2013
82
0
10,630


I do video editing and gaming, so would an SSD be worth the upgrade? Would I see a huge performance boost? I'm starting to think it would be better to stick with my HDD...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
N

navysealbrian

Distinguished
Jan 18, 2006
214
0
18,760
Whatever is installed or located on the SSD will load FAST. That's fast as in very fast. I can shut down the computer, start it back up, put in my password and be fully logged into Windows in under a minute total, load time for Windows minus inputting the password is like 15 seconds. I rarely see a loading screen when I'm in a game, if I do, it lasts only 1-2 seconds. It's worth it, especially if you hate waiting.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
P

purpleninja

Honorable
Feb 15, 2013
82
0
10,630


Thanks man! I'll see what I can do. Cheers!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Status
Not open for further replies.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom