First time ever setting up a SSD. Need help with setup(Especially getting it to work with my HDD).

Ross11

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Jul 8, 2012
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I got a great deal on a 240 GB OCZ Agility SSD recently in a sale and I can't wait to set it up with my system but there are some things I am concerned about. My system is running on a single 2TB harddrive which is already about half way full and I can't afford to lose any data on it. I plan to do a clean install of windows onto my SSD and get rid of it on the HDD so I can optimize the SSD as a boot drive. What I am worried about is how will I keep all my data if I do a clean install onto the SSD. Will I have to format the HDD to get it to work as storage? Will I have to reinstall all my programs and games? Will it be as simple and ticking a few options to config the HDD for storage and I'll be able to continue using everything on it fine? I just really don't want to lose any of my data. Also I intend to uninstall some of the programs from my HDD and install to the SSD but I really don't want to have to get rid of some the programs installed on my HDD.
 
Solution


No, that's not what I'm saying. Most applications will have to be reinstalled. The registry in your new Windows install knows nothing about them.
Some few apps may run OK, but safest just to reinstall them.

What I generally do is create a top level folder on the other drive - MyProgs. Use that as a top level install location. Just to keep...

USAFRet

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Moderator
What I am worried about is how will I keep all my data if I do a clean install onto the SSD. Will I have to format the HDD to get it to work as storage?

No, you do not have to format the HDD.

Install Windows as per the many guides in here and elsewhere online.
Verify it works.
Reconnect the HDD.
Install applications where you like. Some one the SSD, some on the HDD.
If desired, you can change the default location of the Libraries - Documents/Music/Vides/Downloads/etc.
 

Ross11

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Jul 8, 2012
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Thanks for replying. So you're saying I won't have any problems or registry issues running all the programs already installed on my hard drive after doing a clean install to the SSD. Also I would appreciate if you could provide some links to the guides you mentioned. I already know most of the stuff about optimizing the SSD but very little about getting it to work with hard drives.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


No, that's not what I'm saying. Most applications will have to be reinstalled. The registry in your new Windows install knows nothing about them.
Some few apps may run OK, but safest just to reinstall them.

What I generally do is create a top level folder on the other drive - MyProgs. Use that as a top level install location. Just to keep everything in one place.
But a 256GB SSD can actually hold the OS and quite a few applications. My 128GB drive has ALL my applications other than games. ~50GB used on it.
Games live elsewhere.

You might be surprised at how little space many applications consume.
 
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