SSD and HDD system, help please

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EmpdAChamp

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Aug 11, 2013
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I'm looking into getting an SSD and larger HDD for christmas, thus rises my concern. I want to be able to boot my OS from the SSD and have the rest of my files on my HDD. I currently have a fairly small HDD and am going to buy a bigger one as mentioned above, now, if i want to be able get rid of my smaller HDD and use the other two instead, will i have to manually place my files onto the new ssd and hdd to do this, and if so how? Please help.
 
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I currently have a SSD with a small HDD I recycled from an old computer, but I'm planning on buying a larger HDD once I run out of space. My OS/applications are all on my SSD, with my HDD containing all my pictures, music, etc.

You're going to have to reinstall the OS onto the SSD once you get it.. (or cloning but I highly suggest you simply installing it on the SSD for a clean install) but first disconnect the small drive before you do that. Hook up ONLY your SSD and install the OS from there. When you install the OS onto the SSD, make sure ONLY THE SSD is connected so you can be sure it installs on the SSD. Then you can connect your other drives once the OS is installed. Once you do that, connect both hard drives and manually transfer your files from the small drive to the large one. If not, you can use a thumbdrive to transfer them over.
 
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laviniuc

laviniuc

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Nov 29, 2013
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you can clone your hdd on the new ssd and then add the new hdd and move the movies/music to the hdd.

being able to keep your os on the ssd and rest on the hdd is a user choice. you are the one having to know each time if something goes on the hdd or ssd. if you're unsure you can get a hybrid drive that will do this for you. seagate momentus line for example
 
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Jim90

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Feb 3, 2013
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In using an SSD as a boot/OS drive the general consensus is that it's better to do a clean reinstall onto the SSD (as opposed to an HDD to HDD where you could clone an image of the original OS). Remember to disconnect all HDDs before you install the SSD (safety measure only) then reconnect after the OS boot has been confirmed.

This does, unfortunately, mean that you will need to manually reinstall all your non-OS software, and note down all relevant ID/passwords that might be required (e.g. Outlook, messenger, etc).

It is a bit of a one-off pain. Scan your Start menu programs for software you want to reinstall and record on a piece of paper. For any non-start menu installations you will need to scan the HDD. Of course, you need the original CD/DVD/USB/etc that the software came on. Alternatively, if it's (the .iso/etc) on your current HDD you need to copy this onto external media.

Remember to copy any My Documents/Pictures/etc folder contents you want to keep.
Game saved positions can also be transferred but these require a bit more detective work on the exact source location - Google helps here.

Since you will still have your old HDD you could always reconnect this (disconnect all others) if there is something you've forgotten. Additionally, tools such as Acronis Disk Director/Paragon Partition Manager can help but you need to be very familiar with these types of utilities.

These are some things to get you started.
 
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