SSD installation help

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

ok so i have an hdd in my pc currently but i just got a brand new ssd, and i just want to put my OS on it for now. will the hdd being in there cause any conflict with the ssd?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

Assuming you have installation media and a valid activation key.... the basic steps are: disconnect the HDD, install the SSD, install the OS.

There are a few optimization guides around, here and elsewhere.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

well im wanting the ssd and the hdd to kind of coincide lol you know what i mean? will they work that way? if so how do i do that?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

Yes yes. After the OS install, reconnect the HDD. No problems. Many, many people, incl myself, have that configuration.
I have 2 x SSD amd 2 x HDD in this current system.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

so do i need to uninstall windows on the hdd? before i install it on the ssd?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

The HDD just becomes another drive letter. D, for instance.

See this tutorial for an easy way to save space on the SSD.:
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

If you have all your critical stuff saved elsewhere, you can just remove all partitions on the HDD and reformat.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

the current hdd is the only memory i have in my system at the moment

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

OK:
1. What size SSD are you looking at?
2. What do you currently do with the PC?
3. Do you have the OS and other install disks/files for your applications?

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

128gb ssd, game on it, and yes i have the windows 8 disk

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

i guess my main concern is, when i install the ssd, will i have to reformat the hdd so it doesn't have windows on it anymore?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

Eventually, yes. Just to reclaim that space.

So, what you do is - Prep everything before the SSD install.
Save all your personal documents to a folder tree outside of the current Windows install
If you use Steam, save the SteamApps folder there as well. That holds all your games. Similar with Origin.
Install the SSD
Install the OS
With a 128GB (like I have) you can actually install more applications than you may think. So install a bunch of your applications on the SSD as well

So, now that you have the actual system up and running, you can point the Steam client at that location on the HDD. The actual games can live on the HDD. Or both.
Play away.
Blow away the Windows install on the HDD as necessary. Doesn't necessarily have to be reformatted. But you should probably go in to Disk Management and remove the original System Reserved partition from that drive.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

will it work for right now if i dont uninstall windows from it?

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

ohhh alright sorry i gotcha, how do i remove the system reserved partition?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

Disk Management

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

oh ok i found it, so you say i should just install the ssd and remove that partition of the hdd titled system reserved?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

After the OS is installed on the SSD, and everything is working as expected.
Also.....as you are installing the SSD - AHCI mode in the BIOS

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

It's not critical to remove that System Reserved partition on the HDD, but once the OS is on the SSD, one less thing to worry about.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

so hook up the ssd, then boot to bios and put it in AHCI mode?

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

so i should still have all my games and stuff on the old hdd right?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

Yes.

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

and then install windows?

USAFRet · Dec 6, 2013

SARGE3019 :

Yes, but....

All your applications need to be reinstalled. Some of them may work, but it is far better to reinstall. Put them on the SSD.
Your games, especially Steam, can be moved around easily. See this: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

so the files for the games should be on the hdd still but i would need to reinstall the apps on the ssd? like say origin, steam, uplay? but i shouldn't have to re-download games?

SARGE3019 · Dec 6, 2013

and what about drivers and things of that sort?

SSD installation help

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Share this page