Installing a new copy of windows to a new SSD without CD

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
Fenkosmo

Fenkosmo

Honorable
Jan 8, 2014
25
0
10,530
I built my first computer a few months ago and I would say I am fairly experienced.
Just recently I got a new SSD from samsung (840 evo 120gb) with cloning software and sorts. The first problem is the SSD is not large enough to hold all of my files so I was wondering if there is a way to install a new version of windows (7/8) onto it without having to format my old drive. Second problem is that I don't have windows on a CD but as a file I can download from the software site of my university.
Also I wonder if you can delete the old version of windows on my current drives and still keep the files.

Additional info: I do have an external drive large enough to fit most of my files, but it's gonna take a long time to transfer them.
 
Solution
Swordkd
No, go ahead and install the SSD into your case and hook it up with your sata cable, shouldn't need a sata to usb adapter. You also shouldn't need any other program to install Windows as long as you are running off your HDD. Just double click the file and it should ask you where you want to install it, might have to format the drive first(probably). Once that gets started, It should have to reboot and at that time you switch the main drive to your SSD(your striped HDD's will be the other drive, and usb drive as the third drive). It'll save and reboot, and should finish up the install process on your SSD.
Sort by date Sort by votes
Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
You don't need your old drive formatted to install windows onto your SSD. And you should be able to read the install file off your old HDD to install the OS onto your SSD. Worst case, you might have to purchase a large enough usb drive to hold the windows install file, and install off of there.

You'll want to keep your old HDD simply to hold any files that you don't need on your SSD. Generally you'll only put the OS, a couple of games or highly used programs onto your SSD, so that you can enjoy the speed that the SSD offers. Music, movies and such don't need to take up space on the SSD, because it's not necessary to be able to access them so quickly.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Fenkosmo

Fenkosmo

Honorable
Jan 8, 2014
25
0
10,530


I have an 8gb usb stick somewhere and the 64bit version of W8 is only 3gb, so that won't be a problem. But how does one go about installing from such?
Furthermore I already knew I should keep the old drives for storage, but won't it require me setting them up as storage drives after the new installation of windows or can I just keep them the way they are and just delete the old windows? Or will that gruesomely mess things up?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
When you hook up the new SSD, set it up as your primary storage drive, that'll default the HDD to D: drive, and your optical drive to E:, if you have the HDD listed before the optical drive in bios. I wouldn't mess around with the HDD at all, leave the windows install on there unless you are really hurting for space.

I've never installed Windows off a usb stick, so I'm not sure. I know it can be done however. I'd try just having the file on the HDD, run the file and install it to the SSD, then reboot and enter bios and set the SSD as your primary boot drive then. Save and exit, should boot up and finish the install off the SSD.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Fenkosmo

Fenkosmo

Honorable
Jan 8, 2014
25
0
10,530


So what your'e saying is, if i try to hook up my SSD (will usb to SATA be sufficient?) and then just install the windows file from my HHD using DeamonTools, or similar, I should be able to enter the bios and set the SSD to primary system drive? Won't I have to setup the SSD to system drive and the HHD's (I have two set up to RAID 0 for striping) to storagedrives.

Also by optical drive I assume you mean USB flash drive and not dvd reader/writer?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
No, go ahead and install the SSD into your case and hook it up with your sata cable, shouldn't need a sata to usb adapter. You also shouldn't need any other program to install Windows as long as you are running off your HDD. Just double click the file and it should ask you where you want to install it, might have to format the drive first(probably). Once that gets started, It should have to reboot and at that time you switch the main drive to your SSD(your striped HDD's will be the other drive, and usb drive as the third drive). It'll save and reboot, and should finish up the install process on your SSD.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
Fenkosmo

Fenkosmo

Honorable
Jan 8, 2014
25
0
10,530


Thanks a lot! Haven't tried installing a new drive before so I appreciate your time and help very much!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Fenkosmo

Fenkosmo

Honorable
Jan 8, 2014
25
0
10,530
So, I've formatted my disk and everything but once I run the install file from my HDD I dont get the prompt asking me where to install W8. Does the prompt come after you have clicked install or should it be there first thing opening the file?

Edit: I'm afraid clicking "install" because I think it will install directly on my HDD without asking.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Swordkd

Swordkd

Splendid
Oct 3, 2012
2,795
1
21,965
It won't install to a drive thats already in use. However, it seems it might just be simpler to burn the Win8 ISO onto a dvd and install off that. I'm assuming the file you have is an .iso, and that you have a dvd burner. Check out:

http://www.intowindows.com/how-to-install-windows-8-from-iso-file/
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom