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Upgrading to win8 storage problem?

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  • Storage
  • Windows Vista
  • Compatibility
Last response: in Storage
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March 17, 2014 3:42:47 AM

I'm contemplating upgrading from vista to 8 on my PC I also want to upgrade the storage on my PC and I know that some programs are not compatible with win8. I just don't know how to do the intermediate step to move all my data onto a new ssd and I'm pretty sure I know how to install win8

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a b G Storage
March 17, 2014 4:47:33 AM

Some SSDs come with their own bundled software that can handle data migration, for example Samsung provide very good software with their SSDs. There is 3rd party software available though.

As far as compatability, you'll need to check with each piece of hardware or software for compatability. You could try the ender sites for that information, or the windows 8 product page for the minmum system requirements.

Windows 8 has a very different interface to Vista, I believe geared towards the tablet/touch screen market. A lot of people don't like it, including myself.

Windows 7 is a very good upgrade from Vista. Windows 9 also has a lot of buzz, if you are willling to wait and see.

As a general rule, every second windows release is a massive letdown. Vista and Windows 8 are both platforms that dissappointed many people.

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a b G Storage
March 17, 2014 4:53:37 AM

PS: If you are talking about backing up your personal files, it should all be in your users folder, inside your C: you may not want everything though. No software is required to back this up though. What you want is a seperate drive to move the files you want to, or to extract the data from your drive once your OS is installed on your new SSD.

The software that you may be thinking of is designed to take a working operating system from a HDD (or SSD) and transfer it to a new SSD - so that you don't have to reinstall windows and start from scratch. For a new SSD + New OS, it is suggested that you do a clean install onto your brand new SSD. You can then import your personal files...
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March 17, 2014 10:23:04 AM

Alright I'll just get win 7 then win8 bugs me with that weird desktop screen. And I want to get a 1tb ssd and all of my programs are compatible with win7 I used the upgrade advisor to check. How would I do the physical transfer of my data to the new ssd and the download of win7
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a b G Storage
March 17, 2014 10:01:43 PM

The download of windows 7 would depend on your choice of vendors - Microsoft offer their product and a number of other people offer their product as well ;)  How you sleep at night has little or no effect on me but I'm sure that it would keep you warm at night to know that Mr. Gates isn't feeling hard done by... Regardless of what shop or site you pick up a copy from, you want a recent edition or you'll waste several hours on updates. I believe there is a Feb 2014 release...

I'd be very surprised if you have a single program on Vista that doesn't run on 7, I even use some XP software in compatibility mode, which is a helpful function to have.

The simplest way would be to install your new SSD, remove all other hard drives from the motherboard and install windows. Once you have installed windows, then install all of the latest motherboard drivers - found on the product website. Then run windows update, install updates, reboot - rinse and repeat until you're done...

Now you can optimise windows to best use your SSD, there are numerous guides to how to do this available and nothing to stop you reading up on them now.

Then it's time to import your old data.

Connect your old (the one you use now) C: HDD via SATA or eSATA or USB. It will not come up as C:, it will most likely be D: or E:.

Navigate to your old HDD from "my computer" > Navigate to "windows" folder > Navigate to "Users" folder.

There will be a folder for each account that is on your current system. Each contains all of the user folders for each user profile. You can either copy the lot or you can be selective about the files you keep. Simply drag and drop into your new C:, which also has its own user folders. Once you are finished, you can decide what you wish to do with your old C: - probably reformat and use for data/back ups but you may fancy it as a paperweight of anything else...

You can then plug in all your other drives and you're away...
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