Going to purchase an SSD, can I transfer just my OS to the SSD whilst keeping my other files on my current HDD?

Pushyboar

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Apr 20, 2014
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4,510
I built my computer a few months back with just a 1TB HDD which I have almost half filled, now however I have a spare £80 so can buy a 120GB SSD. My friends who have built computers put SSDs in them straight away, so they don't know. Is it possible to transfer the OS to the SSD so I can keep all other programs and files on my HDD? If not, whats the best way to go about installing software to my SSD?#

Once I've done that I'd be able to select each individual program that I want to put on my SSD, leaving the ones I don't mind being slow on my HDD
 
Solution
1. I always recommend just a clean reinstall on a new SSD.

2. There is only one application I've seen that will move 'only' the OS to a new drive. Non-free: http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/

3. I've not seen anything that will allow you to pick and choose which applications to move. All or nothing.

A 120GB SSD will probably hold the OS and all your applications apart from games.

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
1. I always recommend just a clean reinstall on a new SSD.

2. There is only one application I've seen that will move 'only' the OS to a new drive. Non-free: http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/

3. I've not seen anything that will allow you to pick and choose which applications to move. All or nothing.

A 120GB SSD will probably hold the OS and all your applications apart from games.
 
Solution
The best practice I seen is as follows:

1) Buy SSD and Ext HDD
2) Run Windows Easy Transfer to Ext HDD backing up your data. Normal Ext HDD is 1TB, so there is plenty of space to follow the 'Transfer STEAM games' step by steps (google it).
3) Download then make DBAN CD/DVD
4) Wipe current HDD - If you don't wipe then you have to use special partition tools to deactivate it as the boot drive and manually make the changes which can still flub up later.
5) Install SSD, install OS to SSD
6) Run Windows Update and do all updates and options (except Bing) repeat till done
7) Download and run Slim Drivers to install all the latest drivers
8) Go to www.filehippo.com download latest then install Malwarebytes and either AVG or AVAST!
9) Make backup of this 'baseline' so anything goes wrong you can get back to this point (hint the EXT HDD would be a good place for the Backup image).
10) Now MANUALLY install all your programs, BUT for this step AND all future software updates / installs you need to MANUALLY tell it to install to the D:\ (HDD) drive, or you will eat up the 120GB quickly (depending on how much you install and how big they are of course).
11) Follow step for restoring STEAM games to D:\
12) Run Windows Easy Transfer, all yoru settings, desktop, etc. are restored.
DONE.
 

Pushyboar

Reputable
Apr 20, 2014
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4,510


Okay, so apart from backing up everything that I can't simply redownload, what would I need to do if I buy the SSD? Could I use the same registration codes for windows 7 and microsoft office?

 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Yes. Your existing, valid, license key will work with a clean install. If it balks and says 'This key is already in use', you might have to go through the phone robot to activate. Pretty painless, though.