Can I keep migrate windows from hdd to ssd without programs?

zightbaoe · May 16, 2014

I am planning to buy the PNY XLR8 240gb ssd soon and I am not familiar with having more then one drive. I currently have the wd blue 1tb with windows and all my stuff on it. What I want to do is either, a. migrate windows onto the ssd from my hdd without all the programs and the programs still work on the hdd, or b. fresh install windows on ssd and still be able to use programs on the hdd. Are either of these things possible? The reason I want to do this is because I have around 500gb of youtube stuff on my hdd (which I know I can use its all videos and pictures) and then around 400gb of games. I dont want to have to re-download all the games because my internet only had 500gb. Thanks in advanced and sorry if I was confusing.

i7Baby · May 16, 2014

Its simpler and less error prone to just install windows on the ssd. Then unnstall it from the hdd when it runs ok on the ssd

zightbaoe · May 16, 2014

i7Baby :

arded
Thanks for the responce. I could do that but I have two questions. First of all (I am sure this is retarded) is how do I uninstal windows. Also I was wondering if I could keep my games on my hdd and run them off the ssd after I uninstall windows because that is 90% of the problem (without re-downloading them.) Thanks and sorry I'm ret

ss202sl · May 16, 2014

You don't uninstall windows. You go through the install, and blow away all the partitions(wiping everything), and re-install windows. You will have to back up any data first.
Also you would need to re-install any applications including games.

zightbaoe · May 16, 2014

ss202sl :

I can't format my old hdd because I have nothing to back it up. I need my youtube data (around 400gb of videos and intros and gfx etc.) Can I just delete all the files from the hdd except my one folder that I need? Thanks

Mouldread · May 17, 2014

Hey,

I can tell you what to do to preserve your videos, pictures etc. but if your games are not on Steam there is no guarantee that 100% of the games will work after the installation. If you are happy with this you can see below how to do it.

1. Unplug your hard drive. Plug in the SSD, install windows on the SSD.

2. Install all drivers, antivirus, firewalls whatever and then turn the PC off.

3. Plug in the Hard Drive. Go to BIOS settings and select the SSD as primary disk and first bootable device and the Hard Drive as secondary. Save BIOS settings and exit BIOS.

This will restart the PC and you will load Windows from your new SSD. All information on the Hard Drive will be untouched - programs, videos, games etc. together with the old Windows installation will be on the Hard Drive.

Now you can access all your videos, pictures, music etc. with no problems. Most but probably not all games you had installed will work with no problem but you will have to manually create shortcuts to them and when you first run them you will have to customize your game settings as you would with a freshly installed game.

If the games were Steam games it's even easier. All you have to do is install Steam on your SSD and then select a games folder (on your hard drive).

Then manually you can delete the old windows installation if you want to get the extra free space (some files may refuse to get deleted).

zightbaoe · May 17, 2014

Mouldread :

Hey,

I can tell you what to do to preserve your videos, pictures etc. but if your games are not on Steam there is no guarantee that 100% of the games will work after the installation. If you are happy with this you can see below how to do it.

1. Unplug your hard drive. Plug in the SSD, install windows on the SSD.

2. Install all drivers, antivirus, firewalls whatever and then turn the PC off.

3. Plug in the Hard Drive. Go to BIOS settings and select the SSD as primary disk and first bootable device and the Hard Drive as secondary. Save BIOS settings and exit BIOS.

This will restart the PC and you will load Windows from your new SSD. All information on the Hard Drive will be untouched - programs, videos, games etc. together with the old Windows installation will be on the Hard Drive.

Now you can access all your videos, pictures, music etc. with no problems. Most but probably not all games you had installed will work with no problem but you will have to manually create shortcuts to them and when you first run them you will have to customize your game settings as you would with a freshly installed game.

If the games were Steam games it's even easier. All you have to do is install Steam on your SSD and then select a games folder (on your hard drive).

Then manually you can delete the old windows installation if you want to get the extra free space (some files may refuse to get deleted).

thanks so much

Mouldread · May 18, 2014

You are very welcome, I hope it helps/helped

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