Using my windows installed HDD as a storage for my future SSD

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Vulmaro

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May 12, 2014
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Hello,

As my title says, I will buy a new SSD and install windows on it and use my old HDD as a storage device but I have a question

After I Installed windows on my ssd, can I just use my windows installed hdd as a storage device without formatting it ? I won't boot up with my old hdd, I just want to acces my files and copy/cut to my ssd
 
Solution
SuperSoph_WD
Hey, Vulmaro!

I personally would make sure that I have everything backed up from that old HDD. No matter what.
When installing the new SSD, make sure the boot order in the BIOS is right.

Basically you have two choices:
1. You can perform a fresh install on your new SSD and save the data from your old HDD somewhere else (preferably on an external/backup media device) and then you need to format the HDD.

2. Or you can migrate/clone your HDD to your new SSD using a specific software like Acronis. In which case, the SATA should be configured to ACHI for your SSD or else you may encounter some problems when booting your PC. Once you have the OS with all the Windows updates, drivers and programs installed, you can reconnect the old HDD...
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SuperSoph_WD

SuperSoph_WD

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Jul 30, 2014
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Hey, Vulmaro!

I personally would make sure that I have everything backed up from that old HDD. No matter what.
When installing the new SSD, make sure the boot order in the BIOS is right.

Basically you have two choices:
1. You can perform a fresh install on your new SSD and save the data from your old HDD somewhere else (preferably on an external/backup media device) and then you need to format the HDD.

2. Or you can migrate/clone your HDD to your new SSD using a specific software like Acronis. In which case, the SATA should be configured to ACHI for your SSD or else you may encounter some problems when booting your PC. Once you have the OS with all the Windows updates, drivers and programs installed, you can reconnect the old HDD (remember to set the boot priority to SSD). You can copy all your important data to the SSD, but either way you will need to format your old HDD afterwards. It's not worth the problems that you might have to deal with if you don't do it. Most common of which is running into NTFS permissions which will basically confuse your OS, because the old 'user' from your HDD will still have control. Then you will have to adjust the security settings and ownership which may lead to even more complications.

I personally would just backup that old HDD and after installing the OS on the SSD, I'd delete the partitions and reformat it to use as a secondary storage.
Sorry for the details. Let me know if this was helpful though.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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