Windows 8 From Big HDD to Smaller SSD

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HillbillyZT

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May 2, 2014
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Alright,
So today, I installed a new SSD, a Crucial M550 256G. I am wondering if it is possible to migrate ONLY Windows to the new SSD. All my programs, files, etc, etc, are all on the same drive AND Partition (yeah, yeah, I'm a dumbass for not partitioning), and can I still migrate without a full reinstall?

Thanks,
HillbillyZT
 
Solution
1N07


Of course you can...

Just backup all the data you want to keep on your hard drive.
Delete them from the hard drive.
Make a clone of the remaining data (Try to back up and delete pretty much everything except the files the OS needs)
Put the clone image on the SSD and choose it as the boot drive.
Format the old Hard drive and then restore the backup to it.
Voila.

UPDATE: Okay, just found this, just follow these instructions: :)
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows

Yeah, just to be clear unless you absolutely need to migrate, it's always better to do a clean install.
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1N07

1N07

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Feb 26, 2014
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Of course you can...

Just backup all the data you want to keep on your hard drive.
Delete them from the hard drive.
Make a clone of the remaining data (Try to back up and delete pretty much everything except the files the OS needs)
Put the clone image on the SSD and choose it as the boot drive.
Format the old Hard drive and then restore the backup to it.
Voila.

UPDATE: Okay, just found this, just follow these instructions: :)
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows

Yeah, just to be clear unless you absolutely need to migrate, it's always better to do a clean install.
 
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Solution
christinebcw

christinebcw

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Actually, it's not a Clone operation but an Imaging Operation that's described above.

If you want a Clone Operation, then you can use partition tools to reduce your HDD's partition to a smaller-than-SSD size, then clone that partition. This has the most risk - a mistake here and your HDD becomes unbootable and perhaps unrecoverable.

There's nothing like a clean install of the OS and fresh installs of the programs, though, to guarantee the faster-performing computer.
 
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Joey2oo9

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I was referring to programs not user files, obviously you can just move user files somewhere for safe keeping. You can't just clone windows and omit the installed programs.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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There is only one application I've seen that will migrate only the OS.
Paragon Migrate - not free.
http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/

However...
If you have only the OS on a 250GB drive, you're wasting a big part of it. That size drive will hold the OS and a whole bunch of applications.

The things that really take up space are things that do not need to be on the SSD - a large music library, video, games, etc.

And I always recommend a fresh install on a new SSD. Why drag along all the old cruft from the old install?
 
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1N07

1N07

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Yes you can. That's what I was talking about. It's just a bit harder to do when you want to transfer it to an SSD smaller than the amount of data you have.

When talking about two similar hard drives it's absolutely possible and common to clone the whole thing.
 
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HillbillyZT

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Alright, so assuming I do a clean install, nuked hard drive and all, how can I have ONLY Windows in a partition on the SSD, and the rest of my programs on the hard drive minus a few exceptions. Also, in doing this, what is the minimum partition size necessary for Windows?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Partitioning, especially with an SSD, is counterproductive.

Install the OS on the SSD
Install most or all of your applications on the SSD as well.

If you have only the OS, you'll be using maybe 30GB, out of 200GB or so. Wasting all that other space.
With applications there as well, they also benefit from the speed and stability of the SSD.

But during the install for each application, you can choose what drive it goes on. Don't just accept the defaults during the install, but rather select Advanced or Custom. This also allows you to avoid all the extra crap that some applications try to force on you. Toolbars, etc.

Now...for things that do not need to go on the SSD, see these:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html
 
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christinebcw

christinebcw

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You can answer the "Minimun Size" question by looking at your current Windows installation, but there are Temp Files, Paging Files and a lot of junk one-time-use files that come and go. Doing "minimum" will not help the SSD's performance.

I use all of the 240-256Gb SSDs as a single OS & Programs File partition, and even with some Office programs and a few Languages and Compilers, that's 70Gb or less.

However, I'm a 4-lane believer. If you've lived on a single lane road, there will be times that the single lane is blocked. And you'll wish for 2 lanes. But then repairs to a single lane also consume both. Then you'll wish for 3 lanes. But when the middle lane is being repaired, both surrounding lanes can be consumed. Four Lanes, however, always gives at least one lane of wide-open spaces.

The SSD can benefit from this concept, too. Give it plenty of space to write to and read from, and this reduces any stress - IF THAT EXISTS - to any 'single lane' minimalist installation.
 
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HillbillyZT

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Thank you fr the answers. I understand that I can change the directory, and simply wanted to know if I was able to default it. Also, I am a big time gamer and have well over 250gb in games on Steam. Due to this, I only want to put a few select games on the SSD along with Windows. I know how to do this already.

What I'll do is clean install/nuke, then install most of my apps on hard drive, and all but a few of my games and my favorite programs on the hard drive.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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There ya go. Best course of action.
 
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IrvSp

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From your other thread where I answered...

=============

Short answer is no (move installed programs to another partition).

You 'may' be in luck though, check out http://www.funduc.com/app_mover.htm and it might work as it claims to do it. If it not free but cheap. Most 'ways' of doing the 'move' actually just build 'links' to point to the new partition and folder that you've moved the program too. That doesn't always work.

What you should do it shrink the C: partition down as much as you can and then create a D: or other letter partition. If possible back-up the present C: just in case something goes wrong.

Then the C: should contain only or mostly OS files. I've used Paragon's OS to SSD Migration V4 program to transfer from C: to the SSD and set the SSD to C: and the boot drive.

Hopefully doing those 2 things will do what you want.
===========

 
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