My HDD to SSD plan

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Biggles_

Biggles_

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Hi,

Just asking for some advice regarding moving from a HDD setup to an SSD and HDD setup. I intend to put the OS and some applications on the new SSD, a Samsung 840 EVO. I was initially going to do a clean install however I have several programs installed that required significant tinkering to get working. My question is, is there any possible method to keeping program files when moving OS to an SSD?

My current plan is to simply copy my entire 1TB HDD to an external HDD and then format it and install windows on the SSD before copy what I can from the external HDD. Is this the best way of doing it?

Also, is there anything I need to do to my SSD before I begin using it? I will install the magician software when I install the OS onto it. I've heard about changing it from AHCI to IDE or something along those lines?

Thanks a bunch!
 
Solution
USAFRet


Yes it will.
That is why, after the OS is installed and verified working on the new SSD, you change the boot ordder to be SSD first and only.
What is then on the other drive does not matter, except for wasted space. Delete partitions and format. Use the drive as you see fit.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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My current plan is to simply copy my entire 1TB HDD to an external HDD and then format it and install windows on the SSD before copy what I can from the external HDD. Is this the best way of doing it?
Click to expand...

When speaking of "several programs installed that required significant tinkering to get working"...no that will not work.
Generally, you cannot copy 'applications' from ne drive to another, especially ones that "required significant tinkering"

Bite the bullet, and redo that 'significant tinkering' once you have the OS on the new SSD.
 
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Biggles_

Biggles_

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Okay thanks, I suspected that would be the case. Do I just copy and paste my whole C drive or do I need to do something else with it? Im trying to copy and paste it onto my external HDD at the moment and it doesn't seem to be copying all of the files, most notably the video, music and picture libraries from the user folders. Thanks for your help!
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Nooooo. You can't just copy/paste the contents of "C" to the new drive. That will not work.

Options:
Fresh install on the new SSD. OS, and then whatever applications/games will fit.
or
Migrate from the old 1TB drive to the new SSD. This has its own issues:
How much used space is on the 1TB?
How large is the SSD?

I almost always recommend a clean install on a new SSD. Far, far fewer potential problems.
 
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Biggles_

Biggles_

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No, Im not trying to copy my current 1TB drive to my SSD. Im trying to copy my current C drive with everything on it to an external 2TB drive. Then I install OS onto SSD and format old HDD. Then I can copy whatever I need from my 2TB HDD onto my old HDD and SSD. Is this right?
 
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kenrivers

kenrivers

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You can use the Samsung data migration software to clone the drive. If you don't clone the drive you will have to reinstall the programs as you can't simply copy over the files. Hopefully someone who is more knowledgable will help with AHCI on a cloned drive. Tis best to set this before installing Windows.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For the words "copy whatever I need", this works with data only. doc/music/video/etc.
NOT applications.

There is no need to first copy to the 2TB, except for safety reasons (duplicate copies in case of fail).

Disconnect all drives except the SSD
Boot from the install media and install the OS on the SSD
Let it run all its updates
Now you can reconnect the other drive(s), and start to install applications. Most on the SSD, maybe some large games on the other drives.
Copy your personal files to where you want them.


EDIT to the above: If you copy all to your 2TB, then you can delete all the partitions on the 1TB and use it as you see fit
 
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Biggles_

Biggles_

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But when I re-connect the original drive, wont it still have the old OS and all of the old program files, registry data etc? Sorry if I'm being an idiot, I've never done this before, thanks for your patience
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Yes it will.
That is why, after the OS is installed and verified working on the new SSD, you change the boot ordder to be SSD first and only.
What is then on the other drive does not matter, except for wasted space. Delete partitions and format. Use the drive as you see fit.
 
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Biggles_

Biggles_

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Great, thanks a tonne for your help!
 
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