So, my old HDD is finally failing (loud clicking, sometimes won't boot into Windows until reset), and I need a new one. I was going to use Acronis True Image to clone my data over to the new HDD, but I want to try an HDD + SSD boot drive combination this time. I obviously want my OS installed on the SSD, but still want my data on the new HDD. How do I do this easily? I can't clone everything to the new HDD, because that would also clone the OS over too, right? But I need it on the SSD. How can I move it over, or is there an easier way to do this?
Need advice on moving data to a new storage setup
- Thread starter HDDfail
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WyomingKnott
Legenda in Aeternum
- Aug 29, 2006
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Lessee. The easiest way is to buy an SSD that's at least as large as all your data. Clone over to it (be sure to set controllers to AHCI and set Acronis restore to optimize for ssd and restore to dissimilar hardware). Then add a fresh HDD and move whatever you want to move after-the-fact.
Next-easier is to put a new partition on your existing HDD (if there's lots of free space) or add a new hdd and move the data off the system partition to the new partition or disk. This will shrink the amount of data in your system partition, and you can clone it to the SSD. In this case you will have some fiddling to do to make My Everything point correctly on the new system - it will be pointing to either directories that are not there or that are improperly owned; we can work through how to do this.
Then there's my favorite guts-and-glory way: Set the motherboard controller to AHCI, remove all existing disks, add SSD, and rebuild Windows. Add an HDD, point My Everything over to it, and then copy from the old system drive logged in as each user - that will give correct ownership to the directories.
Any idea which way you want to go?
Next-easier is to put a new partition on your existing HDD (if there's lots of free space) or add a new hdd and move the data off the system partition to the new partition or disk. This will shrink the amount of data in your system partition, and you can clone it to the SSD. In this case you will have some fiddling to do to make My Everything point correctly on the new system - it will be pointing to either directories that are not there or that are improperly owned; we can work through how to do this.
Then there's my favorite guts-and-glory way: Set the motherboard controller to AHCI, remove all existing disks, add SSD, and rebuild Windows. Add an HDD, point My Everything over to it, and then copy from the old system drive logged in as each user - that will give correct ownership to the directories.
Any idea which way you want to go?
ugh, ignore that last post, I screwed it up.
Thanks for the reply.
Well, the first option may be possible, depending on how much data I need to clone to SSD (this HDD has THREE windows.old files from previous Windows installations that are probably taking up about 140gb, which I need to delete), but let's say this is option is out.
To be honest, I don't fully understand the second option. Excuse my inexperience. I have about 90gb of free space that I can create a new partition with.
Third option I think I somewhat understand, and seems to be best for me. So, you say I have to remove my current HDD, plug in the SSD, and rebuild Windows using the disk (since the license is bound to the motherboard, right?) on the SSD? I don't fully understand the next part with the "my everything" and copying from the old system drive. Again, excuse my inexperience.
WyomingKnott
Legenda in Aeternum
- Aug 29, 2006
- 13,249
- 3
- 51,960
Well, you did write " How can I move it over, or is there an easier way to do this?" Option three is probably the most time-consuming, but it's the best IMHO. However, if the computer came with the OS installed, you may not have a full OS distribution disc, needed for this option. For Win7 there are legal ways around this.
By "My Everything," I meant the My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My videos, and so forth folders (depending on what version of Windows you have). There will also be whatever other directories you created for data, or games created for gamesaves. You install Windows on the SSD with the SSD as the only drive on the machine. Then you have to re-install _all_ your software, including games (that can be a lot for some people). Add a new, ideally empty HDD (ideally just because it's simpler than changing file ownerships) and change the location of My Documents, and so forth, to folders on the HDD. Do this logged in as each user that you create on the system.
And, as each user, copy that user's file from your old system drive to the new My Everything folders on the HDD.
So the split-and-Acronis path is probably less overall labor, although it may involve several blind-alley starts. I certainly didn't get it right the first time I tried.
By "My Everything," I meant the My Documents, My Pictures, My Music, My videos, and so forth folders (depending on what version of Windows you have). There will also be whatever other directories you created for data, or games created for gamesaves. You install Windows on the SSD with the SSD as the only drive on the machine. Then you have to re-install _all_ your software, including games (that can be a lot for some people). Add a new, ideally empty HDD (ideally just because it's simpler than changing file ownerships) and change the location of My Documents, and so forth, to folders on the HDD. Do this logged in as each user that you create on the system.
And, as each user, copy that user's file from your old system drive to the new My Everything folders on the HDD.
So the split-and-Acronis path is probably less overall labor, although it may involve several blind-alley starts. I certainly didn't get it right the first time I tried.
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