Please help! Best way to transfer data from old hard drive to new hard drive?

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HDDfail

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A little earlier I made a thread asking how to move data from an HDD to an HDD+SSD combination.
I've decided that I don't want to go through the trouble of keeping theOS only on the SSD.
I just need to get my data over to the new HDD.
I'm at a complete loss here. I've been searching the internet for hours now, and I cannot get a consistent answer.
What is the best, easiest, safest way?
Do I need to do a fresh Windows install, and re-install all of my programs?
Do I create a backup of my old drive using the built in Window's recovery system, and move it to the new one once it's installed? I don't know how to do this.
Do I clone the drive using some software?
I'm really confused here, and I need to figure this out before my current drive fails and I lose everything.
 
Solution
USAFRet


Yes.
Same Win OS and license, same motherboard, different drive. No problem.
It might choke on the activation, but calling the phone robot will clear...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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2 ways to do this:

1. Clean install on the SSD
For this, simply save your personal files elsewhere. Not Windows backup, just save the files. This includes any application install files, etc.

2. Clone from old drive to new drive.
This requires the used space on the old drive be no larger than about 80% the space of the new SSD.

Personally, I almost always recommend a clean install on a new SSD.
 
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HDDfail

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Let me make sure I'm understanding this.
So, I install Windows on my SSD. Why do I need to save personal files and application files (what do you mean by this?) Why won't they come over when I clone my old HDD to the new one?

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Clean install on the SSD, or clone from the HDD to the SSD. Two completely different processes.

Clean install: starting fresh. It is a whole new OS.
Clone from HDD to SSD: Yes, this works, mostly. Requires some setup considerations, such as size of the data and size of the SSD.

It is an exact duplicate of old drive to new drive.
If the old drive has 'problems', those problems are duplicated on the new drive.
If the new drive data is larger than the SSD space, that won't work. It must be smaller than the new SSD.

A clone is more prone to fail than a clean install. For some people it works perfectly. For others, there are issues.
 
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HDDfail

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If I were to do a clean install, how would I go about moving my data over? I would just have to reinstall everything, right?

If I were to do a clone, what "problems" with my old HDD would I have to worry about? Are you talking viruses? What kind of problems?

 
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Entomber

Entomber

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First of all, what sort of data are you interested in protecting?

If you clone your HDD you will inherit any accumulated errors and inconsistencies present in your current disk. That's why I prefer doing a clean install myself.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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'Moving your data'.
Save your personal docs and application installs elsewhere. Cloud, external drive, other PC...(you should be doing this anyway)
After, reinstall your applications.
Copy your personal docs back.

Clone 'problems'.
Often, on an old Windows install, it builds up cruft. Old uninstalls that did not uninstall fully, old junk in startup that you don't need/want, crap like that.
With a 'clone'....all that is automagically recreated on the new drive.

Why cripple a new speedy drive with old junk?
 
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HDDfail

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You're right, I probably won't be cloning.
This is going to be my process, taking from info you've given me as well as info I've learned elsewhere today.
1. Connect SSD, disconnect old HDD.
2. Fresh install Windows on SSD.
3. Install mobo drivers/video drivers/essentials on SSD
4. Connect new HDD (making sure SSD is still top boot priority)
5. Move over and/or reinstall personal docs and applications to new HDD
This sounds good, right?
Now, I have a new, simpler question, since I am new to using more than one storage drive.
Say I install or download something. Will Windows give me an option of which drive I want to download/install that item to? Because I obviously don't want everything going to the SSD.

 
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HDDfail

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It's not so much that I need to protect it, it's just that I don't want to reinstall everything.
But I've decided I'm not cloning anyway, thank you for informing me of the dangers.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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#5. No, you can't 'move over' applications. Reinstall them on the drive of choice.
Docs, yes. Applications, no.

For applications installs, almost every application gives the option to select the drive/folder to install to. During the install, select Custom or Advanced. Don't let it just do the default.
 
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HDDfail

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Yes, that is what I meant regarding the applications/docs.
As for that second question, I realize how stupid it was. I wasn't thinking.
Thank you for your help.
 
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HDDfail

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I'm sorry, but I have one other thing to ask that has always confused me.
Don't worry, I haven't forgotten to give best answer to you.

When I'm reinstalling Windows, I should be able to use the same disk I did for the first installation, given that I haven't changed motherboards, right?
I'm under the impression that the license is tied to the motherboard.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Yes.
Same Win OS and license, same motherboard, different drive. No problem.
It might choke on the activation, but calling the phone robot will clear that up quickly.
 
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Solution
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HDDfail

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Yeah, I have a feeling I'll be calling, it's happened before.
Again, thank you for your help, you've really eased my mind on this topic.
 
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