I'm looking to transfer just my OS from my 1TB HHD to my 250GB SSD.

Iain T · Apr 9, 2015

I've just bought and installed a Samsung SSD 850 EVO 250GB to quicken the process of booting up my PC. I've had a Seagate (forgot exact model) 1TB hard drive in my PC for just under a year.

I'm looking to JUST transfer my OS system onto the SSD for the time being, nothing else. I'm also planning on keeping the 1TB HHD for extra space when needed. My 1TB HHD is about 2/3 full.

Is there any way to just transfer my OS onto the SSD. I have and OEM disc copy of Windows 7 as well as the Product ID on hand (I'm not sure if that has an impact on anything).

Extra Question:
I'm also planning to download GTA V (through Steam) onto the SSD for optimum loading times. I know it will fit onto the SSD (Still a pretty big download at 59GB). If I were to transfer games from my HHD to my SSD (All Steam games); will I need to re-install the games onto my SSD directly through Steam, transfer them from my C drive (HHD) to my B drive (SSD), or go another route to transfer me games.

Thanks for all the answers in advance.

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

There is no way to just transfer the OS portion over, its the whole drive or nothing. If you want to avoid re-installing Windows you need to use a tool like this:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm

To copy the drive over to your SSD and then you can boot from the SSD. You should just plan to re-install all of your software to the 1 TB drive after you do the swap. There is no way to transfer installs of games after the fact. If you do the drive copy like mentioned above everything will be on the SSD for now, until you uninstall games and then re install to the hard drive.

Saga Lout · Apr 10, 2015

Best Answer reset at your request, IanT but before you go ahead with your other question, consider moving all your personal data to an external hard disk so all that's left on the 1Tb disk is the system and programmes. Then you can clone that using tools from EaseUS or Acronis and others, on to the new SSD.

I've done it that way on my own systems and many of my customer. I then migrate the files back to the spinning disk and wipe all the system files to make more storage space.

Iain T · Apr 10, 2015

Saga Lout :

Is there a way where it does not require me to transfer my files to and from one hard drive to another. I've been looking at other posts similar to mines so I know it is not possible to transfer all my data from my 1TB HHD to my 250GB SSD as is using this partition (I think that is what it is called) method as it can only clone all the data to and from a storage device (where there is not enough storage space to clone it to the SSD). This is an option as I do have a backup external HDD that will hold all of my data.

Is it possible to re-install my OEM Windows 7 Home Premium copy to the SSD (I have both the disc and Product ID code) or is that not recommended/not possible?

Saga Lout · Apr 10, 2015

Reinstalling is possible but you would also have to reinstall any programmes you installed on to the original disk.

So long as you have the disks and product keys for those programmes, a clean install is a good way forward.

17seconds · Apr 10, 2015

Use the Easy File Transfer wizard to save your Windows/User profile. Do a fresh install of Windows 7 onto your SSD, then use the Easy Transfer wizard again to transfer your Windows User profile to the new SSD. Then install Steam and you should be well on your way.

Iain T · Apr 10, 2015

Saga Lout :

I think I'm going to make a backup copy all the stuff that I have got on my HDD that is not going on the SSD then clone it like you said.

I have too many programs ranging from gaming sevices to CAD modeling software which will be a very tedious job if I was to reinstall them and could run into problems doing that.

When I transfer all my data to my back-up HDD; should I copy and paste all the stuff needed from my main HDD, do a whole back up copy through the Control Panel or is there another way of doing it?

Saga Lout · Apr 10, 2015

I use cut and paste because it's quicker. Nothing gets cut without first being pasted so it's quite safe. When you've got everything you need, let the cloning software do the job.

EaseUS offers a free utility which needs to be burned to a CD or DVD so it can boot the system - a clone can't be made from within the system when it's running so the software starts the machine and takes it from there.

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

Saga Lout :

You can do the copy right within Windows you don't need to make a bootable disc:

http://www.partition-tool.com/copy-wizard/migrate-os-to-ssd.htm

I've migrated multiple systems to SSD this way.

ArtPog · Apr 10, 2015

Iain:
As you know by now the Samsung SSD comes bundled with Samsung's Data Migration program, which is basically a disk-cloning program designed for Samsung SSDs.

The program is quite effective and easy to use when the Samsung SSD has sufficient disk-capacity to receive the ENTIRE contents of the source disk (in your case the 1 TB HDD).

But since your objective is to just clone the OS to the SSD (I presume because the SSD's disk-capacity is insufficient to receive the entire cloned contents of the source disk), this poses a problem.

Now, Samsung's Data Migration program does have the capability to exclude data from the source disk during the disk-cloning operation so that (presumably) the user is able to install just the OS (+ possibly other program data) cloned from the source disk. You can consult the program's User's Manual for the details of the process.

Frankly, virtually all the users I've talked to about this process have found the process so awkward & difficult to control that they have given up the attempt. In every case that I'm aware of the user has simply fresh-installed the OS onto the SSD and subsequently installed whatever desired programs & other data can be "fitted" onto the SSD.

Anyway, read over the User's Manual to get a good sense of how to proceed and determine if it's worth a try. If you do go ahead with it I'd be interested in the results. But I would caution you that if you do decide to do so make absolutely sure that before you begin the disk-cloning operation you have copies (on another drive) of the programs & data on your 1 TB HDD.

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

This thread seems it have gone way off the rails and taken a process that really is simple and complicated it quite a bit. Iain T, I see what you want to do which is just transfer the OS over to the SSD and have all your programs still work. I can tell you for sure that it can be done with some caveats. First off only the programs transferred to the SSD with the OS will work. So if you have more than 250 GB of stuff on there you need to reduce this.

I've done this exact process its very easy, first back up all of your personal data/files to an external drive (this is more of a just in case something messes up). Then uninstall everything you don't want on the SSD and get your 1TB drive well below 250GB. Then use the EaseUS program I mentioned:

http://www.partition-tool.com/personal.htm
instructions: http://www.partition-tool.com/copy-wizard/migrate-os-to-ssd.htm

When its done, put the SSD as your primary drive (either by configuring the port in the bios or physically plugging it into the one the 1TB drive was plugged into and then plug the 1TB to something else, or leave it disconnected for now just to test).

Reboot with your SSD and you're good, hook up the 1 TB drive and then install programs to it. You can delete the windows directory on the 1TB drive, or just format it, and then restore your backed up personal files, since the installation files from your previous programs are useless at this point.

You can re-install windows and use the file transfer wizard if you want, but theres nothing you can do to get around having to reinstall any programs that you're gonna want to leave on the 1TB drive. Other than installing the programs you could probably do the whole migration in about an hour.

Iain T · Apr 10, 2015

Rogue Leader :

I thought if I transferred my OS, my OS can still access and boot programs from my HDD but you're saying I will have to install every program again onto the SSD again for them to run (I am trying to avoid re-downloading all of my programs again as I've lost some product keys for it and might have to buy them again).

If I leave my OS as well as programs such as; Steam, Microsoft Office, Adobe CS4 package, on my HDD then I use the partition to clone what I have on the SSD. Will I still need to re-install all the programs onto the SSD even though I have transferred them?

I've also been reading on other threads that games from Steam are easy to transfer by simply cutting and pasting but i'm not 100% sure if that is the case.

ArtPog :

I do have this program that Samsung gave me to clone my data from my HDD to my SSD, I thought that was just the same type of program as EaseUS and could use either or to complete the process. If people are recommending EaseUS and there are instructions to go along with it, I might just use it. I hardly doubt this will be a big problem.

I could install a fresh copy of Windows 7 onto my computer SSD and deleting the Windows 7 I have on my HDD, the thing I'm trying to avoid doing is installing programs where I've either lost the product key or don't have access to the key anymore for some reason. I'm thinking about doing the migrating process to transfer my OS and maybe some processing intensive programs like the Creo Parametric 3D modeling software I have. I don't mind doing either way (cloning or fresh install of the OS) to get the job done. I will be executing one of the methods, preferably the method which does not require me to download the majority of the programs I already have on my HDD.

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

If you use EaseUS to transfer your HDD to your SSD, it will transfer everything, OS, programs, etc and it will work exactly the same. If the amount of space you have used on your current 1TB hard drive is 250 GB or less, then you have nothing to worry about, just do the transfer and boot up the SSD and then wipe the 1TB drive. If you are over 250GB you will need to uninstall some programs (probably good to pick the ones you have a key for) then do the swap over. To get to the "real number" you may want to remove any personal files from your drive to get it as lean as possible for the transfer. Then just store these personal files on the HDD.

If you transfer JUST the OS over (which isn't possible anyway) the problem is now the HDD will have a different drive letter, so when you try to run a program it will look for its files on a different drive letter. Some (very very very few) programs have no issue, but most do, because the drive letter is embedded in registry keys that they use.

If you were to install Win 7 on the SSD and transfer your profile over, you run into the same registry problem, You cannot access programs installed to the HDD, it is considered a different drive and the registry won't have them, and they won't be "installed" even though they exist there.

Basically leave the programs installed that you lost the product key or whatever, they will transfer seamlessley over to the SSD using EaseUS. But to lean things out uninstall stuff you do have the access to keys/discs for, remove personal files, and then re-install them afterwards, on the HDD.

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Rogue Leader :

And this is just a standard cloning operation. Takes the OS and everything else on that drive into the SSD.

Not quite what the OP asked for.
"I'm looking to transfer just my OS from..."

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Iain T :

There is only one application I've seen that purports to move 'just' the OS to a different drive. And reported results I've read in here have been mixed. Either it works mostly OK (but not perfect), or it ends up a complete mess.

Paragon Migrate - http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/
(not-free)

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

USAFRet :

Rogue Leader :

And this is just a standard cloning operation. Takes the OS and everything else on that drive into the SSD.

Not quite what the OP asked for.
"I'm looking to transfer just my OS from..."

And if you read the rest of my post I responded to what he wants. However what he wants (just copy the OS), is not possible. So I gave him a way around it. Apparently you missed that.

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Rogue Leader :

USAFRet :

And if you read the rest of my post I responded to what he wants. However what he wants (just copy the OS), is not possible. So I gave him a way around it. Apparently you missed that.

Right.
Uninstall and/or remove everything to get it to below the required size on the new SSD. Standard cloning operation.

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

USAFRet :

Rogue Leader :

Right.
Uninstall and/or remove everything to get it to below the required size on the new SSD. Standard cloning operation.

You really don't know how to read. I also elaborated in another post.

I cannot believe you are a moderator, you have literally come into this guys thread, and crapped all over a solution with an uninformed clueless opinion on a solution you didn't even really read or understand. You are now the second moderator here I have dealt with that acts in this manner.

This place is truly ridiculous. Iain T I am very sorry for this BS going on in your post.

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Rogue Leader :

USAFRet :

You really don't know how to read. I also elaborated in another post.

I cannot believe you are a moderator, you have literally come into this guys thread, and crapped all over a solution with an uninformed clueless opinion on a solution you didn't even really read or understand. You are now the second moderator here I have dealt with that acts in this manner.

This place is truly ridiculous. Iain T I am very sorry for this BS going on in your post.

Dude...I'm not trying to get into an argument or anything.

The OP asked for something which is potentially possible, but not recommended and the only application I know of that does what he asked sees mixed results.
What you suggested is just fine. But not exactly what he asked.
And no different than what other people suggested, or has been recommended hundreds of times in here.

No worries, OK?

Rogue Leader · Apr 10, 2015

USAFRet :

Yeah its cool, your response just seemed standoffish, and as I mentioned there have been other mods in here who push off an attitude like that and I lumped you in with them. The responses here seemed to over complicate the situation when in the end what he wants really isn't possible (other than the program you mentioned and my friend actually tried it, it was a trainwreck) and a lot of the solutions were even more work than mine. No worries we're cool.

17seconds · Apr 10, 2015

The whole cloning thing isn't always as straight forward as we would hope. You really need good software to do it. The main risk if you cheap out on your cloning software is that your new drive does not receive the 'C' drive letter. If that doesn't work as intended (and no you can't just change the letter so everything works), you really are in for a tough go of it. The best point, is to back up everything as much as possible, registry, files, etc.

I suggested the simple "Windows Easy File Transfer" + a fresh install is because this is guaranteed to work as expected and simply. You may need to install your programs again on top of that, but that wasn't clear in your first post. Having written that, others certainly have more experience with this operation than I, but this is my experience from doing the same thing just a couple months ago. Luckily, it seems like Samsung provided good software to make the operation as painless as possible.

Iain T · Apr 10, 2015

Okay, I can see there are many ways to complete this process. I know some people will promote their own two cents about it and others might see that as an inefficient route to go down and will argue to their heart's content until they agree on common ground.

I'm glad I asked this question myself, I knew there were questions on the same topic beforehand but it was filled with many ways on how to do it. I always got confused when reading down those threads on what way to do it.

I'm going to go down the process listed below that I've created from gathering information from everyone's answer:

1) I've already set up the bios to run from the SSD first in ACHI mode (done it before I asked the question, It might of seemed irrelevant).

2) Transfer all the files/programs/data from the HHD that are NOT going on the SSD to the back-up external HDD I have on hand. The process will leave enough storage space to clone the HDD to the SSD (there will be well below 250GB on the HDD before the clone). I will only leave the OS and a couple of programs on the main HDD. Rest of the files/programs/data will be on the external back-up HHD.

3) Run the migrate software (either EaseUS or Samsung Magician) to clone what is left on the HDD to the SSD. Chances are, I will have to restart the computer.

4) Once the computer has restarted, I will delete everything on the main HDD leaving it completely empty.

5) Transfer all the files from my external back-up HDD to my main HDD.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

Before I start the process, I would not mind if anything could be corrected. I'm not to sure if I should do 4) until I know everything is working or do it where it is placed in the process listed above.

Also, if I did go on, what will happen to all the Steam games on my HDD (Steam WILL BE transferred to my SSD) when Steam is on my SSD, will I still be able to access all those games or do ALL my games have to be on the SSD to access them?

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Iain T :

2) For a 256GB SSD, your used space has to be below 200GB for the Samsung application to do its thing.
And 'transfer' "programs" doesn't work. Move any files (Doc/music/etc) yes. Programs, no.

3) Yes

4) Wait until you are absolutely sure it boots correctly from the new drive. Restart a coouple of times

5) Yes

5a) Reinstall your applications.
Most, apart from games, will fit on the SSD. Ok, maybe a couple will fit. For other Steam games, see this:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

Iain T · Apr 10, 2015

USAFRet :

Iain T :

2) For a 256GB SSD, your used space has to be below 200GB for the Samsung application to do its thing.
And 'transfer' "programs" doesn't work. Move any files (Doc/music/etc) yes. Programs, no.

3) Yes

4) Wait until you are absolutely sure it boots correctly from the new drive. Restart a coouple of times

5) Yes

5a) Reinstall your applications.
Most, apart from games, will fit on the SSD. Ok, maybe a couple will fit. For other Steam games, see this:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

2) Understood. I gathered that would of been the case as it would clone EVERYTHING from the main HDD to the SSD.

2) So I just go through each folder in the main HDD ( C: ) and just cut and paste everything EXCEPT from all the programs onto the external back-up HDD OR should I only copy all the files EXCEPT from Program Files, Program Files (x86) and Windows?

4) Will avoid deletion of repeated files until I'm 100% sure everything boots from the new drive.

5a) Thanks.

USAFRet · Apr 10, 2015

Iain T :

2) To clone to a 256GB SSD, you need the used space to be well below 200GB. Whatever may be using that space.

I'm looking to transfer just my OS from my 1TB HHD to my 250GB SSD.

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