Moving OS from HDD to SSD?

Andy0432 · May 4, 2015

So I have an old gaming computer which I want to upgrade with a SSD. I currently have all my games and data stored on the HDD and also the OS, I want to increase the boot up time and thus I want to move only the OS onto the SSD. I don't want to lose my files on my HDD I just want to move the OS onto the SSD. Thanks!

PapaWood · May 4, 2015

If you get a Samsung SSD which is a very very smart choice it comes with software to help you migrate your software over.

Samsung makes VERY good SSD's with great performance and great cost. The fact it has the migration software is the topping to the cake

Andy0432 · May 4, 2015

So will the software only migrate my OS over and leave the rest of the files untouched?

Andy0432 · May 4, 2015

Also what would happen if i just simply installed windows 8.1 on the new ssd and booted it up along with the hdd while the hdd still had the os on it?

PapaWood · May 4, 2015

It should migrate everything over 100% Its a image I believe. Cloning all the info from one to the other basically.

USAFRet · May 4, 2015

Andy0432 :

No, not the way you think.
There is only one application I know of that purports to move 'only' the OS to a different drive. And results as mixed as to its success.
Paragon Migrate - http://www.paragon-software.com/technologies/components/migrate-OS-to-SSD/
(Not free)

Questions:
1. What size is the new SSD?
2. How much total space is consumed on your current drive?

MrBubblez98 · May 4, 2015

Andy0432 :

As long as you select the SSD for installation, it should not touch the HDD. However, you would have to reinstall everything, including programs and games. Your data such as pictures and music would remain, and would still work fine.

I would personally recommend this, as it gives a fresh install and can remove some junk from your PC and make it run faster, aside from the boost given from the SSD. The only drawback to this is you have to reinstall all of your games and programs.

Andy0432 · May 5, 2015

The New SSD is a 120 gb HyperX
Space consumed is roughly 700 gb/1TB

Andy0432 · May 5, 2015

MrBubblez98 :

I don't understand. Aren't the games on my HDD? why do they get erased if I dont do anything to the HDD? E.g. I install the OS onto the SSD and plug them both in.

Andy0432 · May 5, 2015

Have you used any if not both of the software you've mentioned? does it work? thanks.

USAFRet · May 5, 2015

Andy0432 :

Games, if Steam or Origin, are probably OK.
Any other applications will have to be reinstalled. The new OS will know nothing about them.

ArtPog · May 5, 2015

Andy0432 :

A good question you directed to Cbd4...

We've tried a couple of those programs that presumably have the capability of cloning ONLY the OS to a destination drive (at least they advertise the program as having this capability), but so far none of them have proved successful.

We've come across a number of posters who tout this or that program as having this capability but it seems their recommendation is usually based on advertising blurbs and not personal hands-on experience with the recommended program.

As it stands now we advise users that if their source drive's total data contents exceed the capacity of their destination drive (the latter usually a SSD), to fresh-install the OS onto the destination drive and reinstall their programs. Otherwise, if the total contents of the source disk will "fit" on the destination drive and the user indicates his/her system boots & functions problem-free, then consider a disk-cloning ("data-migration") program.

USAFRet · May 5, 2015

ArtPog :

I'd even revise that a teeny bit.

" if their source drive's total data contents exceed 80% the capacity of their destination drive"

For instance, the Samsung Data migration, with a 250GB drive, won't even attempt to start doing it if the data space exceeds 200GB.

ArtPog · May 5, 2015

USAFRet :

I suppose it depends upon the disk-cloning program. The program I generally use - Casper - as an example, will gladly clone 230 GB of data from the source drive to a 250 GB (232 GB formatted capacity) drive.

TechTiffany · May 5, 2015

Use Macrium Reflect to clone your drive.

USAFRet · May 5, 2015

TechTiffany :

From the OP's earlier post...it's going to be a bit tough squeezing 700GB of data into a 120GB drive.

TechTiffany · May 5, 2015

USAFRet :

Oh my, I totally misread the post. Yes, it would be quite hard to do that...lol.

Andy0432 · May 6, 2015

Ok, judging from the comments I've decided to just do a "Clean" install of the OS onto my SSD and probs just wipe my HDD. Can some one give me step by step instructions on how to do that XD. Thanks

MrBubblez98 · May 6, 2015

Andy0432 :

Before you do that I THINK there may be a way so you don't have to install your games again. When downloading the new games, try set it to the location of the games on the HDD. I'm not sure if this works or not, you'd have to try it. I remember doing something like that a while ago and it worked fine, but I'm not guaranteeing anything like that. Your best option realistically would be just to re-install everything over again, which always sucks.

After you have finished the install move all of your important data (music, pictures, .minecraft if you play it, etc) to your SSD. If you also have iTunes for your songs you can transfer the program files to your SSD and it should (doesn't always work) transfer your iTunes libraries, along w/ favourites, times played, etc. to your SSD.

Once all important data is gone, go to 'My Computer', right click the HDD, and click 'Format.' This will clear the whole hard drive of anything that's on it. If it's really necessary you can go back on it through a data recovery program and get some files back you lost. And that's it.

Hope this helps,

Michael

TechTiffany · May 6, 2015

Andy0432 :

I haven't had experience with this particular situation, but I have a recommendation and maybe one of the more knowledgeable members can help explain my idea and how it could be done. I have (many times) set up a computer with the OS running on an SSD and the HDD is used as storage and kept as a secondary. Now, I'm not sure if the programs (games in this case) will still run (well, I know they won't, but there might be a way to get them to), but you will still have all of your saved game data and you will be able to access that data.

I would keep the HDD and use it alongside the SSD.

By the way, I did not read through every prior post, so if I'm totally missing the target here... please disregard my post. I only had a few minutes to get on here and put my two cents in this morning and I just wanted to give you an idea.

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