How to transfer OS to separate HDD

Luke Winship · Aug 28, 2015

Okay, so my hard drive I currently use primarily has been playing up and having some issues, so I would like to move the OS from that hard drive, to a new one I just bought, I'd like to keep all the old files on the old hard drive and use it as storage, but when I go into disk management there isn't an OS partition. If anyone can help it would be much appreciated, thanks.

Mattios · Aug 28, 2015

You can't transfer an OS. You need to fresh install it onto the new drive, then use your old one for data.

SuperSoph_WD · Sep 15, 2015

Hey there, Luke Winship!

I think what you meant is migration/cloning. However, Mattios is right that a fresh install of your OS is highly recommended if you have the installation media. Cloning/migrating would transfer all your redundant files to the new drive as well. However, if you don't have an OS installation CD/USB, it's your only choice. I'd suggest you to take a look at this tutorial about migrating your OS and hopefully it will give you the insight on how to perform this:
http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows

Good luck! Hope it helps!

SuperSoph_WD

McHenryB · Sep 15, 2015

Mattios :

Absolutely incorrect!

People do this all the time (I did it the day before yesterday to move my OS from a dying SSD to a hard disk.). All you need is disk cloning software - Clonezilla is a free example. I used Paragon Partition Manager.

What is less likely to succeed would be to move an OS hard disk to a new computer, but cloning to a new disk on the same computer is no problem at all.

Mattios · Sep 15, 2015

^My mistake, I did not mean it was impossible. I was just heavily discouraging it and used the wrong words.

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