HELP: New SSD and Current HDD w/ New Motherboard

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
W

waner21

Reputable
Dec 28, 2015
13
0
4,510
I have tried finding a thread that contained my situation, but I have not found one. If there is a thread existing that addresses my situation below, I apologize for the "repost". And just to give a heads up, I am very new with working on computers, so I apologize in advance for questions that come off as juvenile.

I am in the process of upgrading my current PC with the a new CPU, motherboard, 250 GB SSD, and PSU. My current PC has a 1TB HDD, which I plan on keeping and using it as additional storage with the upgraded PC. I have researched how to migrate/clone my current HDD to an SSD, however, I feel my situation might be a little more unique than what I have read due to me upgrading my motherboard.

I am running Windows 10 on my current PC, and with the purchase of a new motherboard I have also purchased a new Windows 10 OS license. I want to have the new SSD boot my upgraded PC. How should I address installing the SSD and HDD to the upgraded PC?

1. Do I need to make a clone of my HDD and migrate it to my new SSD?

2. Is cloning/migrating not needed since I am getting a new motherboard and OS license?

3. Should I do a back-up of my current HDD via Windows' back-up feature?

4. Should I only concern myself with doing a copy-and-paste of my wanted files on my current HDD and put those on an external hard drive and then format the HDD?

I am a bit perplexed on how I should address the hard drive situation once I begin the building/upgrading phase of the PC. Again, I am really new to working on computers.

Thanks in advance.
 
Solution
USAFRet
Since you have purchased a whole new OS....any clone/migration thing is irrelevant.


Prepare:
Make sure you have all your username/passwords documented. Preferably printed out on dead trees.
Gather all your applications that you want to install, along with whatever serial numbers, etc.

Copy any critical personal data from the old drive to somewhere else, for safekeeping.

So...Make the PC with the new motherboard.
Connect ONLY the SSD
Install the new OS
Make sure it runs properly from only that drive
Verify the boot order in the BIOS. SSD first.
Then connect your old HDD.
Wipe it
Reinstall all your applications
Retrieve your personal critical data from wherever you put it.
Sort by date Sort by votes
captaincharisma

captaincharisma

Glorious
Oct 13, 2004
10,963
76
45,290
you are installing a new motherboard anyway so a clean install of windows is a must. the best thing to do is disconnect all hard drives and only have the SSD connected when installing windows. once the install is completed and to the desktop then you can power off the computer and connect you 1TB HDD up and it will show up as a 2nd drive. if you didn't format it you will still be able to get acess to all your files
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
NeoSpudly

NeoSpudly

Reputable
Jul 23, 2015
73
0
4,660
Your SSD probably came with arconis to help you clone the drive, however going from a 1 TB HDD to a 250 GB SSD is going to be a pain, i would just clean install on the SSD and copy over what you need from the HDD and then format the HDD and use it for storage like you indicated.
 
Upvote 1 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,731
18,104
184,590
Since you have purchased a whole new OS....any clone/migration thing is irrelevant.


Prepare:
Make sure you have all your username/passwords documented. Preferably printed out on dead trees.
Gather all your applications that you want to install, along with whatever serial numbers, etc.

Copy any critical personal data from the old drive to somewhere else, for safekeeping.

So...Make the PC with the new motherboard.
Connect ONLY the SSD
Install the new OS
Make sure it runs properly from only that drive
Verify the boot order in the BIOS. SSD first.
Then connect your old HDD.
Wipe it
Reinstall all your applications
Retrieve your personal critical data from wherever you put it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom