How to make M.2 SSD as boot drive and HDD for mass storage?

fescueta9 · Jul 9, 2016

Hello, so I just received my new windows gaming laptop after i have been using my Macbook for quite some time so windows feels quite new to me. Anyways, i want to add a Samsung 120GB 850 EVO M.2 SSD to act as my boot drive in addition to my laptop's 1TB HDD which i still want to use for mass storage for games. Since my laptop is new it only has the programs that came with the laptop as well as 4 programs i downloaded such as anti-virus, NVIDIA Geforce experience, etc.

I have heard of 2 options, cloning of data and fresh install of Windows 10. I feel like cloning is the fastest option since Samsung has their magician software for their SSD's. Please correct me if I'm wrong but If i go this route all i have to do is clone my HDD to my SSD and change the boot drive in the BIOS and format my HDD so i wont have duplicate files correct? If anyone can provide me with some steps it will be greatly appreciated thanks!

JohnnyLucky · Jul 9, 2016

You can use the Samsung Magician utility to clone your hard disk drive to the ssd. You can also use the Samsung Magician utility to check and modify settings and configurations for optimal ssd performacnce. No Muss! No Fuss! No Bother!.

USAFRet · Jul 9, 2016

fescueta9 :

Yes. The Samsung Data Migration is pretty good.
I've used it.

Install that application run it, follow the directions.
Click wisely.

The only issue might be, can your system actually boot from that m.2 drive.
Most can, but not all.

fescueta9 · Jul 9, 2016

USAFRet :

fescueta9 :

Yes. The Samsung Data Migration is pretty good.
I've used it.

Install that application run it, follow the directions.
Click wisely.

The only issue might be, can your system actually boot from that m.2 drive.
Most can, but not all.

Thanks for the reply. So after making sure i can boot from the M.2 SSD i can just format my HDD correct? So i wont have duplicates?

JohnnyLucky · Jul 9, 2016

Yes, once you are satisfied that everything is working you can delete data from your hard disk drive.

fescueta9 · Jul 9, 2016

JohnnyLucky :

Alright thanks so much @JohnnyLucky and @USAFRet

wildcard1978 · Jul 22, 2016

The only way he wouldn't be able to boot from a m.2 ssd is if he got a nvme one and his laptop motherboard don't support nvme others should be fine they could also have a bios update for your laptop that adds nvme support .just make sure ya get the right length drive that will fit they use 4 digit number for the physical length of the drives like 2280 ect..

Snoopy_62 · Jun 28, 2017

wildcard1978 :

I have an Asus 99 Deluxe II motherboard X99 chipset and I have two SSD's one running windows 10 and one running windows 7. I also installed two Samsung 960 Pros one on the m.2 motherboard slot and one on the expansion card PCIe The expansion card I want to use for the Win 7 boot up and store files on one of the SSD's after wiping it. Any idea on how to set this up? The windows 10 OS boots up fine from the Samsung 960 PRO installed on the mobo but I still want to use one of the ssd's for storage since the Samsung PRO's are 500 GB and the SSD's are 1 TB each. Quite the challenge I suppose since this was my first computer build. Thanks

USAFRet · Jun 28, 2017

Snoopy_62 :

I have an Asus 99 Deluxe II motherboard X99 chipset and I have two SSD's one running windows 10 and one running windows 7. I also installed two Samsung 960 Pros one on the m.2 motherboard slot and one on the expansion card PCIe The expansion card I want to use for the Win 7 boot up and store files on one of the SSD's after wiping it. Any idea on how to set this up? The windows 10 OS boots up fine from the Samsung 960 PRO installed on the mobo but I still want to use one of the ssd's for storage since the Samsung PRO's are 500 GB and the SSD's are 1 TB each. Quite the challenge I suppose since this was my first computer build. Thanks

Please start a whole new thread for your issue.

Snoopy_62 · Jun 29, 2017

ok will do

sunnyui12345 · Aug 19, 2017

Hey,
I have just ran into an exact same situation as you do. I recently got the Samsung Odyssey (NP800G5M) with an empty secondary SSD slot which I fitted it with a Samsung 250GB 960 EVO M.2 SSD (PCle format) model number PM961. Noted that I think it is an OEM product, so Samsung magician and samsung data migration software cannot detect and do anything for my upgrade.

Instead, I used AOMEI Backupper Professional (Technician Plus can dot too) to do a OS clone from the HDD and SSD after initializing the new drive in Disk Management from My Computer.

After which, you will like to change your boot drive in the BIOS menu from your old HDD to the SSD. To do this, you will have to disable Secure Boot first to allow Boot Priority to be choose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GldZE1vmoCc (Different computer and SSD, but same theory and steps).

Hope it helps.

Snoopy_62 · Aug 21, 2017

sunnyui12345 :

Hey,
I have just ran into an exact same situation as you do. I recently got the Samsung Odyssey (NP800G5M) with an empty secondary SSD slot which I fitted it with a Samsung 250GB 960 EVO M.2 SSD (PCle format) model number PM961. Noted that I think it is an OEM product, so Samsung magician and samsung data migration software cannot detect and do anything for my upgrade.

Instead, I used AOMEI Backupper Professional (Technician Plus can dot too) to do a OS clone from the HDD and SSD after initializing the new drive in Disk Management from My Computer.

After which, you will like to change your boot drive in the BIOS menu from your old HDD to the SSD. To do this, you will have to disable Secure Boot first to allow Boot Priority to be choose: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GldZE1vmoCc (Different computer and SSD, but same theory and steps).

Hope it helps.

Snoopy_62 · Aug 21, 2017

okay thanks but I did manage to clone the solid state hard drive to it and then boot up from there after changing settings in the bios-thanks for your help

wildcard1978 · Aug 21, 2017

Ussally your always better off doing a fresh install though some things tend not to work correctly unless ya do

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