Replacing main HDD with an SSD for boot drive, but I have some concerns.

LordChicken101

Commendable
Jul 11, 2016
4
0
1,510
I'm thinking about replacing my main hdd (have a secondary one that's bigger) that has my OS on it with a ssd and buying a new copy of windows 10 since it would be gone after removing my main hdd. The concerns I'm having come from things like will there be issues with programs since I removed my main hdd that they were installed on, or since I removed the hdd will everything just be wiped like a new computer. (keep in mind I have a secondary 2tb hdd that I'm fine putting things on from before that I had, I'm just wondering if there'll be issues with me doing this.)
 
Solution
Hey there, LordChicken101.

If you already have a retail Windows 10 copy you could simply make a fresh install on your new SSD (with all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process). If you don't have a retail copy of Win 10 you could migrate your OS over to the SSD if you can slim it down enough so that the data can fit on the SSD's storage capacity. You can check this article on that for more info: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows.

I didn't quite get what you mean by "will there be issues with programs since I removed my main hdd that they were installed on". If you remove the drive you have installed everything on, naturally you won't...
Hey there, LordChicken101.

If you already have a retail Windows 10 copy you could simply make a fresh install on your new SSD (with all other drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process). If you don't have a retail copy of Win 10 you could migrate your OS over to the SSD if you can slim it down enough so that the data can fit on the SSD's storage capacity. You can check this article on that for more info: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows.

I didn't quite get what you mean by "will there be issues with programs since I removed my main hdd that they were installed on". If you remove the drive you have installed everything on, naturally you won't have access to those programs and data. Anyway, with a fresh install it's always recommended that you reinstall your programs and apps as well.

Please let me know if I've missed something or if you have any other questions whatsoever.
Boogieman_WD
 
Solution

LordChicken101

Commendable
Jul 11, 2016
4
0
1,510


Would it make it any faster if I bought a new retail copy of windows so I could do a fresh install, or would it not make a difference?
 
Well, not really. If there are no issues with your OS currently, I doubt that a fresh install will make it a lot faster having in mind it will already be on an SSD. In order to keep your SSD at its optimum performance throughout its entire life and to get a faster OS, I'd recommend that you go through the suggestions from this article here: https://www.maketecheasier.com/12-things-you-must-do-when-running-a-solid-state-drive-in-windows-7/. Don't mind the fact that it says Win 7, those options are viable for the newer versions as well. There might be small differences though, such as TRIM is enabled on Win 10 by default and you shouldn't have to do anything to enable it, but you could check it out anyway.

Hope that helps.
 

LordChicken101

Commendable
Jul 11, 2016
4
0
1,510

Okay, I'll still look at that article and make your answer the reccomended since I know what I'm gonna do now, but I'm gonna do a retail copy because I've had major problems with my OS. Also i might upgrade it to pro. (Problems like having to run special scripts to get rid of the Windows 10 tiles because they were screwing with my computer and I wasn't able to click the start menu otherwise, and other things of the sort, plus many other problems)
 
A fresh install is always the better choice, so nice going there. :)

Basically the migration option is more budget friendly. Not everyone is willing to get a new copy of Windows that's why I've suggested it as a possibility. Hopefully you won't have any issues with the new OS. Make sure that you've chosen a proper resolution, one that's supported by both the GPU and the monitor so that you don't have such issues like not being able to click on the Start menu button.

Cheers!