Migrating Windows from HDD to SSD.

Kriss0612

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May 20, 2015
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Hello there! Im planning on buying an SSD, as I currently only have a HDD and would like my PC to boot faster. I want to run the classical SSD + HDD combo, where I have the OS on the SSD and larger files on the HDD. I have a HP computer that had pre-installed Windows, and therefore a Recovery partition if I would like to reinstall it. My question is whether I can use the recovery partition on the HDD and then install Windows on the new SSD? Or would I have to use some other method?

Also, if this is possible, can I actually save the data I have on my HDD, or would it get wiped forcing me to reinstall it all over again? I have about 1TB of data on it, and the SSD has 240GB, so I will of course not be able to just copy it. I dont actually know whether or not it is possible to save data from getting wiped when reinstalling the OS.

Thanks very much for your help!
 
Solution
Hey there, @Kriss0612!

You have two options to transfer the OS to the SSD. One is cloning the system from your current booting HDD to it, and the other (the most recommended one) is clean installing Windows from your OS installation bootable media. If you don't have one, use the MS guidelines in the link to create a new bootable media.

However, you need to be very careful when upgrading your storage and also make sure you copy/backup your contents from the 1 TB HDD somewhere OFF-SITE (to an external drive or a cloud storage service). This is the surest way to avoid any potential data loss. Always make sure you have duplicates of your files in different storage locations.

When performing a clean install of the OS onto...
Hey there, @Kriss0612!

You have two options to transfer the OS to the SSD. One is cloning the system from your current booting HDD to it, and the other (the most recommended one) is clean installing Windows from your OS installation bootable media. If you don't have one, use the MS guidelines in the link to create a new bootable media.

However, you need to be very careful when upgrading your storage and also make sure you copy/backup your contents from the 1 TB HDD somewhere OFF-SITE (to an external drive or a cloud storage service). This is the surest way to avoid any potential data loss. Always make sure you have duplicates of your files in different storage locations.

When performing a clean install of the OS onto the SSD, you need to unplug all secondary drives (the HDD) from the system while the installation is proceeding. This will avoid the so-called OS confusion. Once you have Windows Up and running from the SSD, you can plug back the 1 TB HDD and access your files. However, it's advisable to get rid of the old system files/installation, so make sure you have a backup of your files elsewhere. After connecting the HDD and reformatting it, you shouldn't face any difficulties transferring the files back to it.

If you need a step-by-step guide, I'd suggest you use this Windows Install & Optimization Guide for SSDs & HDDs.

Let me know if you have more questions or concerns.
SuperSoph_WD
 
Solution
As your present situation now stands based on the information you provided re your system's current storage situation...you really do not have the option of migrating (cloning) the OS from your current HDD to a 240 GB SSD since you've indicated it contains total data of 1 TB or so. Obviously a 240 GB SSD would not have sufficient disk-space capacity to contain all that data. Presumably there are some disk-cloning programs that purport to support a capability of cloning (migrating) only the OS from a source drive to a destination drive but we've never come across that type of reliable program.

Using the present HDD's "recovery partition" in some fashion to effectuate such a migration of the OS to another drive is simply not feasible.

It would seem the only viable option you have is what SuperSoph has suggested, i.e., fresh-installing the OS onto the SSD and then installing whatever programs + other data will "fit" on whatever size SSD you purchase. Of course if you purchase a large-capacity SSD, say 500 GB or 750 GB, perhaps you could find a way to reduce the current total data on your HDD so that the SSD could accommodate the new total data contents via a disk-cloning operation.