Upgrading to SSD

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Jacob_107

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Hi PC addicts,
I have built a PC about 5 months ago and now I have been remainded constantly by everyone who owns their own PC or has built one that regural hard drives are just slowing your PC down as they have slow read and write speeds. I'm planing to get the PNY 120GB SSD which should be enough for the OS and core programs.. Well I could buy 2T HDD not some 120GB SSD for the same price but everyone says it makes so much difference. My first question are they right? Probably yes but my other question is what can I do if I already have my HDD with everything installed on it? I don't really want to spend another money on some enclosure and software which I will use once to transfer the data. I use windows 10 so is it possible to install the OS again on my new SSD if I already used the license key and still is in use on my HDD? Well how should I install the OS and the core programs.. I will probably have the stuff duplicated on both disks so how will I treat it? How will I uninstall the programs on my HDD when I install them on the SSD? Or how is it going to work.. It's confusing me cuz I don't know how will the system know which program it needs to boot and from which disk.. Hmm If you have a link to a vid or another website that could be probably more helpful than explaining everything step by step... Thanks...
 
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USAFRet


That WILL require a clean install, and a reinstall of...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Having an SSD and an HDD is quite common.

1. Yes, an SSD makes a massive difference as the OS and application drive.
2. I would get a 250GB, rather than a 120GB
3. Yes, you can install the OS on the SSD. You'd then need to completely remove it from the HDD to prevent future confusion and complications.

Question:
How much total used space is on the current HDD?
What constitutes that space?
 
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Jacob_107

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Thank you for a fast reply. Well currently I have a 2T HDD which is quiet useless for me as I'm only using 160GB of it including games or other files which I have stored on here... Well, if the 250GB SSD wouldn't cost £100 than I would take it but come on I rather save some money for a different upgrade either for the CPU to upgrade from i5 to i7 in a year or 2 or upgrade the graphics or whatever.. Well now I can have a 120GB SSD for around £45 which isn't that bad if you compare the prices. How large is the OS? About 20GB according to google? And I have about 5 core programs which I would like to have installed on my SSD to boot the OS fast with the programs required as well.. Apart of that I don't think I need any more storage for the programs and also in my opinion the HDD will be probably used by 1%
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Well...with a 250GB drive you could clone that entire 160GB to that SSD.

Crucial MX300, 275GB, £88.69
https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/63g/Crucial-MX300-Internal-Solid-State-Drive-Adapter/B01IAGSD5O

The OS takes more than 20GB. That is for the basic install. After...then you have all the OS updates, drivers, and any small applications you want on it.

It never ends up as 'only the OS. But if you're dedicated, a 120GB would work.
I started out with a 120GB(5 yrs ago), and then moved to a 250GB, and now on a 500GB.
 
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Jacob_107

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Well for now same as you did I will go with 120GB and if I really need to I will upgrade... But for now 120GB will be the best.. But my question is how will I transfer the data if I can't clone it or if I can't just duplicate it..? Well I don't want to reinstall everything and find out that now I have the programs with OS duplicated.. Will I have to wipe the HDD?? This is what is confusing me.. What will I do? Reinstalling the OS seems like the only option out but what will I do with the HDD? And also when I will be installing any programs which don't fit onto the SSD will it automatically create and format the HDD if set the program to install at the HDD rather than SSD?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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That WILL require a clean install, and a reinstall of all your applications.
Steam games will probably be OK. But everything else WILL need to be reinstalled with the new OS.

Installing applications/games on the HDD is not automatic.
For applications, during the install, you have to choose where they install to.
For Steam games, you can designate other drives and folders for install locations.


But...
You currently only have 160B used space. What, exactly, is taking that up?
If you can reduce that to 85GB or so...you can clone the whole thing over to this new 120GB drive.

Look for stuff like downloads you no longer need or can get again, random videos, music, etc.
WinDirStat can help visualize where your space is being taken up.
 
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Jacob_107

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Yes that's right, I chose where I store the programs or games but will the system know which disk contains which programs and therefore won't mix somehow or what? Well I got programs such as: steam, teamviewer, photoshop and adobe and I also have games such as GTA which takes up about 60GB I think because that took about 3 hours to install... Well I heard that those cloning tools are not the best either? Have you used any before or do you have any recommendations? Well I heard that it can corrupt files and also I think it's better to do a clean reinstall sometimes.. Well I don't know what would I do with the HDD then... Would I have to wipe it and than start reinstalling all the programs which are not as frequently used to the HDD and also games? Other data could be backed up on my external disk so that's not a problem.. I should have went straight with 250GB SSD but oh well..
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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I use Macrium Reflect extensively. Cloning, imaging, and daily backups.
It works.

A 120GB SSD, with the OS and GTA V will be full. Full to the point of nothing else.

And yes...when you install something, and during the install designate it to install to a different drive....absolutely no problem.
You can't move it after the install, but during the install is where all the Registry entries and other pointers are created.
The OS will know.
 
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