How to upgrade storage devices safely?

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Anonymous V2

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So I decided that's it's time to upgrade some components of my pc.
Current build http://speccy.piriform.com/results/mzztNoldnQR854sT7JWxihM

I currently have a 120 gb ssd and a 2 tb mechanical drive coming in the mail. My plan was to put my os and some key programs on the ssd and everything else on the 2tb as a mass storage drive.
Can I do this without reinstalling windows? I've looked around online and I haven't been able to find a step by step guide on how to do this successfully. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
 
Solution
USAFRet
For a successful clone operation, once you get to the required space, these steps:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot...
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cosmoji

cosmoji

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if you're thinking about cloning your current drive to the ssd, i think you might run in to a roadblock. the drive you have is a little under a 1 tb? thats not all going to fit on to the 120gig ssd. you'll probably have to reinstall windows to the ssd, and reinstall the programs you want on the ssd.
 
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Scottray

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Since you're using Windows 10, link your windows 10 to you're Microsoft account: https://www.windowscentral.com/how-link-your-windows-10-product-key-microsoft-account. Then, when you do a clean install of Windows 10 on the SSD, it will activate without any issues.

Next, create a USD thumb drive with Windows 10 home on it. Here's the directions (Create Windows 10 Installation Media): https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Disconnect your HDD's and install the SSD. Be sure no other drives other than the SSD are connected. Install Windows 10 to the SSD, do any needed updates and activate it.

Last, you can can reinstall any HDD's. When you boot up, go into bios and amke sure the SSD is sset as the boot drive. Then, you can clean off the windows 10 install on the HDD.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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120GB SSD:
First, that is not optimal. Price v size + usefulness dictates a 250GB drive.

Anyway...
How much total used space is consumed on your current drive?
What, exactly, does that space constitute?
Install and run WinDirStat to help discover this.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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250GB SSD:
Either Samsung 850 EVO or Crucial MX300.

However...your current drive is actually full. Seems to be all games?

2 options:
1. Full reinstall of the OS (and everything else that fits) on your new SSD.
or
2. Reduce the amount of used space to well below the size of the SSD. FOr a 250GB drive, this would be 200GB.
A possible path...
Connect the new 2TB HDD. Copy a BUNCH of stuff off to that drives. Personal files, videos, etc. Your entire SteamApps folder.
Get the total used space on the current C drive to below 200GB.
Then you can clone over to the new SSD.
 
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Anonymous V2

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Thanks for the help
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For a successful clone operation, once you get to the required space, these steps:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------
 
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