Best way to put Windows 10 on an SSD?

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685
Been wanting one forever, and finally decided to get one! Should be here in a few days, but wanted to get some info, and opinions on the best way you guys transfer stuff, like windows 10, or games to a SSD.

Is there a special program people use? Or does windows have a program for it? Or do I need to reinstall windows completely?

The SSD I got is the Samsung 850 EVO 500GB.

Also same with some games, can I move them there via Windows, or Steam, or do I reinstall them there?

Also, while I'm asking. I got a new ram kit aswell, Corsair Vengeance Pro Series 16GB DDR3L DRAM 1600MHz. And I just wanted to make sure, is it compatible with my Asrock Z77 Pro3? Everywhere I look says it is, but I just figured I'd ask!

Thanks for any and all help!
 
Solution
USAFRet
If you do decide to clone, exactly like this:
-----------------------------
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...
Sort by date Sort by votes
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685


Well, the SSD is only 500gb, and my hard drive is at 1tb out of 2tb right now. So I don't think I can clone it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,467
17,922
184,590
2 options:
Clone or Clean install

What is the size of the new SSD?
How much total used space is consumed on your current drive?
What, exactly, constitutes that space?
Do you have another drive with a bunch of free space? An external, maybe?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685


The SSD is 500gb, and my hard drive is at about 1tb right now. It's mainly some games, and etc, that i could delete and reinstall later. I do have an ARK server on my hard drive, that I thought about putting on the SSD along side Windows. If it'll help the server run at all.

I can do a clean install if it's recommend. I did one about a month ago, takes awhile. But if that'd be best, then I can do that. Just wasn't sure if they had a program that moved windows or not.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

Polypheme
Jul 15, 2011
15,519
0
66,960


nope not unless you move a lot of stuff off there first
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,467
17,922
184,590


Either way.

A clean install always works, a clone usually works.

If you can get the total used space to below 400GB, then cloning might be an option.
Otherwise, clean install on the new drive.
And for a clean install, disconnect ALL other drives while you do it.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685


Mainly games and what not. I mainly just want Windows on the SDD. And maybe a few of my favorite games, that I play most often. Like. Counter Strike, or ARK. And stuff like that. I'll probley put everything else on my Hard Drive. :D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
mcnumpty23

mcnumpty23

Polypheme
Jul 15, 2011
15,519
0
66,960


then you could just remove them all making it smaller than 500gb

clone it then re-install the ones you want on the ssd

 
Upvote 0 Downvote
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685


I might give that a try, might save me a few hours. If it doesn't work, then I can clean install just incase. Thanks for the help! :D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
USAFRet

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Mar 16, 2013
171,467
17,922
184,590
If you do decide to clone, exactly like this:
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
A

Anthony82093

Distinguished
Apr 24, 2012
154
1
18,685


Thanks for the detailed explanation! :D
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom