Move just the OS to SSD?

CitrusSponge · Nov 28, 2017

Probably going to end up getting myself an SSD soon (Samsung 850 EVO 250 GB). I plan to just use it for the OS, but I was wondering on how I would move just the OS to it?

I am currently using a Seagate FireCuda 1TB SSHD, about 500GB of it is in use by the OS and games already though so I wouldn't be able to transfer the entire thing to the SSD.

Would appreciate some advice, thank you.

anonymous_boi · Nov 28, 2017

You should try using some - HDD image program like Macrium Reflect

ulysses35 · Nov 28, 2017

Samsung drives usually ship with software to "clone" the drive... works really well from past experience

feelinfroggy777 · Nov 28, 2017

If you get a Samsung SSD it will come with Samsung Data Migration. Just hook up the SSD and pop in the disk that comes with the 850 EVO and it will walk you through the cloning process. Just back everything up first, because there are no guarantees when cloning a disk, but you should not have an issue.

If you don't have an optical drive, you can get the Samsung Data Migration software for free on the net, you just need a Samsung product to use it. Which you will have an 850, so no issues.

SkyNetRising · Nov 28, 2017

CitrusSponge :

The process depends on how your HDD is partitioned. If you have a single partition for OS and everything else and it's filled by 500GB, then you can't clone it to 250GB SSD.

You will have move user files somewhere else, uninstall some software until used space is less than 200GB. Only then you'll be able perform clone operation.

TJ Hooker · Nov 28, 2017

You could always just perform a clean install of the OS on the SSD.

USAFRet · Nov 28, 2017

CitrusSponge :

1. You cannot move "just the OS" to the new drive. Period.

2. Investigate what is actually on your drive.
To clone to a 250GB drive, you need to get the actual used space in the C drive or partition to under 200GB.
Once there, we can discuss actual cloning steps.

3. See #1.

USAFRet · Nov 28, 2017

anonymous_boi :

ulysses35 :

Recommendations are great, but what the user is asking for cannot be done with what he currently has.
(250GB drive and 500GB of data)

ArtPog · Nov 28, 2017

CitrusSponge :

When all is said & done it's likely that you will not be able to clone your OS on your 1 TB drive to a 250 GB drive. Presumably (although you provided no information on this) your OS is intermingled with the rest of the "about 500 GB" of data on your present boot drive.

Now if you had multi-partitioned your 1 TB drive so that the OS would be contained on a partition designed to house the OS and contained disk-space of less than 232 GB - which is the actual disk-space of your new 250 GB SSD - then you could possibly clone that partition containing the OS over to the SSD. Capiche?

CitrusSponge · Nov 28, 2017

Fair enough, I can probably move my Steam games and any massive files to an external Seagate expansion drive I have.

One concern though, how would I go about formatting my original 1TB drive and using that after I've cloned everything to the SSD. Would it automatically delete everything on it after cloning to the new SSD?

USAFRet · Nov 28, 2017

CitrusSponge :

Automatically? NO.
And this is a GoodThing.

You do that yourself, after you are 100% satisfied that it actually works on the new drive.
See steps at the end for completely wiping the old drive.

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------

CitrusSponge · Nov 29, 2017

Thank you, will do that once the SSD arrives.

CitrusSponge · Nov 30, 2017

Just cloned everything to the SSD but it's now showing I have 3 drives when I only have 2.

Drive C is the SSD and drive E is the one I cloned from, how come there's a drive D appeared?

SkyNetRising · Nov 30, 2017

Can you post screenshot from Disk Management?

You have to remove drive letter from System Reserved partition.

CitrusSponge · Nov 30, 2017

SkyNetRising :

Not sure what to do, don't want to mess anything up.

SkyNetRising · Nov 30, 2017

Why did you crop the Disk Management window? Show all of it.
You removed the important part.

CitrusSponge · Nov 30, 2017

SkyNetRising :

Oh, here.

SkyNetRising · Nov 30, 2017

Right-click on D: and choose "Change Drive letter and Paths",
then select D: and press "Remove".

CitrusSponge · Nov 30, 2017

SkyNetRising :

Thank you.

Move just the OS to SSD?

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