[Solved] OS is on C: Drive, I want to move it to D: Drive

Lyzone

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Jan 10, 2017
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Hi. So when I built my computer, the first thing that came in was the SSD. I plugged it in first and got my computer running, eager to do my first build. Everything works. It's been 10 months since I've built it, no problems I can't fix. Now, I've run out of storage on my C: drive, which is what my desktop is (and everything I installed until changing the default install dir). Is there any way I can change my D: drive to the desktop/OS without losing data/ a hassle?
To clarify, my C: drive is an SSD that has 120GB and my D: drive is an HDD that has 1TB, and I want to move my OS/desktop to the D: Drive. Thanks.
 
Solution


So what did you actually do?
Install the OS on the HDD?
Another solution would be to reinstall Windows and all other programs on to the 1 terabyte hard drive and then use Smart Response to make the 120 gigabyte drive or rather 64 gigabytes of it a cache for the 1TB hard drive.

https://www.pcworld.com/article/248828/how_to_setup_intel_smart_response_ssd_caching_technology.html

Assuming your motherboard is z68 or later.



Another ... another solution

I had this exact same problem about 8 years ago when I built a computer with an 80 gigabyte ssd and a 6 terabyte raid 5, 4 - 2terabyte drives.

My solution was ... 4 years later ... a 1 terabyte ssd for games and windows and a 16 terabyte raid 5 for videos and music.

Not the cheapest solution but it gets the job done.
 
1. No one can sensibly respond to your query to provide you with a COMPREHENSIVE response until you submit a screenshot of Disk Management, INCLUDING the upper portion of DM that contains detailed info on the all the installed drives in the system contained in the columns from "Volume" to "% Free".

2. Also, give us a clue as to the TYPE & VOLUME of data contained on the 120 GB boot drive OTHER than data (files/folders) relating to the Windows OS.
Capiche?
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


1. No, you cannot do that. Nor do you really want to. You'd be throwing away having the SSD in the first place.

This is all too common with a small 120GB SSD for the OS drive.

2. What you really want to do is have some data redirected to the HDD, either automatically, or by your brain and choice.

Read here:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1 & 10: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
q24sFfe.png

 

Lyzone

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Jan 10, 2017
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Doesn't matter, I've already fixed it. Before your reply, nobodys solution really helped, so I tried it myself. I had to delete everything on my C: drive, because even when I had 40GB available, it said I needed atleast 8GB (Which I did).. I then proceeded to use Rufus and change the ISO to a bootable drive because I couldn't select the bootable drive option in the windows tool.. And here we are. Thanks for the help guys
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


So what did you actually do?
Install the OS on the HDD?
 
Solution

Lyzone

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Jan 10, 2017
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Plugged a USB in after unplugging my ssd and plugging my hdd into the OS plug, forgot what it's called because I haven't done computer work in a while. It's that tricky area to reach on the side of your motherboard. Once I installed windows, the HDD drive was cleared (disappointed but I didn't have anything important) and I cleared my SSD beforehand.
 

Lyzone

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Jan 10, 2017
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Don't know why you're still replying or you're quoting me like I'm an idiot, but thanks for the compliment? I don't need luck, it's been done for a while now as I've already said.