How to properly add a new SSD and HDD to an old HDD.

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hunt.harry74

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Like the title says, I've recently bought a new 250gb SSD and another HDD as this one is currently running slow and out of space. What I'm wondering is if there is any way I'm able to install just the OS on the SSD (Have a USB with windows on ready for a fresh install, know to remove current HDD during install to avoid mistakes yada yada) then copy over a few games, to then put my new HDD in, format etc to then clone/copy over the data I want to keep from old HDD to the newly installed HDD then format the old HDD once all that is done?

Sorry if this doesn't make a lot of sense to anyone, I've been searching everywhere for an answer before posting but couldn't find anyone else in a similar situation.

Thanks!
 
Solution
USAFRet


For the new drive, you may have to (in Disk Management):
Initialize
New Simple Volume
Format
Give it a drive letter

Once you are absolutely sure there is nothing on the old drive you want, yes.
Disk Management, delete ALL partitions, leaving one blank...
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hunt.harry74

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I'm wondering how if I can move all files I want to keep from old HDD to new one after installing OS on the SSD and booting up with that and then adding the old HDD back in and copying over the files I want to keep then formatting the old HDD. If not, how would I go about using the new HDD as "back up" before hand. It's mainly games such as WoW, rift and swtor that i'll be moving over which aren't through steam so a simple copy over should suffice for that, correct?
 
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Barty1884

Barty1884

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Yes, you can migrate data between HDDs, ensure you have everything you need on the 'new' HDD and then format the old one.

One thing to note, this applies predominantly to 'data' (media files, save games, game files etc) - but not to 'programs' (Steam, browsers etc), which need to be reinstalled completely.
 
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hunt.harry74

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Feb 6, 2018
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So I would be able to migrate the data over from the old HDD to the new one whilst running the new OS through the SSD with them both plugged in? I would have to format and partition the new HDD before hand correct? (If so, what's the easiest way? (Haven't added a extra HDD to build in a long time other than the first one during a fresh build)

Also when you mention game files and saves, I assume that's only for games unrelated to steam, and following the process you linked earlier, the steam games including save files would all migrate over?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For copying between the two HDD's, just copy everything from the old drive to the new drive.
Then, switch the drive letters around so that the new drive has the same drive letter the old one used to.

Then, delete everything from the old drive.
 
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hunt.harry74

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You mean with them both plugged in with OS running off the SSD? So it's possible to literally open my Local Disk, Copy and Paste the whole drive, including the windows files and paste into the new drive then rename to C:?
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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oh...noooooo
Not from the C drive.
I thought you were talking about the original HDD being a secondary drive.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Upon further reading, this will not work.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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OK, so here's how you proceed:

1. Install the OS on the SSD.
2. After that is ALL up and running and activated and updated...connect both HDD's.
3. Locate the SteamApps folder on the old drive.
4. Copy that whole folder to the new HDD
5. In your new Steam client on the SSD, tell it where that SteamApps folder is on the new HDD.
Thusly:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
q24sFfe.png


Anything else, you'll have to reinstall from scratch.
 
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hunt.harry74

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Feb 6, 2018
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During this time can I transfer all the files Barty1884 mentioned (media, links, documents etc) over to the new HDD from the old one also? When adding the new HDD will I need to partition it etc or will it do it automatic after detecting the new drive? Then once all that has done I'm free to delete all partitions, make a single partition then format it correct?

Sorry for the long-windedness of all this, just wanting to make sure I get it all right the first time is all.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For the new drive, you may have to (in Disk Management):
Initialize
New Simple Volume
Format
Give it a drive letter

Once you are absolutely sure there is nothing on the old drive you want, yes.
Disk Management, delete ALL partitions, leaving one blank space.
Reformat and use as desired.
 
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