Moving windows from hdd to ssd

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karanoz

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Hi,

Planning on moving my existing Windows OS from my current HDD to my current SSD.
Would just like to refresh my memory on how to go about this without losing any data.

NOTE: I am also planning to replace the current version of Windows 7 with Windows 10, is it simpler to do so before or after the transfer?


1. Relocate the files from the SSD to the HDD - (Any applications located on the SSD will have to be re-installed on the HDD?) To clear up enough space or to have it completely empty. 129GB~

2. Uninstall windows on the HDD in someway? Guessing the "Format Drive" wont help since the data will be wiped.

3. Install windows with only the SSD connected.

4. Device manager and all that jazz that follows.


So basically, I want to just simply swap place on the Windows OS from HDD to SSD without losing any data.


Thanks,



Karanoz
 
Solution
USAFRet
Once you get to the 200GB consumed space on the HDD, and everything on the SSD copied to elsewhere...

These steps exactly.

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
This is to allow the system to try to...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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You're wanting to do two things, change the drive and change the OS.

To preserve your 'data', only one at a time.
You can probably do it in either order.

So let's investigate:
1. How much total space is consumed on your current C drive?
2. What is the size of the new SSD?
3. What other drives are in this system?
 
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karanoz

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1. 0.22 TB currently consumed

2. 239 GB, its already in use, but I want the windows onto it.

3. What do you mean by "other drives"?

 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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1. So 220GB (or so)

2. 250GB SSD
Whatever is on this drive currently WILL be wiped out, no matter how you do this. Either cloning or clean install on the SSD
You can't simply swap the OS around and leave everything on that drive in place.

3. Other drives...I meant do you have any other drive, where you could move some stuff to temporarily if needed.
 
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karanoz

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Ah yes, so there is 0.22 TB free out of 1.81 TB

And I have 2 drives. x1 2 TB HDD which windows is currently operating on, and the 239 GB SSD one.

But I also wonder if the current drive which holds the windows OS (the 2TB HDD) will also be wiped by doing this.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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It won't, and for good reason.

A cloning operation simply makes an exact duplicate on the new drive.
Wiping things on the old drive is up to you, after it is fully verified working on the new drive.

It would be really, really bad if the cloning operation included automatically wiping the old drive at the end of the process.
If anything were to go wrong with the new drive...you'd be left with no fallback position.

However....0.22GB "free" in a 2TB source drive, and a 250GB SSD target drive.
A clone operation will not work. At all.

Can't fit 1,500 lbs of potatoes in a 250lb bag.
 
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karanoz

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"1. How much total space is consumed on your current C drive?"

The total space currently consumed it 0.22 TB out of 1.81 TB which means there is 1.59 TB Free space.
And for the cloning operation, could you suggest 2 ways to go on about it?


Thanks
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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OK...you've said it both ways.
0.22TB consumed, and 0.22TB free.

For a successful clone operation into that 250GB drive, the actual consumed space needs to be below 200GB.

Can you get to that level?
If so, detailed cloning steps to follow.
 
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karanoz

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Ok. so for the sake of having no mistakes on my end, I have summarized my situation in a picture.

http://https://imgur.com/cJsN8qk
Hope this helps with the current situation and I apologize for any inconsistencies.


Thanks
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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OK, your situation:
8gj4EBN.png


So, you're very close on the current consumed space on the HDD.
However...existing files on the SSD. All that needs to be moved elsewhere during this process.
A clone operation OR a clean install will wipe all of that out.
 
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karanoz

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Yes, and Im wondering what is the smoothest way of transferring ALL files from the SSD to another host during the time. I would not have an issue with purchasing another SSD / HDD for the sake of convenience here, but Im wondering what you would consider the best solution.

Also, just to ensure myself again (with the provided picture in mind) when I uninstall windows from the HDD, will I lose anything else on that drive?


Thanks
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Another drive, either internal or external USB, would be the ticket.
And BONUS, you now have another drive for the ever essential backup routine.

The clone operation does a full copy on the new drive, the SSD. Nothing is deleted off the HDD until YOU remove it.

There is no "uninstall" of the OS on that old drive.
Instead, you delete all the data on it. Actually, delete all the existing partitions, leaving one large blank space to use as you see fit.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Once you get to the 200GB consumed space on the HDD, and everything on the SSD copied to elsewhere...

These steps exactly.

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
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the 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 450MB Recovery Partition, 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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Solution
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karanoz

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Ok. So if I purchase a new HDD, and transfer the current HDD data onto the new HDD, it will transfer everything BESIDES the Windows files? Seeing as the HDD currently almost exceeds the SSD space, Im not sure if I would be able to copy it right across. Besides, I would like to mainly only have the windows file on it, and nothing else.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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1. On a new HDD, you'd copy everything on the SSD to that.
And whatever off the HDD, to get your target size to below 200GB.
This enables cloning to the 250GB SSD.

2. You can't clone "only the OS". The only way to have "only the OS" on it is a clean install.
But...you really don't want "only the OS". You want all your applications on the SSD as well.
OS, drivers, applications...all go on the SSD.
Stuff like video/music/docs...those can live on the HDD, because speed does not really matter with that.

So...temp stuff that goes on this new drive:
Move everything off the SSD.
From the current HDD, move whatever you don't want to end up on the SSD, and to get below 200GB.

Then, the cloning steps listed above.

Once the current OS is all working on the SSD...then you can consider the upgrade to WIn 10.
And wiping everything off the current 2TB HDD.
 
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karanoz

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Ok, so what I've done is I got a new SSD, which Im cloning the HDD onto (It has sufficient space for the 0.22 TB) and then I should be able to use that as my primary boot drive, correct? I do not need to take it into the disk management window and set up a partition or anything of the sort?



Thanks.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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The steps above are exactly what is needed.
The cloning process takes care of all the partitioning, etc.
 
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