I've never cloned or imaged a drive before, but I believe that's what I need to do to avoid a clean install of an upgraded SSD. If I still want to use the old drive, is there a way to link them so they're both seen as one drive--or is this ill advisable due to data split? All opinions welcomed.
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Want to install second SSD as bootable but keep both.
- Thread starter toffeecoo
- Start date
Solution
- Apr 22, 2009
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If you're asking about upgrading from a smaller SSD to a larger one, yes. Cloning is the thing you want to do. You can also do a Win7 type disk image of the old SSD, then restore it to the new SSD. Follow that by changing the boot drive in BIOS, of course.
- Mar 16, 2013
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You're talking about two completely different things.
1. Cloning.
Just like this:
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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- Mar 16, 2013
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2. Multiple drives in one system.
It is highly advisable you just have then as two individual drives, with two drive letters. Very common configuration.
Easy to manage data across both drives.
For instance, Steam games:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
It is highly advisable you just have then as two individual drives, with two drive letters. Very common configuration.
Easy to manage data across both drives.
For instance, Steam games:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
USAFRet: Thank you for your thoroughness. I realize I was talking about different things, I hadn't come to a conclusion if using them in conjunction/RAID would be easier to do and/or offer more speed without breaking anything (though I guess that depends on how well I do setting it up). My main concern is not having programs break location, your Cloning steps sounded less complicated than what I've been reading elsewhere. It would be safer to keep them separate. The example using Steam libraries was helpful, I didn't think I could run programs from drives other than C- though perhaps Libraries is unique to Steam? Do you think it would be best to use the smaller SSD as an imaging/backup drive instead, then? I mostly use other HDDs for storage so I shouldn't need it for anything else.
- Mar 16, 2013
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Don't do a RAID with those drives. You gain zero performance benefit.
What is the size/make/model of these two drives?
OS and applications on one drive, other things on the other drive.
Read more 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
- Mar 16, 2013
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Also, read here for actual backups:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3383768/backup-situation-home.html
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3383768/backup-situation-home.html
I guess I'll have to play with it. The reason I'm doing this is my Adobe programs are telling me scratch discs are full. The only thing eating up space on my smaller drive are games, so I suppose it would be easier to move battle.net and steam games over. Is there a distinction outlined somewhere that says which programs should be run from C drive and which not?
- Mar 16, 2013
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Between those two drives, performance isn't an issue.
Space may be. If the 240GB is "full", then move some stuff.
Move games
Change your Adobe scratch space location
Move your downloads folder
Or, clone everything to the new 480GB.
Either way works.
To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder
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