Hello, I am planning to put Windows 10 on my new 500GB ssd I got recently. I was wondering if I could just use a USB with the create installation media tool to put a fresh install of Windows 10 on the ssd and then remove the windows files from the hdd to maximize storage while keeping the data on the hdd, which is primarily games.
How to go about putting Windows 10 on an SSD from HDD
- Thread starter An Lizard
- Start date
Solution
- Mar 16, 2013
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Yes, you can have games live on either or both drives.
The only issue with your current situation is where those games and data currently live.
It is currently inside your current 'user'. A new OS on the SSD will be a new user, and have permission and access issues.
That can be worked around, but it is sort of a pain.
Question...how much space is currently consumed on your HDD?
- Mar 16, 2013
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Install the OS on the SSD.
Some prep work:
Currently, your doc/music/etc is under your User Libraries? Those are the things that will give a little bit of headache regarding permissions.
Same with your current SteamApps folder
Discover your SteamApps folder.
Copy that entire thing to some folder that is NOT inside the Libraries/Documents place on your drive.
Do the same with your personal documents/music/video. Don't copy the whole "Library", but rather the files and any subfolders.
Doing this will completely work around any permission issue. Currently, anything under /User/ is tied to your current user.
The new "user" in the new OS is different.
Then,
Disconnect the HDD.
Install on the SSD.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10
Later, reconnect the HDD.
You are also going to reinstall all your hardware drivers, and all your applications.
The new Steam client you install, tell it where that SteamApps folder is.
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
- Mar 16, 2013
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If it is really under 400GB actual consumed space, clone it.
Thusly:
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
-----------------------------
Thusly:
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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