[SOLVED] big problem with moving windows from hdd to ssd

[xCJ11]

So, I've gotten my new ssd thinking i'd just copy and paste the windows folder from my hdd to the ssd but before doing that i checked yt and it was a whole different thing..
i found out that i have to clone the hdd (1tb) to my ssd(240gb) and my partition containing the windows files is a 475gb partition and i cant copy that into the ssd and i wouldnt have if my ssd was like 500gb because i just want the windows files... and a few games that i choose...
can anyone please help.. idk what to do and i dont want to install some special software that costs money and i dont wanna fill up my ssd with files other than the windows files and any other essential files for booting my pc, any help?
pc-
ryzen 5 3400g 4.1
asrock b450 steel legend
asus tuf gtx 1650
hyperx fury rgb 2*8gb 2666
zalman wattbit 500w 83+
wd blue 2012 1tb
gigabyte ssd 240gb (GP-GSTFS31240GNTD)

 

[Lutfij]

You either clone the drive or you reinstall the OS onto the new drive(SSD).

 

[USAFRet]

thinking i'd just copy and paste the windows folder

Nope.
There are specific tools and procedures to do 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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[USAFRet]

How much space is consumed on your current C drive?
The SSD is 240GB?

 

[xCJ11]

Nope.
There are specific tools and procedures to do 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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

so basically i gotta wipe my old drive with all the games and applications on it ? ;/

 

[xCJ11]

You either clone the drive or you reinstall the OS onto the new drive(SSD).

does that automatically delete the older files in my hdd and would it affect any apps and games?

 

[xCJ11]

How much space is consumed on your current C drive?
The SSD is 240GB?

around 288gb out of 475 after i deleted some duplicate zip files
yes its 240gb with 223 usable capacity

 

[USAFRet]

around 288gb out of 475 after i deleted some duplicate zip files
yes its 240gb with 223 usable capacity

To clone into a 240GB drive, the actual consumed space on the Source (the C drive) must be below 200GB.
So you have a little work to do.

The clone does NOT automatically delete anything from the source. This is a good thing. You do that after.

 

[xCJ11]

To clone into a 240GB drive, the actual consumed space on the Source (the C drive) must be below 200GB.
So you have a little work to do.

The clone does NOT automatically delete anything from the source. This is a good thing. You do that after.

i just want to clone the windows files that are required for booting up , can i copy the other unnecessary files ( well necessary ,but not for booting) into my other partition which is also 475gb and it has like 380gbs unused and thennnn clone the windows files ?

 

[USAFRet]

i just want to clone the windows files that are required for booting up , can i copy the other unnecessary files ( well necessary ,but not for booting) into my other partition which is also 475gb and it has like 380gbs unused and thennnn clone the windows files ?

No.
There is no tool or function to clone "only Windows"

Please show us a screencap of your current Disk Management window.
(upload to imgur.com and post the link here)

 

[xCJ11]

No.
There is no tool or function to clone "only Windows"

Please show us a screencap of your current Disk Management window.
(upload to imgur.com and post the link here)

no no i mean i want to first copy the files unnecessary for windows and keep them in my d drive and then delete them from the c drive and clone the c drive which now has only the windows files and nothing else as i have copied the other folders into the d drive , thats possible ?

 

[USAFRet]

no no i mean i want to first copy the files unnecessary for windows and keep them in my d drive and then delete them from the c drive and clone the c drive which now has only the windows files and nothing else as i have copied the other folders into the d drive , thats possible ?

Remove enough stuff from the current C drive to get below 200GB.
What that is is all up to you.

Files, not programs. Moving programs like this WILL break things.
Doc/music/movie...stuff like that.

 

[xCJ11]

also im not using my pc rn im using a laptop so i cant show much

 

[USAFRet]

Again, a screencap of your current Disk Management window, please.

 

[xCJ11]

Remove enough stuff from the current C drive to get below 200GB.
What that is is all up to you.

Files, not programs. Moving programs like this WILL break things.
Doc/music/movie...stuff like that.

well , which folders can i mess with ? and which ones i shouldnt touch, i heard i shouldnt mess with "programfiles" and "programfilesx86" idk y even though they just have normal programs i downloaded
and how do i move the games? and applications, copy and paste into d drive and then delete from the c drive?

 

[USAFRet]

also im not using my pc rn im using a laptop so i cant show much

Hard to give advice without seeing what you're working with.

 

[USAFRet]

well , which folders can i mess with ? and which ones i shouldnt touch, i heard i shouldnt mess with "programfiles" and "programfilesx86" idk y even though they just have normal programs i downloaded
and how do i move the games? and applications, copy and paste into d drive and then delete from the c drive?

ProgramFiles.....absolutely do NOT touch that.

Applications, you do NOT 'move'.

Games...are these Steam games?

 

[xCJ11]

ProgramFiles.....absolutely do NOT touch that.

Applications, you do NOT 'move'.

Games...are these Steam games?

im sorry man im not on my pc rn but they r 2 drives on my hdd c and d , both 475gbs
and only 1 empty drive on my ssd thats gpt or something and my hdd is mbr idk something u prolly know
and yes there are steams games ( free ones) and other games r from pirated website stuff

 

[xCJ11]

also why not the program files.. they're just my applications and a few games as far as i see

 

[USAFRet]

also why not the program files.. they're just my applications and a few games as far as i see

And those applications will break.

When an application is installed, it creates dozens/hundreds of entries int he Registry and elsewhere.
Many of them pointing to a specific drive letter....C.

Move those, and it will then be on a different drive letter, and fail to work.

Steam games can be located and moved.
The game installs...NOT the Steam client.

We can go into that if need be.

 

[xCJ11]

And those applications will break.

When an application is installed, it creates dozens/hundreds of entries int he Registry and elsewhere.
Many of them pointing to a specific drive letter....C.

Move those, and it will then be on a different drive letter, and fail to work.

Steam games can be located and moved.
The game installs...NOT the Steam client.

We can go into that if need be.

how do i move the whole steam folder? the client and the games (takes up 105gb i think)
and well what about the other applications and games that are not steam related

 

[USAFRet]

how do i move the whole steam folder? the client and the games (takes up 105gb i think)
and well what about the other applications and games that are not steam related

Assuming the system still runs properly, you can move these games from the Steam client.


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

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

 

[USAFRet]

and well what about the other applications and games that are not steam related

Other applications...leave them where they are.

 

[DSzymborski]

How much space is used if you remove the things you stole?

In any case, I don't think you have the technical knowledge to safely clone the drive. Back up your important data -- you should already being doing this, but if you have not been, start -- and start with a fresh Windows install on the SSD.

 

[xCJ11]

Other applications...leave them where they are.

i heard i can link the files when i change their drive location from the adminstrator command prompt