Can I compress program files to migrate to an SSD?

[HVCFOG3Y34]

I have a problem, I have an HDD with windows installed and I recently got an SSD that I want to install windows on and run my computer off of that. Can I compress my files into a zip file so it can fit into my SSD then move and extract them to the HDD and use a symbolic link to keep all the program settings and configuration? Is there anyother ways for me to keep my programs? I have too many to reinstall.

Update: With that program + just uninstalling programs, I cleared up 150-200GBs of space on my HDD and removed 103 programs. I am still working at removing and deleting programs.

Accidentally selected best answer, so ignore that.

 

[USAFRet]

I uninstalled 118 programs and freed about 250 GBs of space leaving me at 105GBs of used space. Can I now migrate to my 119GB SSD?

That's still too much...🙁

How is that still too much? What is the limit and what sets that limit?

For an SSD, you need to leave at least 10-15% free space, to allow the TRIM function to do its thing.

With the Samsung migration software, for a 250GB SSD, it won't even start unless the data to be migrated is below 200GB.
For a 120GB SSD...similar. You probably want it below 90GB or so. And that leaves little space for next months Windows Update, or temp files...

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Well for the free space for the future I was going to move all the programs to the hdd using symbolic links.

 

[USAFRet]

Well for the free space for the future I was going to move all the programs to the hdd using symbolic links.

Still, you need to get the free space lower, just to start the cloning process.
And that symlink concept....no need for it. Yes, it works, mostly. But all current applications allow you to install wherever. But in reality, you want a whole lot of them on the SSD.

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Ok, I have a few more questions. Once I do migrate, can I reinstall a program onto another drive and it keeps the settings? Isn't having programs on an SSD bad because an SSD isn't meant to write a lot?

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, I have a few more questions. Once I do migrate, can I reinstall a program onto another drive and it keeps the settings? Isn't having programs on an SSD bad because an SSD isn't meant to write a lot?

Having the programs on the SSD is no problem. At all.
With early consumer grade drives, too many writes was an issue. That is no longer the case.

Most current drives have a warranty of X years, or ~70TB TBW. Total Bytes Written.
In real world use, that is a HUGE amount for normal use.

My current main SSD, 120GB Kingston HyperX, is coming up on 3 years old. It currently has 9.5TB TBW in that time. Running 24/7. Holds the OS and all applications apart from games.

9.5TB in almost 3 years, compared to a probably lifespan of 70+TB, = decades before the write situation becomes a problem.
Literal decades.

Some of the 3rd party endurance tests have shown regular consumer grade drives to last well beyond 700TB before they start to die.

Worrying about writes is not a consideration anymore.

But yes..you can install programs on whichever drive you want. But do it because of space issues, not because of 'too many writes to the drive'.

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Having the programs on the SSD is no problem. At all.
With early consumer grade drives, too many writes was an issue. That is no longer the case.

Most current drives have a warranty of X years, or ~70TB TBW. Total Bytes Written.
In real world use, that is a HUGE amount for normal use.

My current main SSD, 120GB Kingston HyperX, is coming up on 3 years old. It currently has 9.5TB TBW in that time. Running 24/7. Holds the OS and all applications apart from games.

9.5TB in almost 3 years, compared to a probably lifespan of 70+TB, = decades before the write situation becomes a problem.
Literal decades.

Some of the 3rd party endurance tests have shown regular consumer grade drives to last well beyond 700TB before they start to die.

Worrying about writes is not a consideration anymore.

But yes..you can install programs on whichever drive you want. But do it because of space issues, not because of 'too many writes to the drive'.

Thanks that clears up some of the issues I had. I guess I will just start removing programs that I can reinstall to working order easily, then migrate. Thanks for the help.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks that clears up some of the issues I had. I guess I will just start removing programs that I can reinstall to working order easily, then migrate. Thanks for the help.

It will become useless simply due to size long before it actually dies.
I have a few fully functional laptop drives from 1998-2000. Why don't I still use them? Because I have zero need for a 2GB, or 10GB, internal drive. Simply too small to be usable. And a now obsolete interface (IDE).

I wouldn't even put a 2GB SD card in any of my cameras.

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

OK so i just got my HDD down to 83Gb what program do you suggest to migrate? I have Transcend's SSD Scope

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

It will become useless simply due to size long before it actually dies.
I have a few fully functional laptop drives from 1998-2000. Why don't I still use them? Because I have zero need for a 2GB, or 10GB, internal drive. Simply too small to be usable. And a now obsolete interface (IDE).

I wouldn't even put a 2GB SD card in any of my cameras.

Did you mean to send that to this post?

 

[USAFRet]

It will become useless simply due to size long before it actually dies.
I have a few fully functional laptop drives from 1998-2000. Why don't I still use them? Because I have zero need for a 2GB, or 10GB, internal drive. Simply too small to be usable. And a now obsolete interface (IDE).

I wouldn't even put a 2GB SD card in any of my cameras.

Did you mean to send that to this post?

Yes...just as an add on to the "SSD dying" thing.

 

[USAFRet]

OK so i just got my HDD down to 83Gb what program do you suggest to migrate? I have Transcend's SSD Scope

Acronis TrueImage($-15 day trial), EasusToDo, Casper ($).

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

So I used true image to close my drive and it would go thought the steps fine. But when I got to where its supposed to boot up, it gave me this error. http://imgur.com/TTrupAS
When I did what it told me to do I got this error. http://imgur.com/zO7ALHp
How do I fix this?

 

[USAFRet]

So I used true image to close my drive and it would go thought the steps fine. But when I got to where its supposed to boot up, it gave me this error.

When I did what it told me to do I got this error.

How do I fix this?

You didn't post any pic....🙁

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

You didn't post any pic....🙁

Just realized, fixed it.

 

[USAFRet]

How do I fix this?

Retry the cloning thing, this time ensuring that it actually clones ALL of the relevant partitions. This includes the very small System Reserved partition from the original drive.

Now...if that System Reserved partition lives on a whole other drive, then we have a host of other issues.
How many drives were in here before you added the SSD?

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Retry the cloning thing, this time ensuring that it actually clones ALL of the relevant partitions. This includes the very small System Reserved partition from the original drive.

Now...if that System Reserved partition lives on a whole other drive, then we have a host of other issues.
How many drives were in here before you added the SSD?

The system reserve is on the same drive that i'm trying to clone(Drive C). There is one other internal HDD and one external.

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

I dont know if this matters, but i didnt pay for true image. I have the free one. Also, when I go to clone disk, it says the SSDs interface is ATA(2) Primary Master, and the HDD is Serial ATA.

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Retry the cloning thing, this time ensuring that it actually clones ALL of the relevant partitions. This includes the very small System Reserved partition from the original drive.

Now...if that System Reserved partition lives on a whole other drive, then we have a host of other issues.
How many drives were in here before you added the SSD?

I did try three times now and the same thing happened. What do you suggest i do now?

 

[USAFRet]

Retry the cloning thing, this time ensuring that it actually clones ALL of the relevant partitions. This includes the very small System Reserved partition from the original drive.

Now...if that System Reserved partition lives on a whole other drive, then we have a host of other issues.
How many drives were in here before you added the SSD?

I did try three times now and the same thing happened. What do you suggest i do now?

Try a different tool, maybe?

 

[HVCFOG3Y34]

Try a different tool, maybe?

Do you have another program I could use, preferably a free one?