Mechanics55 :
USAFRet :
Mechanics55 :
Is it possible to have a SSD and HDD both with Windows installed? Can I safely just set the boot order to SSD first without having any issues with the HDD? I want to get a SSD, but I only have a 1TB HDD currently installed with Windows 8.1, and I'd rather cough up the money for an OS rather than go through the trouble of trying to transfer it over to SSD from HDD. Also, is it possible to install windows onto the SSD from my PC? Thanks!
1. Yes, but that would require 2 licenses.
2. Yes
3. That will work, but a cloning operation is usually pretty easy. The problem only comes in when it doesn't work. Then you fall back to a clean install
4. Yes, from your original install media. You can't install it directly from the existing OS (if you are saying what I think your saying)
Either clean install (DVD or USB), or clone from the old drive to the new drive.
I mean, for the fourth part, could I theoretically buy a brand new OS (let's say Windows 8.1 again) and install that newly purchased OS onto my SSD even though I'll still be booting from my HDD. And would buying a fresh copy of Windows 10 yield any issues with 9.1 installed on HDD? Honestly I don't want to risk any data doing a cloning operation. I'll happily spend the 100 bucks on a new OS if it works.
If you install Win 8.1 on the SSD, you would be booting from your install media, not the other OS.
After it is installed on the SSD, you would be booting from one or the other, not both.
But yes, that would work.
But if you have your original install media and license key, you could just use that to install on the SSD rather than buying a new OS.
And for the cloning operation, losing data is not really a concern. It copies the entire drive or partition from one to the other. If it does fail (and yes it does sometimes)...the original drive is still viable with all the original data.
I almost always recommend a clean install (especially on a new SSD), but 'losing data' in the clone operation is not a concern.