[SOLVED] Can I just delete windows 10 off my hard drive and download it to my SSD?

calebrios02

Commendable
Dec 5, 2017
8
0
1,510
I was wondering if I actaully have to go through the process of cloning my HDD to my new SSD even know I just want a few games and windows 10 on it. I can just uninstall the games and change the download directory to my SSD, but I don't know if I can just download windows on my SSD and delete it off my HDD and everything be fine.
 
Solution
Cloning will work, but if you don't mind some extra work, here's what I'd do.

  1. Back up all of your data (images, document, movies, mp3, favorites, mail, etc...) to a USB
  2. Create your installation media using the Media Creation Tool
  3. Install the SSD.
  4. Change boot priority to USB, insert the USB drive and reboot.
  5. Begin the Windows 10 install. When it asks where to install Windows, click Advanced and format both drives.
  6. Cancel the installation and shut down the system.
  7. Remove the HDD (just disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard).
  8. Restart the Windows install and select the SSD as you install location.
  9. Install updates/drivers/games/programs designated for the SSD.
  10. Reconnect the HDD.
  11. Install...

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
I was wondering if I actaully have to go through the process of cloning my HDD to my new SSD even know I just want a few games and windows 10 on it. I can just uninstall the games and change the download directory to my SSD, but I don't know if I can just download windows on my SSD and delete it off my HDD and everything be fine.
Not the way you describe it.

What is on which drive currently?
What do you want the end state to be? OS on which drive, games on what drive, etc. Be as detailed as you can.

Further...
What size/make/model is the SSD?
What OS is this?



Bottom line - if Windows currently resides on the HDD, there are only 2 ways to get Windows on the SSD:
Either clone all of it across, or do a clean install on the SSD.

We can explore either or both options.
 

calebrios02

Commendable
Dec 5, 2017
8
0
1,510
Not the way you describe it.

What is on which drive currently?
What do you want the end state to be? OS on which drive, games on what drive, etc. Be as detailed as you can.

Further...
What size/make/model is the SSD?
What OS is this?



Bottom line - if Windows currently resides on the HDD, there are only 2 ways to get Windows on the SSD:
Either clone all of it across, or do a clean install on the SSD.

We can explore either or both options.
What I want the end result to be is to have Windows on my SSD instead of my hard drive the games I can do my self, and I've already moved some before the post, but to answer the question about what I'm using and how much storage; I have a WD Blue Sata SSD the 500GB version, currently after downloading games to it, I have 397GB free. I guess I'll have to go with the clean install option, but does that mean after I set my boot priority to my SSD after the installation and then delete windows only off my HDD? Windows 10 pro or home it doesn't matter to me, but I believe I have pro installed currently.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Well cloning it is then, in that case, is there any reliable cloning software that I can use?
-----------------------------
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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

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

Wolfshadw

Titan
Moderator
Cloning will work, but if you don't mind some extra work, here's what I'd do.

  1. Back up all of your data (images, document, movies, mp3, favorites, mail, etc...) to a USB
  2. Create your installation media using the Media Creation Tool
  3. Install the SSD.
  4. Change boot priority to USB, insert the USB drive and reboot.
  5. Begin the Windows 10 install. When it asks where to install Windows, click Advanced and format both drives.
  6. Cancel the installation and shut down the system.
  7. Remove the HDD (just disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard).
  8. Restart the Windows install and select the SSD as you install location.
  9. Install updates/drivers/games/programs designated for the SSD.
  10. Reconnect the HDD.
  11. Install games/programs designated for the HDD and restore data from USB.

This ensures a clean install of Windows onto ONLY the SSD.

-Wolf sends
 
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Solution

calebrios02

Commendable
Dec 5, 2017
8
0
1,510
What do you m
Cloning will work, but if you don't mind some extra work, here's what I'd do.

  1. Back up all of your data (images, document, movies, mp3, favorites, mail, etc...) to a USB
  2. Create your installation media using the Media Creation Tool
  3. Install the SSD.
  4. Change boot priority to USB, insert the USB drive and reboot.
  5. Begin the Windows 10 install. When it asks where to install Windows, click Advanced and format both drives.
  6. Cancel the installation and shut down the system.
  7. Remove the HDD (just disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard).
  8. Restart the Windows install and select the SSD as you install location.
  9. Install updates/drivers/games/programs designated for the SSD.
  10. Reconnect the HDD.
  11. Install games/programs designated for the HDD and restore data from USB.
This ensures a clean install of Windows onto ONLY the SSD.

-Wolf sends
Awesome! I honestly don't wanna have to do the cloning thing since I don't feel comfortable doing it even know it may br eaiser I prefer this method.
 

neojack

Reputable
Apr 4, 2019
605
173
5,140
if you go for a reinstall, it may even be easier to just unplugg your HDD, plug the ssd, install windows, + updates, your games etc

Then when you are done, plug the HDD and copy the old data to the SSD in a folder.
then delete all partitions on the HDD, format a new partition, and move the data back to the hdd if needed.
 

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