can i make my old had drive a storage unit even if it still has windows on it?

[superh1994]

im putting a fresh install of windows onto a new SSD. however i have a ton of files and programs on my old hard drive which i am too lazy to sort through and transfer/download again.

Is there a way i can use it as a storage drive to my SSD without formatting it?

 

[kasol kay]

Nope, you cannot. You could copy the Windows onto the SSD then transfer files to the HDD, but that seems like a pain. Just move over the stuff you need to an External drive.

{mod edited for language}

 

[kasol kay]

Or create a partition and dump stuff there before hand.

 

[captaincharisma]

you could still install it as a secondary drive and not worry about it trying to boot from the HDD instead of the SSD. just make sure the SSD is the only drive connected when installing windows. other than an optical drive if you are installing windows from a DVD

 

[superh1994]

Or create a partition and dump stuff there before hand.

It's a 1TB hard drive with about 120gb of data i would rather not transfer and download again. I could partition the hard drive now (have not got my new SSD yet) and put those files into it, then when i install windows onto the SSD, I can plug in this hard drive it is? wont i have to format it(and lose the partition?)

 

[superh1994]

you could still install it as a secondary drive and not worry about it trying to boot from the HDD instead of the SSD. just make sure the SSD is the only drive connected when installing windows. other than an optical drive if you are installing windows from a DVD

Ok, so you mean i have my new windows on my new SSD.
then if i really want to get those files, i can boot from my old hard drive and use my old windows as I am using right now(dont own the ssd yet)

I suppose that would be a temporary solution.

I guess i'm going to have to go through the process of transferring the documents i need to my external drive, and taking note of all the programs i want and download them again onto it once it is formatted.

 

[captaincharisma]

you could still install it as a secondary drive and not worry about it trying to boot from the HDD instead of the SSD. just make sure the SSD is the only drive connected when installing windows. other than an optical drive if you are installing windows from a DVD

Ok, so you mean i have my new windows on my new SSD.
then if i really want to get those files, i can boot from my old hard drive and use my old windows as I am using right now(dont own the ssd yet)

I suppose that would be a temporary solution.




I guess i'm going to have to go through the process of transferring the documents i need to my external drive, and taking note of all the programs i want and download them again onto it once it is formatted.

you wouldn't have boot from the old drive. you just connect it after windows is installed on the SSD and it will show up as a 2nd drive in windows. and you wouldn't have to worry about it trying to boot the old windows install

 

[popatim]

If by 'data' you actually mean data then it wont matter which drive its on, just point the program to the data and away you go.

But if by 'data' you mean programs then you run into a pickle. Most programs install 'pieces' into various OS locations, like the Registry and Users Appdata folders (often more too), and these will need to be reinstalled if you want them to work on the new OS installed onto the SSD.

Many programs, games mainly, use installers, such as Steam, Origin, Uplay, Glyph..., and you merely need to reinstall the installer and then add the games location to the library of that app.

Lastly there are a few 'clone' programs that can now move just your windows to your SSD.

Though we recommend a fresh install to get rid of all the bloat and give you a fresh start, if you would like more info on these just let us know. To be honest, I haven't tried any of the free ones yet.