Dumb question about storage on SSD drives.

[Trapinator]

I, at the moment, only have a HDD. If I buy a SSD, do I only need to install the OS (windows 7 in this case) and I'll be good? What I mean is can I put the OS on the SSD and don't have to reinstall all my games, programs, etc on the HDD.

In other words, will I be able to use my HDD like it is now but with my OS on a SSD.
And if it works, is there any chances to have some problems because of the OS installation on the HDD and the SSD?

My plan was to buy a cheap kingston SSD from Newegg and set it in the BIOS to boot on it without removing anything from my HDD.

Here is the drive I was planning to get if needed :
http://www.newegg.ca/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820721107

 

[i7Baby]

Get a Samsung eg 850 evo - bigger capacity than the data etc on your HDD and you can migrate everything across.

If your HDD is partitioned with the OS separate to games etc, you can just delete the system reserve (100mb) partition and the OS partition. But the drive names will change (the SSD will now be c which sometimes can stop apps working eg if they point to c: when c: is now changed.

 

[SBMfromLA]

First, your SSD selection is OK. It has 4 out of 5 Eggs on Newegg. Samsung "fanboys" might try to scare you into thinking other SSDs are bad.. so don't worry about it.

Second, Yes it is possible to keep your programs on your SSD.. but there is a trick. Most programs install data into hidden folders so if you want to keep your files on your first hard drive you have to copy over the hidden data folders to your SSD. Just go to Folder Options and select option to SHOW HIDDEN FOLDERS and go to three locations:
c\programdata
c\users\\appdata\local
c\users\\appdata\roaming

Now just look for the corresponding folders (either name of game, publisher or developer) and copy it... and after you install... copy them back into the same exact location. It would be easier and faster to just copy those entire folders (don't worry, they're small) and then after the install... just take your time and copy over ONLY THE ONES you need... making sure you don't do any of the system folders.

I'll give you an example. Say you use Firefox right now. If you want to copy Firefox onto your SSD with all your bookmarks and addons and passwords and cookies... go to those three hidden folders and look for Mozilla... copy all the Mozilla folders you see... and after installing the SSD and Windows... copy those Mozilla folders back into their places and then your Firefox will be exactly how you left it..

This also works for your game saves and game profiles that are saved. I also have a few games that used GFWL and I copied over the Games For Windows Live Folder and my game saves were carried over.. Some people may advice against this because they've never done this before.. but it's easy. I reinstall Windows every 6 months and keep my installed games on Drive D. Having this my computer set up like this... I never have to worry about reinstalling any of my games.. Just one last thing... after you do that you just have to create new shortcuts to your games. I advice sending all shortcuts to the desktop the first time and making a copy.. so you don't have to create the shortcuts again in case you need to reinstall.

 

[i7Baby]

Kingston V300 SSD -

http://www.myce.com/news/kingston-v300-ssd-issues-70451/

http://www.roytanck.com/2014/06/18/watch-out-when-buying-a-kingston-v300-ssd/

Silly Kingston FanBoys. lol

 

[Trapinator]

First, your SSD selection is OK. It has 4 out of 5 Eggs on Newegg. Samsung "fanboys" might try to scare you into thinking other SSDs are bad.. so don't worry about it.

Second, Yes it is possible to keep your programs on your SSD.. but there is a trick. Most programs install data into hidden folders so if you want to keep your files on your first hard drive you have to copy over the hidden data folders to your SSD. Just go to Folder Options and select option to SHOW HIDDEN FOLDERS and go to three locations:
c\programdata
c\users\\appdata\local
c\users\\appdata\roaming

Now just look for the corresponding folders (either name of game, publisher or developer) and copy it... and after you install... copy them back into the same exact location. It would be easier and faster to just copy those entire folders (don't worry, they're small) and then after the install... just take your time and copy over ONLY THE ONES you need... making sure you don't do any of the system folders.

I'll give you an example. Say you use Firefox right now. If you want to copy Firefox onto your SSD with all your bookmarks and addons and passwords and cookies... go to those three hidden folders and look for Mozilla... copy all the Mozilla folders you see... and after installing the SSD and Windows... copy those Mozilla folders back into their places and then your Firefox will be exactly how you left it..

This also works for your game saves and game profiles that are saved. I also have a few games that used GFWL and I copied over the Games For Windows Live Folder and my game saves were carried over.. Some people may advice against this because they've never done this before.. but it's easy. I reinstall Windows every 6 months and keep my installed games on Drive D. Having this my computer set up like this... I never have to worry about reinstalling any of my games.. Just one last thing... after you do that you just have to create new shortcuts to your games. I advice sending all shortcuts to the desktop the first time and making a copy.. so you don't have to create the shortcuts again in case you need to reinstall.

With this method, can I leave my old OS installation on the HDD? I'll simply do what you say and boot in BIOS to SSD without deleting the old installation on the HDD. Will it work?

 

[Trapinator]

Kingston V300 SSD -

http://www.myce.com/news/kingston-v300-ssd-issues-70451/

http://www.roytanck.com/2014/06/18/watch-out-when-buying-a-kingston-v300-ssd/

Silly Kingston FanBoys. lol

I might want to reconsider my cheap choice 😀 Thanks for the infos!

 

[SBMfromLA]

First, your SSD selection is OK. It has 4 out of 5 Eggs on Newegg. Samsung "fanboys" might try to scare you into thinking other SSDs are bad.. so don't worry about it.

Second, Yes it is possible to keep your programs on your SSD.. but there is a trick. Most programs install data into hidden folders so if you want to keep your files on your first hard drive you have to copy over the hidden data folders to your SSD. Just go to Folder Options and select option to SHOW HIDDEN FOLDERS and go to three locations:
c\programdata
c\users\\appdata\local
c\users\\appdata\roaming

Now just look for the corresponding folders (either name of game, publisher or developer) and copy it... and after you install... copy them back into the same exact location. It would be easier and faster to just copy those entire folders (don't worry, they're small) and then after the install... just take your time and copy over ONLY THE ONES you need... making sure you don't do any of the system folders.

I'll give you an example. Say you use Firefox right now. If you want to copy Firefox onto your SSD with all your bookmarks and addons and passwords and cookies... go to those three hidden folders and look for Mozilla... copy all the Mozilla folders you see... and after installing the SSD and Windows... copy those Mozilla folders back into their places and then your Firefox will be exactly how you left it..

This also works for your game saves and game profiles that are saved. I also have a few games that used GFWL and I copied over the Games For Windows Live Folder and my game saves were carried over.. Some people may advice against this because they've never done this before.. but it's easy. I reinstall Windows every 6 months and keep my installed games on Drive D. Having this my computer set up like this... I never have to worry about reinstalling any of my games.. Just one last thing... after you do that you just have to create new shortcuts to your games. I advice sending all shortcuts to the desktop the first time and making a copy.. so you don't have to create the shortcuts again in case you need to reinstall.

With this method, can I leave my old OS installation on the HDD? I'll simply do what you say and boot in BIOS to SSD without deleting the old installation on the HDD. Will it work?

Actually, what you should do is.. go to BIOS and change interface from IDE to AHCI for your new SSD... then install the SSD and UNPLUG YOUR OLD HARD DRIVE. Now you can install Windows. I said to unplug your ssd so your new Boot Manager will be installed onto that new drive instead of remaining on your old hard drive. Once you install windows... you can plug your drive back in... boot up making sure your SSD boots up first...

Not sure which method you'll use to get rid of your windows install. If it was me... I would create a temp. partition on the old drive... move all my data there... then after installing windows onto the SSD... go and delete the partition with old windows... then expand that temp. one with the data..

 

[Trapinator]

You're a genius! I'll try that.