Question Easiest way to switch windows from hdd to ssd

[Sjnokkem]

Hello, my friend has a gaming pc for about a year now and he accidentally installed windows 10 on the hdd, now he wants to switch it to a ssd. What is the easiest way possible and anything to keep in mind?

 

[Math Geek]

this is why you install windows with only the destination drive hooked up.

he's lucky he did not format and install over data. no way to get it back then!!

easiest way is to use something like samsung magician

Samsung Magician Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung Magician software is designed to help you manage your Samsung SSD with a simple, intuitive user interface. Download files & find supported models.

semiconductor.samsung.com

it'll see the source and destination drives and clone the drive. this assumes the source drive is smaller than the destination ssd.

if not, then a fresh install is the way to go with ONLY the ssd attached

back up any and all important data cause nothing is fool proof and data loss can happen. don't wait for it to happen and then think about backing it up. it'll be lost then and no amount of " it is really important and i need it recovered" is going to bring it back!!

 

[USAFRet]

Hello, my friend has a gaming pc for about a year now and he accidentally installed windows 10 on the hdd, now he wants to switch it to a ssd. What is the easiest way possible and anything to keep in mind?

Please show us a screencap of your current Disk Management window.
What specific drives are involved here?

Cloning from HDD to SSD is an option, given the right config.

 

[Sjnokkem]

this is why you install windows with only the destination drive hooked up.

he's lucky he did not format and install over data. no way to get it back then!!

easiest way is to use something like samsung magician

Samsung Magician Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Samsung Magician software is designed to help you manage your Samsung SSD with a simple, intuitive user interface. Download files & find supported models.

semiconductor.samsung.com

it'll see the source and destination drives and clone the drive. this assumes the source drive is smaller than the destination ssd.

if not, then a fresh install is the way to go with ONLY the ssd attached

back up any and all important data cause nothing is fool proof and data loss can happen. don't wait for it to happen and then think about backing it up. it'll be lost then and no amount of " it is really important and i need it recovered" is going to bring it back!!

Yeah pretty stupid in the first place, i told him right away to reinstall it on his ssd. I will try it this weekend with him hopefully everything stays the same, i don't know if the ssd is bigger than the hdd we shall see. I will do a research for the documents on the hdd and ssd.

Thank you for your response!

 

[USAFRet]

easiest way is to use something like samsung magician

Only counts if you have a Samsung SSD target drive...

 

[USAFRet]

i don't know if the ssd is bigger than the hdd we shall see.

Physical drive size is not as much a consideration as is actual consumed space.

A 2TB HDD with 300GB consumed space will easily clone into a 500GB SSD.

 

[Sjnokkem]

Physical drive size is not as much a consideration as is actual consumed space.

A 2TB HDD with 300GB consumed space will easily clone into a 500GB SSD.

Yeah that is what i mean, i dont really know how moch space is occupied on both drives. Hopefully the ssd has enough space left.

 

[USAFRet]

Yeah that is what i mean, i dont really know how moch space is occupied on both drives. Hopefully the ssd has enough space left.

A clone from HDD to SSD will wipe out everything currently existing on the SSD.

But this is why we need details before moving on.

 

[Sjnokkem]

A clone from HDD to SSD will wipe out everything currently existing on the SSD.

But this is why we need details before moving on.

Yeah i cant give anymore details, i have to ask my friend for more info. But if i am not misstaken he was considering buying a new ssd to transfer windows

 

[USAFRet]

Yeah i cant give anymore details, i have to ask my friend for more info. But if i am not misstaken he was considering buying a new ssd to transfer windows

No problem.

If he gets a Samsung drive, the Samsung Data Migration tool.
Otherwise, Macrium Reflect.

I have a tested series of steps to get this right.

Example - for a 1TB SSD, the actual consumed space on the existing drive needs to be below 800GB.

 

[Sjnokkem]

No problem.

If he gets a Samsung drive, the Samsung Data Migration tool.
Otherwise, Macrium Reflect.

I have a tested series of steps to get this right.

Example - for a 1TB SSD, the actual consumed space on the existing drive needs to be below 800GB.

Oke thank you for your help, i will message my friend and discuss what you guys said. I think for him buying a new ssd will be the best and least painfull thing. I will keep you posted on any updates!

Gracie

 

[USAFRet]

Oke thank you for your help, i will message my friend and discuss what you guys said. I think for him buying a new ssd will be the best and least painfull thing. I will keep you posted on any updates!

Gracie

More details are almost always better...
Specifically, a screencap of the existing Disk Management window.