[SOLVED] Getting SSD for Boot drive, need some help with my HDD.

[CandyCornGamer]

So I just ordered an SSD M.2 which I plan to use as my new PC's boot drive. I have a 4tb HDD that I use as a second storage option (my current PC boots off a 1tb HDD) and was told a long while ago that if I have any data I want to keep, that I'd need to partition a portion of my HDD and send it to the partitioned portion of my HDD.

My question is this, once I do that, and build my new pc, after I plug my 4TB HDD into the new pc do I need to format the HDD? I'm fairly new to using partitions, so not quite sure how it works. Do I format the HDD before I plug it into my new PC (with the partition created already) or after? And once that's finished, how do I get my data to the un-partitioned portion of the HDD, and can I remove the partition?

 

[geofelt]

When you load windows onto the m.2 ssd, do not have any other drives connected.
After windows is installed, you can reconnect all your drives and the data folders will be available.

If you had any apps on the hdd, they will need to be reinstalled.

If a new clean build and reinstalling of apps will be a chore, there is another option.
Make that ssd a Samsung 1tb drive and use the free Samsung ssd migration app to move your windows from the 1tb hdd to the new ssd.

 

[USAFRet]

So I just ordered an SSD M.2 which I plan to use as my new PC's boot drive. I have a 4tb HDD that I use as a second storage option (my current PC boots off a 1tb HDD) and was told a long while ago that if I have any data I want to keep, that I'd need to partition a portion of my HDD and send it to the partitioned portion of my HDD.

My question is this, once I do that, and build my new pc, after I plug my 4TB HDD into the new pc do I need to format the HDD? I'm fairly new to using partitions, so not quite sure how it works. Do I format the HDD before I plug it into my new PC (with the partition created already) or after? And once that's finished, how do I get my data to the un-partitioned portion of the HDD, and can I remove the partition?

What size/make/model is the new SSD?
How much space is consumed on your current boot drive, the 1TB?

 

[CandyCornGamer]

It's going to be a new windows device btw.

 

[USAFRet]

It's going to be a new windows device btw.

What do you mean by "new windows device" ?
A clean install on this new drive?

 

[CandyCornGamer]

What size/make/model is the new SSD?
How much space is consumed on your current boot drive, the 1TB?

128gb. I know it's not much, but I really only need it for boot and one other thing. I plan to get a bigger version later on. 4tb HDD, 3.4TB unused.

 

[USAFRet]

OK, so...new PC, new SSD.
No problem.

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forums.tomshardware.com

 

[CandyCornGamer]

When you load windows onto the m.2 ssd, do not have any other drives connected.
After windows is installed, you can reconnect all your drives and the data folders will be available.

If you had any apps on the hdd, they will need to be reinstalled.

If a new clean build and reinstalling of apps will be a chore, there is another option.
Make that ssd a Samsung 1tb drive and use the free Samsung ssd migration app to move your windows from the 1tb hdd to the new ssd.

It's going to be a new Windows install, will that be a problem or no? As for getting a bigger SSD, I can't right now and this was given to me by my mother.

 

[USAFRet]

Also, if you're wanting to use the existing OS license:

For the OS activation, read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-build-1607-and-activation.2786960/

 

[CandyCornGamer]

Also, if you're wanting to use the existing OS license:

For the OS activation, read and do this before you change any parts:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/windows-build-1607-and-activation.2786960/

Unfortunately I can't, its an OEM key so it won't work on another motherboard.

 

[CandyCornGamer]

What do you mean by "new windows device" ?
A clean install on this new drive?

Yup.

 

[USAFRet]

Unfortunately I can't, its an OEM key so it won't work on another motherboard.

OK then...new license for the new PC.

When you plug in the 4TB secondary drive, AFTER THE OS IS INSTALLED ON THE NEW SSD, you don't need to do any 'partitioning' with it.
The data on it remains. Any applications you've installed on that won't work, but all your personal data will still be there.

 

[CandyCornGamer]

OK then...new license for the new PC.

When you plug in the 4TB secondary drive, AFTER THE OS IS INSTALLED ON THE NEW SSD, you don't need to do any 'partitioning' with it.
The data on it remains. Any applications you've installed on that won't work, but all your personal data will still be there.

So things like my music and photos and all that correct?

 

[USAFRet]

So things like my music and photos and all that correct?

Correct.

 

[CandyCornGamer]

Correct.

Alright cool. Thanks for the help man!