Have I wasted my money on a my new SSD's?

[Kremo]

Basically, long story short i've bought two Kingston 120GB SSD for increased speed on my PC, but i've just realized I can't do a fresh install of windows, i've got atleast 1.1 TB of data on my PC at the moment and I can't back all of that up, also my internet speed is slow as hell and it takes me days to download games so i'm not willing to wipe my games clean either.

I would clone my OS but i've heard its risky business so i'm not sure, if I loose all my data i'm done for. So basically i've kind of wasted my money, my OS isn't going to run any faster and that sucks, should I just get a refund as I'm not too bothered about waiting for loading times in games, and atm my ssd's only seem like that's what they'd be used for, as I can't install my OS on them, so my PC will be just as slow.

If theres anyway around this that is safe and secure please let me know.
Thanks

 

[Kremo]

But say I install a programme on my HDD, could I not go into my HDD, find the software folder and drag/drop it into my SSD if need be? Not that it's important its just for future preference.

 

[USAFRet]

But say I install a programme on my HDD, could I not go into my HDD, find the software folder and drag/drop it into my SSD if need be? Not that it's important its just for future preference.

No, it's not that easy.
When you install an application, it makes dozens, hundreds, thousands of entries in the Registry and elsewhere.

Some applications will work no problem, a lot will not work. Some may work, but with lingering issues that crop up later.
"Hey, I can't find this .dll..." Because the info in the Registry is looking for a .dll on the C drive.

And all the shortcuts pointing to that application (Taskbar, Start menu, etc) will be wrong.

 

[Farapon]

I got confused sorry, I have a 1TB HDD at the moment with about 900gb full. I have ordered 2 120gb kingston SSD. I don't want to loose all of that 900gb and I don't have a second hdd to back it up onto so is there any other safe way I can go about this? Why wouldn't cloning my os work? (I went for 2 120gb for aesthetics)

can't you just return them? usually it's 14 days, no justification needed

 

[Kremo]

Ok. I'm going to return them if you insist that I'm better off getting 1 SSD, i've got 100GBP, any reccomendations for a good SSD? (Aesthetics matter to me so the SSD needs to be dark (grey,black etc)

 

[Kremo]

I can strectch my butcher a bit and get 2x 250GB, would that be just the same or nah?

 

[USAFRet]

I can strectch my butcher a bit and get 2x 250GB, would that be just the same or nah?

Why the need for 2 x whatever?
Please explain this to me.

 

[Kremo]

Like i've said, aesthetics, I've built in the inwin 303 and the right side of the case is bare and visible due to the big glass side panel, it just looks empty and out of place with two empty SSD 2.5" Bays. I'm going to order a 250GB SSD Tommorow, and then at the end of this month order another. You need to understand a lot of this build was built around aesthetics, it may sound silly but apart from the slow boot speed and loading times in games, i'm happy with how my machine performs. The only issue I have with my PC are those 2 empty SSD Bays and the loading times and boot speed like I mentioned before.

 

[USAFRet]

"aesthetics"
OK...

What SSD have you now chosen?


In any case....now that we are on a 250GB SSD, OS and applications on that.

And "you need to understand..." ?
No, I don't. I'm just giving recommendations for drives based on experience and personal use.

If you need 2 x drives to fill some space, that's all on you. You could probably buy or 3D print an empty shell that would look 'cool' to fill that space.

 

[Kremo]

UV400 250GB Is what i'm going with. So, when it comes, I disconnect my current HDD, only connect the SSD, install OS on SSD, get into the OS and format the HDD? does that sound about right

 

[USAFRet]

UV400 250GB Is what i'm going with. So, when it comes, I disconnect my current HDD, only connect the SSD, install OS on SSD, get into the OS and format the HDD? does that sound about right

There are other drives that I would choose for the OS drive. But if it needs to be grey/black x 2, then you go with that.

Procedure?
Have only the single drive connected.
Install the OS
Install all your relevant drivers
Run all the current OS updates

Later, you can reconnect and wipe the old HDD. Delete ALL the partitions, not just format the single partition that Windows Explorer shows you.

 

[Kremo]

Ok, so i'm fairly confident with all that, apart from the last bit, deleting all partitions on my HDD? I don't know how to do that, i've only ever been able to wipe all partitions when doing a clean install of windows.

 

[USAFRet]

Ok, so i'm fairly confident with all that, apart from the last bit, deleting all partitions on my HDD? I don't know how to do that, i've only ever been able to wipe all partitions when doing a clean install of windows.

Easus Partition Master, or if you feel froggy, commandline diskpart in the OS.

 

[Kremo]

Thanks for your time man, this thread will help me a ton when it arrives. If I need anything I'll be sure to ask you as you seem very helpful. Once again, thanks

 

[Kremo]

Just found out I can't return my two SSD's without wasting a load on sending them back so i'm just going to keep them. I'll clean install my OS onto one of the 120GB, and then use the remainder for Photoshop etc, and then the other 120GB can be for the games I play the most I guess.

 

[USAFRet]

Just found out I can't return my two SSD's without wasting a load on sending them back so i'm just going to keep them. I'll clean install my OS onto one of the 120GB, and then use the remainder for Photoshop etc, and then the other 120GB can be for the games I play the most I guess.

OK, no prob. The 120 will work. Just don't let it get too ful. No more than ~85GB actual used space.
It could have been worse, and you were one of the poor people who find these 32BG SSD's on ebay, thinking it is a great deal.
Like this guy: http://www.tomshardware.com/answers/id-3189959/ssd.html

 

[frolovvl]

Just found out I can't return my two SSD's without wasting a load on sending them back so i'm just going to keep them. I'll clean install my OS onto one of the 120GB, and then use the remainder for Photoshop etc, and then the other 120GB can be for the games I play the most I guess.

The easiest way for you is to install free AOMEI PAssist program then move your system from HD to SSD (including SystemReserved partition).
Make changes to BIOS (where to start from) and that's it. The second SSD you can make as a continuous space for the first one, either by including it as a folder (using standard features of Win10) or by DISKPART command.
Enjoy.

 

[USAFRet]

The easiest way for you is to install free AOMEI PAssist program then move your system from HD to SSD (including SystemReserved partition).

Did you miss this part?
"I have a 1TB HDD at the moment with about 900gb full"

Interesting how you'd plan for him to squish 900gb of data into a 120GB drive.

 

[maxoptimus]

Man, use acronis, comodo or similar app, you will able clone all needed windows files to SSD; (and change partition signature so windows will boot from new ssd without any issues)
more over you able to create RAID 1 or 0 for mirror and long life of data or better speed and 50% more chance to lost data;
but on ssd you should stored only windows and few interest games and do backup sometimes;

 

[USAFRet]

Man, use acronis, comodo or similar app, you will able clone all needed windows files to SSD; (and change partition signature so windows will boot from new ssd without any issues)
more over you able to create RAID 1 or 0 for mirror and long life of data or better speed and 50% more chance to lost data;
but on ssd you should stored only windows and few interest games and do backup sometimes;

sigh...

As above:
"I have a 1TB HDD at the moment with about 900gb full"
"Kingston 120GB SSD"

Additionally, the recommendation of the RAID is right out. And wrong.

 

[Spiritos]

Weird thread (but fun though 😉). Still some other considerations for the OP:

- You mentioned intending to use 1 SSD for your OS, photoshop and programs and the other one for games etc. This is an excellent idea. Just keep in mind you only need to keep 10-15% space free on your OS SSD (like @USAFRet recommended as well).

- Since you now go for 2 SSD's as originially intended it's important to mention both should be connected when you've disconnected your HDD and install your OS on one of the SSD's!

- I haven'read (or didn't read closely enough) what you're planning to do with your HDD. I assume a lot of the 900 GB is also or 'just' data and not all just programs and games right? And you also mentioned aesthetics. If you can't or won't re-use the HDD in your PC for aesthetic reasons you could consider getting an external case.

- Before deciding to completely format your old HDD it's worth knowing what kind of data (music, movies, photos?) is on it. If the data is in the default Windows folders they can easily be remapped from your new OS/SSD. Although you also mentioned having partitions on it and I have no idea how those are structured. If the music/photo/etc. folder are in the default Windows users/folder/partition I'd suggest relocating them first to another non-OS folder/partition and then only format or delete the old OS partition. If you don't have any partitions at all it's probably best to first delete the Windows/Programs and Appdata (hidden) folders before you install your new SSD/OS before re-using the HDD again (in which case the HDD can easily be connected when installing the 2 new SSD's.

 

[USAFRet]

- Since you now go for 2 SSD's as originially intended it's important to mention both should be connected when you've disconnected your HDD and install your OS on one of the SSD's!

Why? In terms of installing a drive later, the second SSD is no different than the old HDD.

 

[Spiritos]

- Since you now go for 2 SSD's as originially intended it's important to mention both should be connected when you've disconnected your HDD and install your OS on one of the SSD's!

Why? In terms of installing a drive later, the second SSD is no different than the old HDD.

Well, a more interesting question would be, why not?
In my experience Windows can sometimes fail to "play nice" when adding new hardware once an OS is installed. Even adding extra RAM once lead to complications for me -for reasons I cannot even begin to comprehend 😉.

But seriously, I see no benefit in installing a clean OS on a new SSD only afterwards to decide to add another one.

EDIT: Same as I am unsure about the OP's intention to re-use the HDD as an internal one or not, hence my suggestion to delete the Win/Program./User/Appdata folders on the last boot so it can be safely connected when installing the new OS.

 

[USAFRet]

Why not...because what often happens with a Windows install, the boot info ends up on the second drive.

And you do not get the option to change that during the install. So later, when you take that second drive out, or in the unlikely event it dies, no boot for you.
With only one drive, that can't happen. 1 drive, with everything the OS needs.
The threads here with that exact problem number in the hundreds, if not more.
"I took out my second drive, and now the system won't boot"

And adding a 2nd, 3rd, 5th drive is almost never an issue. Unless you are into some odd RAID thing.
Which we aren't here.

 

[amc2002]

I've gone through this a few years ago when 120GB SSD's were more the norm. I had a 1TB drive as well.

I completely removed the 1TB drive and installed a new windows install on the SSD. Also installed my Adobe apps, Office & Steam. That was pretty much it. That kept all the boot info and hidden partitions that Windows adds on the SSD.

After I was done with that, and had a fully functioning system, I then connected the 1TB drive, and made a new KEEP folder, and started dragging stuff into it, then eventually deleted all the other folders (Program Files, Windows, AppData, etc.).

Just kept the 1TB attached for storage use.

I found I was always running up against that 120GB limit though. It was tough making sure my Downloads directory, Documents, Desktop were always clean. Eventually I gave up and moved to a 250GB SSD once they came down in price. It just gave a little more breathing room. Now I typically run about 180GB or so usage.

 

[USAFRet]

I found I was always running up against that 120GB limit though. It was tough making sure my Downloads directory, Documents, Desktop were always clean. Eventually I gave up and moved to a 250GB SSD once they came down in price. It just gave a little more breathing room. Now I typically run about 180GB or so usage.

And that's why I recommended a 250GB early on.
Ah well.