HDD To SDD?

[Kupiy]

Hi guys I wanted to buy a SDD and I only have a HDD, I would like to put my Operating System onto my SDD and don't know how, or would it be better to install a new version of windows 7 on the SDD? and if so how can I keep files from HDD.

 

[minerva330]

It is alway better to do a fresh install of windows. Just hook up your SSD along with the HDD, set the boot priority/install Windows. After you have your OS on your SSD just copy your important files to you SSD or better yet just leave them there and use you HDD as a storage device

 

[Onus]

There are [at least] two ways to do this. If the amount of data on your current HDD will fit in the formatted space of the SSD (e.g. 111GB for a "120GB" SSD or 238GB for a "256GB" SSD), then you can connect the SSD then use a utility like Acronis True Image to clone the HDD onto the SSD. Then set the SSD in your BIOS as the boot device and test.
Or, you may temporarily remove the HDD, install the SSD, and do a fresh install of Windows on it. Once that is done, re-install the HDD and make sure the SSD is set in your BIOS as the first boot device. You will also need to re-install all your programs.
In either case, the HDD will get a different letter and can thereafter be used for data. You will likely need to answer a UAC prompt from time to time as you take back control of various directories on it.

 

[minerva330]

I always thought cloning from HHD to a SSD was ill-advised due to the way they handle and write data?

Also you do not need to temporarily remove the HDD, just set the boot priority once you load the OS disk. I did the same thing when I upgraded from HDD to SSD. I then erased my Windows folder in my old HDD to free up some more space and now I use it as a secondary drive

 

[Onus]

I've done clones several times, the most recent being last week.
I'd remove (or disconnect) the HDD just to avoid any possibility of accidentally using the wrong drive.

 

[minerva330]

Fair enough. Was not sure how true it was.