Help with installing an SSD

[oldmate266]

I've recently bought a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB SSD due to the fact the time my computer takes forever to start up and loading certain games like Battlefield 4 is unbearable. After some research on actually installing the SSD, I've become aware its a lot more complicated than I thought.

I originally intended to install the smaller SSD in my computer keeping my HDD (2TB) for most of my data/programs and restricting my SSD to containing my OS and certain games to increase the playability of them.

Can I simply install my SSD and select an option to setup it up just copying my OS and then later install certain programs as I please, keeping previous files stored on the HDD. Or do I actually have to copy the entirety of my HDD to my SSD which will kinda defeat the purpose knowing I'll have to remove many files I intended to keep just on my HDD in order for the migration to even be possible. Sorry, I'm a novice, what exactly are my options?

P.S do i need that SATA to USB * for the installation or is installing straight in with my components okay?

 

[USAFRet]

Unfortunately, no, you can't just migrate "only the OS" to the new drive.

1. Is this a laptop or desktop?
2. How much space is consumed on your current HDD?
3. What, exactly, consumes this space?
4. Apart from 'slow', does the current system work well?

 

[oldmate266]

Unfortunately, no, you can't just migrate "only the OS" to the new drive.

1. Is this a laptop or desktop?
2. How much space is consumed on your current HDD?
3. What, exactly, consumes this space?
4. Apart from 'slow', does the current system work well?

1. Desktop
2. From memory, currently overseas, around 1500gb
3. programs, downloads, so and so it's over 4/5 years hard to say
4. The system works fine, both the GPU and CPU are more than adequate, I simply find my computer struggling really hard when loading, or booting up, problems related to my current old storage

 

[USAFRet]

Oh, and which specific OS is this?

Obviously, 1.5TB of data won't squeeze into a 250GB drive.
For a successful clone operation, you'd need to have the C drive or partition to under 200GB.

And if it is a 4-5 year old install, a clean install on the SSD is probably the best way forward.
More effort, but guaranteed to work.

We can go into details either way.