[SOLVED] How do I replace my Secondary Storage Hard Drive with an SSD Stick?

[codemilly]

My secondary storage hard drive is at 30% health and may have been causing POST issues on my PC now. Windows 10 is installed on a Samsung 860 Evo 500gb SSD.

I've migrated some of my files on the cloud and I'll just download the files since I have a reliable internet connection.

How do I go about replacing my HDD? I'm planning to replace it with either a compatible M.2 SSD for my Asus Z97-A motherboard or another SATA SSD. Do I simply unplug my HDD, clear CMOS, and boot? I'm not sure what's the exact step-by-step.
Additionally, how can I check if the SSD stick is compatible? I'm not really familiar with the terms and such but here's a snippet from my Motherboard's manual:

I will be uninstalling some games stored on my Hard Drive since it's not that many.

 

[lvt]

Using a NVME SSD for storage is not a very good idea (price per GB, durability, lifespan...).

As you have a full size ATX case, there are lot of spaces for another HDD.

 

[rgd1101]

get a 2.5" ssd

 

[USAFRet]

Leave the OS on the current 860.

Copy what you can from the dying HDD to some other storage device.

Replace the HDD with a 2.5" SSD

Copy the data to the new SSD.
As long as the folder structure is exactly the same, and the drive letter ends up the same, the OS on the 860 will not notice the change.


However, we need to verify the location of the boot partition.
If that resides on the HDD (and it might) then there will be issues.

Can you post a screencap of the current Disk Management window?

 

[codemilly]

Leave the OS on the current 860.

Copy what you can from the dying HDD to some other storage device.

Replace the HDD with a 2.5" SSD

Copy the data to the new SSD.
As long as the folder structure is exactly the same, and the drive letter ends up the same, the OS on the 860 will not notice the change.


However, we need to verify the location of the boot partition.
If that resides on the HDD (and it might) then there will be issues.

Can you post a screencap of the current Disk Management window?

Here:

 

[codemilly]

Here:

Here's a screencap from HDSentinel as well

 

[USAFRet]

The Disk 1, 1TB, is the one you're going to replace?

No problem.

Copy the data elsewhere.
Put in the new 2.5" SSD.

Partition it into 2, give it appropriate drive letters.
Copy the data back to it, in the proper locations and folder structure.
Done.