How do I transfer my data on to new Drive?

[Marktehbuilder]

I got a new hard drive because the one I currently have is loud and has to be replaced. I need to transfer all my files onto this new one. I don't have Windows 10 installed on the old hard drive. It's on an SSD. This hard drive I want to replace has games and other stuff. I don't know how to transfer the files to a new one. Is it a matter of copy and past all the files? Is there some software you need? I'm at a loss.

 

[atljsf]

copy and paste if there is no operating system, also you could use a tool like unstoppable copy or teracopy, select folders, copy and paste them on the the new one, unstoppable copier is better for this as it handles files with long names better than teracopy

if windows is on another hard disk and no programs are there, it is the simplest way, especially if the new hard disk is bigger or has different partitions than the old one

 

[Marktehbuilder]

copy and paste if there is no operating system, also you could use a tool like unstoppable copy or teracopy, select folders, copy and paste them on the the new one, unstoppable copier is better for this as it handles files with long names better than teracopy

if windows is on another hard disk and no programs are there, it is the simplest way, especially if the new hard disk is bigger or has different partitions than the old one

So copy/paste will leave all files (games etc) perfectly accessible on new drive with no issues or compatability problems?

 

[atljsf]

3 weeks ago i did copy and paste for 3 games, one was gta v, later i had to move it again via steam, and then again by hand and all was well, still is

copy and paste works great if the drives are working well and the names of the files are not over 255 charaters long, also if no file is being used when you are copying it

for programs sometimes works perfectly and sometimes you need to uninstall them and reinstall later, thanks to the letter of the drive can change and some programs remember the letter of the drive, in some ocassions is just a matter of use diskmanagement and set a fixed letter for the new hard disk, sometimes is not necesary at all

 

[RolandJS]

Keep making image backups just before any major changes, just in case things don't turn out as expected.

 

[atljsf]

it is not a hard disk with a os, so image backups is not that good idea, when is only games, copy and paste is the same but faster, without a third partition involved saving files, where usually there is no space to save image backups

 

[RolandJS]

Thanks atljsf for the heads-up!

 

[atljsf]

if you feel unsire about the games, you could generate a steam backup installer or move the entire folders via steam, let steam do the work for you

the folders you can copy them