[SOLVED] How to Get Rid of Windows 10 on Old HDD after Getting an SSD?

[haaris.hasan03]

Hey,

So I bought a prebuilt that's arriving soon, and it comes with a Windows 10 installation on a 500gb SSD. The PC has better specs than my current one, so I want to move my current HDD into it. But obviously, I want the SSD to be the boot drive, and I want to keep all of my information on my HDD minus the Windows installation. So is there an easy way to go about doing this? Also, would it cause problems if I just left the Windows install on the HDD, and just selected the SSD as the boot drive in the BIOS?

Since this is a prebuilt, Windows is already going to be installed on the SSD, so if I just plug the HDD in, would it just automatically work? I'm kind of a noob when it comes to storage stuff, so any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[USAFRet]

Hey,

So I bought a prebuilt that's arriving soon, and it comes with a Windows 10 installation on a 500gb SSD. The PC has better specs than my current one, so I want to move my current HDD into it. But obviously, I want the SSD to be the boot drive, and I want to keep all of my information on my HDD minus the Windows installation. So is there an easy way to go about doing this? Also, would it cause problems if I just left the Windows install on the HDD, and just selected the SSD as the boot drive in the BIOS?

Since this is a prebuilt, Windows is already going to be installed on the SSD, so if I just plug the HDD in, would it just automatically work? I'm kind of a noob when it comes to storage stuff, so any info would be appreciated. Thanks.

"keep all of my information on my HDD minus the Windows installation"

Does this "keep" include applications?
If so, that WILL NOT WORK.


What you need to do is find all your personal files/docs/music/whatever.
Save all that to some other drive.
Document all your username/passwords
Document any serial numbers and licenses for whatever software you use.

When you get the new system, get it running.
Install all your applications.
Install the old drive, and wipe it clean. ALL partitions.
Copy your personal data back to the HDD (or wherever).

 

[haaris.hasan03]

"keep all of my information on my HDD minus the Windows installation"

Does this "keep" include applications?
If so, that WILL NOT WORK.


What you need to do is find all your personal files/docs/music/whatever.
Save all that to some other drive.
Document all your username/passwords
Document any serial numbers and licenses for whatever software you use.

When you get the new system, get it running.
Install all your applications.
Install the old drive, and wipe it clean. ALL partitions.
Copy your personal data back to the HDD (or wherever).

So is this process the only way to be able to have access to the files on my HDD in the new system? I'm okay with leaving the old Windows installation on there, and just adding it to the new system as is, if that isn't problematic.

 

[USAFRet]

So is this process the only way to be able to have access to the files on my HDD in the new system? I'm okay with leaving the old Windows installation on there, and just adding it to the new system as is, if that isn't problematic.

Having the 2x Windows installs is not optimal. It, and all of the applications, are sucking up space on that drive.
Additionally, you still can't use the existing applications on the old drive. Even if Windows is still in there.
In addition, you'll run into permissions issues with your personal files on the old drive.

Copying your files elsewhere first would seem to be a pretty small part of the process.

 

[haaris.hasan03]

Having the 2x Windows installs is not optimal. It, and all of the applications, are sucking up space on that drive.
Additionally, you still can't use the existing applications on the old drive. Even if Windows is still in there.
In addition, you'll run into permissions issues with your personal files on the old drive.

Copying your files elsewhere first would seem to be a pretty small part of the process.

I see, so do you think an easy solution could be to
(1) buy another internal hard drive and plug it and the old HDD into the new system
(2) move all my important files such as my photos/documents from the old HDD onto the new HDD
(3) format the old HDD and put it back into the old system and keep the new HDD in the new system
(4) reinstall all my applications onto the SSD/new HDD

 

[USAFRet]

I see, so do you think an easy solution could be to
(1) buy another internal hard drive and plug it and the old HDD into the new system
(2) move all my important files such as my photos/documents from the old HDD onto the new HDD
(3) format the old HDD and put it back into the old system and keep the new HDD in the new system
(4) reinstall all my applications onto the SSD/new HDD

What is your plan for the old system?

 

[haaris.hasan03]

What is your plan for the old system?

I'm currently in college, so I'll probably keep it at my parents house so that I have a decent spec system to use when I go back home.

 

[USAFRet]

I'm currently in college, so I'll probably keep it at my parents house so that I have a decent spec system to use when I go back home.

OK.

Don't delete anything off the old drive and system until you KNOW everything is on the new system.
Check this twice.

 

[haaris.hasan03]

OK.

Don't delete anything off the old drive and system until you KNOW everything is on the new system.
Check this twice.

Gotcha, thanks for the help!