How to Move OS to SSD from HDD without Backing Up

[rcalder0320]

Is there any way I can move my Windows 10 installation to my new SSD without copying everything else? I do not have a backup drive, nor do I have the money to buy an online backup service. If I do have to re-install windows, how do I delete the OS off of my HDD, and keep all of my large files on it?

Thanks in advance!

 

[USAFRet]

Is there any way I can move my Windows 10 installation to my new SSD without copying everything else? I do not have a backup drive, nor do I have the money to buy an online backup service. If I do have to re-install windows, how do I delete the OS off of my HDD, and keep all of my large files on it?

Thanks in advance!

1. What OS is this?
2. What size/make/model is the new SSD?
3. How much total space is consumed on your current drive?
4. What, exactly, constitutes that space?

 

[rcalder0320]

Is there any way I can move my Windows 10 installation to my new SSD without copying everything else? I do not have a backup drive, nor do I have the money to buy an online backup service. If I do have to re-install windows, how do I delete the OS off of my HDD, and keep all of my large files on it?

Thanks in advance!

1. What OS is this?
2. What size/make/model is the new SSD?
3. How much total space is consumed on your current drive?
4. What, exactly, constitutes that space?

1. Windows 10 Home
2. 240GB Kingston SSD
3. My WD HDD has about 600GB on it
4. Mostly Steam games and video

 

[jsmithepa]

If SSD vendors has no migration tool for u to use, may have to re-install Windows from scratch.

Even if u can do this, how do you tell Steam, my stuff is now on D:?


Reason why us Pros always leave OS (only) on C: and other stuff on separate partitions, ease of management for stuff like this.

 

[USAFRet]

1. Windows 10 Home
2. 240GB Kingston SSD
3. My WD HDD has about 600GB on it
4. Mostly Steam games and video

Here we have a problem. Can't fit 600GB of data into a 240GB drive.

Do you have another drive handy, where you can put some stuff?
Video, and your Steam library.

If you can get the actual used space to below 200GB, you can migrate that over to the new drive.
(specific steps to follow)

 

[USAFRet]

Once you get to that 200GB number...

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

 

[saint_craig]

Is there any way I can move my Windows 10 installation to my new SSD without copying everything else? I do not have a backup drive, nor do I have the money to buy an online backup service. If I do have to re-install windows, how do I delete the OS off of my HDD, and keep all of my large files on it?

Thanks in advance!

Yes.

Install Caveat here...

We assume that 1 your new SSD is the same size *OR* larger than your current HDD or rather larger than the used space on your HDD

EG: your current HDD is 1TB in size but you only have 480GB used. Your SSD is 512Gb

if this is the case then do the following.

1. Attach SSD
2. Get a Free Drive cloning tool (I prefer reflect by macurium)
3. Use it to clone your Current HDD (C to the SSD.
4. While it (The clone) happens don't use your PC.
5. When the clone is finished, reboot and go into your bios/UFEI
6. Set the SSD now as the boot device. and save the config.
7. Boot up off the SSD.

Cleaning the windows install off the HDD (Now Probably D or some other drive letter) that's on you And you're done.