Question How to port ONLY Windows 10 from a 2TB HDD to 500GB SDD?

[Rajikaru]

I have a new SSD I want to use as a main/boot drive, but right now I ONLY want to port the OS over. I'm still using the HDD and don't mind keeping all the other files on the HDD. I have a bunch of games and I don't want to spend an entire afternoon un- and re-installing 1.5 TB of them to the same drive. The only guides I've found online explain how to port the entire drive over - which involves trimming down the memory on the HDD - which isn't what I want to do. JUST the OS - essentially just the desktop, shortcuts, et cetera. Any help is appreciated.

 

[ex_bubblehead]

It's all or nothing. You cannot move just the OS.

 

[Rajikaru]

It's all or nothing. You cannot move just the OS.

That seems like a really weird limitation for drives to have. Oh well. Thank you!

 

[ex_bubblehead]

It's not a drive limitation. It's the way Windows works and it's not going to change.

 

[USAFRet]

Agree with the above. You can't do "only Windows".

Why? Because the only time there is "only Windows" is for about the first 30 seconds after you do a clean install.
After that, updates, drivers, applications...all become entwined with "Windows". Hundreds or thousands of Registry entries. Files and folders in multiple locations.

 

[USAFRet]

If you're migrating to a Samsung drive, the Samsung Data Migration tool gives you the opportunity to leave off folders with static files. Doc/Music/Video. Stuff like that.

But that's it. You can't split off applications and games.

 

[geofelt]

As above, the samsung ssd migration app can give you relief for data folders.

I undsrstand that steam games can be moved, But, I do not know how to do that.

 

[USAFRet]

As above, the samsung ssd migration app can give you relief for data folders.

I undsrstand that steam games can be moved, But, I do not know how to do that.

Steam games can be worked around, but you need some other location to move them to before the migration operation.
You can't split them off during.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder