[SOLVED] How to use SSD for Games and HDD for storage

[Prentafy]

Just a question how do i make my SSD the boot drive and hold all my games/programs and my HDD to just hold some of my files

 

[USAFRet]

Alright i have backed up my files and i am ready to migrate the data, i was able to reduce the space taken up on my drive from 1.8tb to 540gb, so now i just run the data migration?

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Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
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[Prentafy]

Not a problem.

Well I am trying to migrate the data on Samsung data migration and it says that the SSD has no storage what so ever, but in file explorer and windows settings it tells me that it has 0.99TB of storage. Have i done something wrong?

 

[USAFRet]

Well I am trying to migrate the data on Samsung data migration and it says that the SSD has no storage what so ever, but in file explorer and windows settings it tells me that it has 0.99TB of storage. Have i done something wrong?

Please show a screencap of your Disk Management window.

 

[Prentafy]

https://imageshack.com/i/pmFNP7PIp

https://imageshack.com/i/poe1WTKlp

 

[USAFRet]

What OTHER drives are in this system?

 

[Prentafy]

Not a problem.

just my hdd and ssd

 

[USAFRet]

just my hdd and ssd

In teh Disk Management window...

Disk 0 is a 2TB HDD, currently the C drive?
And Disk 3 is the 1TB 870? Currently labeled "Games E" .

 

[Prentafy]

In teh Disk Management window...

Disk 0 is a 2TB HDD, currently the C drive?
And Disk 3 is the 1TB 870?

In teh Disk Management window...

Disk 0 is a 2TB HDD, currently the C drive?
And Disk 3 is the 1TB 870?

yes, disk 0 is the C drive and disk 3 is the 1tb 870

 

[USAFRet]

Just as a test, copy some random file to the 870.
Just to verify it actually works.

 

[Prentafy]

Just as a test, copy some random file to the 870.
Just to verify it actually works.

yes i just copied a random small game over too it and it works

 

[USAFRet]

Interesting.

Then, I would try the other application I mentioned, Macrium Reflect.

Link to it in the steps above.

 

[Prentafy]

Interesting.

Then, I would try the other application I mentioned, Macrium Reflect.

Link to it in the steps above.

will it work with a samsung ssd?

 

[USAFRet]

will it work with a samsung ssd?

Yes. It is drive agnostic.
SDM only works with Samsung drives, Macrium works with any drive.

 

[Prentafy]

Yes. It is drive agnostic.
SDM only works with Samsung drives, Macrium works with any drive.

Ok so when i am on macrium i see to different sections of data for the SSD, a small 128gb space and a big one, so is that ok and which ones do I select to clone the disk too
https://imageshack.com/i/poJ5x21yp

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, that should work.

You select all the partitions in the top drive.

 

[Prentafy]

Yes, that should work.

You select all the partitions in the top drive.

and the bottom drive too and the click clone disk?

 

[USAFRet]

and the bottom drive too and the click clone disk?

I think you'd need to deselect the left partition in the target drive...that small thing.
I think.

 

[Prentafy]

I think you'd need to deselect the left partition in the target drive...that small thing.
I think.

I think you'd need to deselect the left partition in the target drive...that small thing.
I think.

another problem whenever i select the ssd
https://imageshack.com/i/pnReSJ7rp

 

[Prentafy]

I think you'd need to deselect the left partition in the target drive...that small thing.
I think.

Is it possible for me to just put all my games on the SSD so i get the loading time benefits and just keep my hdd for everything else for now because i haven't figured out the cloning issue.

 

[USAFRet]

Is it possible for me to just put all my games on the SSD so i get the loading time benefits and just keep my hdd for everything else for now because i haven't figured out the cloning issue.

Probably, yes.
Steam games can be easily moved to a different drive.

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
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The other platform launchers have similar functionality, but I don't have those specific steps documented.

 

[Prentafy]

Probably, yes.
Steam games can be easily moved to a different drive.

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
--------------------------------------------------
The other platform launchers have similar functionality, but I don't have those specific steps documented.

Just done it and tried testing out a few games, loads much faster, thanks!