How would I re-install my OS?

[BruhLovin]

I currently have a Windows 8.1 on my PC right of now but it's on HDD, I'm getting a SSD soon. Though I bought my product key online via Reddit, so I'm not sure if it'll work out like that. Any thoughts?

 

[ASH_1989]

If your key is legitimate then you can format your HDD and reinstall windows 8.1 and use the same key in your SSD it should work fine

 

[BruhLovin]

If your key is legitimate then you can format your HDD and reinstall windows 8.1 and use the same key in your SSD it should work fine

Oh my key is legit I'm not worried abotu that. So basically format HDD, Reinstall OS in SSD?

 

[guanyu210379]

If you are lazy, you can simply clone or migrate the Windows to the SSD.

 

[BruhLovin]

If you are lazy, you can simply clone or migrate the Windows to the SSD.

Any crashcourse guide I can review?

 

[guanyu210379]

Try to use softwares of your choice: clonezilla, aomei, chrystal macrium reflect, etc.
Plenty tutorials in youtube 😀

 

[BruhLovin]

Try to use softwares of your choice: clonezilla, aomei, chrystal macrium reflect, etc.
Plenty tutorials in youtube 😀

Awesome thanks dude will take a review on them! Lots of files on my HDD sooo this could be a huge time & data saver

 

[guanyu210379]

BTw,
If you have lots of data, put them somewhere else first.
You can only clone/migrate HDD or partition to an SSD, as long as the usage of the source does not exceed the total size of the SSD.
Last year, I migrated a 500GB HDD with 6 partitions to a 250GB SSD...yes...all 6...the total usage of all 6 together however was only 130GB.

 

[BruhLovin]

BTw,
If you have lots of data, put them somewhere else first.
You can only clone/migrate HDD or partition to an SSD, as long as the usage of the source does not exceed the total size of the SSD.
Last year, I migrated a 500GB HDD with 6 partitions to a 250GB SSD...yes...all 6...the total usage of all 6 together however was only 130GB.

Dude thanks for the awesome insight, though is there any downside of cloning? Or is it just literally like copying the OS from HDD to SSD? Oh I forgot to mention that I wont be changing the mobo, just the OS. I've already set a partition for the HDD for the OS on it's own. I'm getting a 64GB SSD just for the OS and some games I play often.

 

[guanyu210379]

Downside of cloning? You are taking everything..yes..everything... including viruses, malwares, errors, etc.
64GB is a bit too smal for today, it is better to get at least 250GB.
Not only because that you will get the better price/performance value but also a lot more space for programs and games.
and...If you want your SSD to live long, do not full it to brimps but always leave around at least 10-15% free.

 

[BruhLovin]

Downside of cloning? You are taking everything..yes..everything... including viruses, malwares, errors, etc.
64GB is a bit too smal for today, it is better to get at least 250GB.
Not only because that you will get the better price/performance value but also a lot more space for programs and games.
and...If you want your SSD to live long, do not full it to brimps but always leave around at least 10-15% free.

I wouldn't to much about viruses, malware, errors. I keep it pristine clean. In any case is it possible to clone just a limited amount?

 

[guanyu210379]

Limited amount?

You can clone 1 partition of your choice
You can clone the whole HDD and all the partitions in it
as long as the total data usage size of the cloning source does not exceed the total size of the cloning target.
If your cloning source is bigger, make it smaller first before the clone process starts.

 

[BruhLovin]

Limited amount?

You can clone 1 partition of your choice
You can clone the whole HDD and all the partitions in it
as long as the total data usage size of the cloning source does not exceed the total size of the cloning target.
If your cloning source is bigger, make it smaller first before the clone process starts.

Roger, will try it out soon 😛.

 

[ASH_1989]

your complicating it too much with clone, ive tested clone and from time to time i get registry errors which is annoying i suggest you to just install clean OS in SSD and transfer whatever u deem is important

 

[guanyu210379]

@ASH_1989: I cloned plenty of HDDs and SSDs, never had any big problems. Of course, clean install is the still better.

 

[BruhLovin]

@ASH_1989: I cloned plenty of HDDs and SSDs, never had any big problems. Of course, clean install is the still better.

I've come to haunt you! Anyways I'm getting a SSD this Christmas and that say if I were to clone would it affect speed or otherwise? Since initially I wanted to set the SSD as the main boot drive but I've optimized lots of my stuff already on the HDD. How can I transfer that w/o any problems?

 

[guanyu210379]

The speed of the cloned OS it self remains, since you are carrying over everything incl. viruses, etc.
The overall speed depend also by the speed of the target clone HDD/SSD.
Transfering normal datas to other HDD is easy, just do normal copy.
If you want to avoid issues, keep the target clone HDD/SSD empty, do not put anything there beside the clone from source HDD/SSD.
Just copy your datas e.g. music, photos, videos, etc. to other HDD first. Delete those from the source HDD/SSD before cloning to simplify the clone process.