[SOLVED] I can't clone Windows (ONLY Windows, not data) from half-full 1TB HDD to 120GB SSD because the SSD isn't large enough.

[Camembert]

Hello all,

I have been using a 1TB hard drive with my self-built PC for a while now, but because of the slow speeds, I decided to get a 120GB SSD which I could migrate the Windows operating system onto and boot from. However, I still wanted to keep all the data on my HDD and still be able to access it like before.

So here's my problem: With all the software (AOMEI, EaseUS) that clones the OS from your HDD to an SSD, the size of the data stored on your old HDD needs to be smaller than the size of your new SSD, otherwise it won't work. But my 1TB HDD is around half-full, which means I can't use the software to clone the OS to the new SSD and then use it as my new boot drive.

Why????

I only want to use my SSD as the boot drive, but still keep all the data on my HDD. Windows 10 does fit on the SSD, so I don't understand why the SSD needs to be larger or as large as the data stored on the HDD. As I said, I don't want to migrate the data, only the OS.

Many people have made videos on how to have a HDD + SSD setup, but all of them have completely empty HDD's and SSD's. My problem is that my HDD is already half-full, and I don't want to lose the data on it.

How do I fix this problem?!

Thanks in advance!

Camembert

 

[hang-the-9]

Have you tried to backup windows and programs, install windows on ssd and do a backup restore? I think there is option to backup only windows and programs

That is very likely to be well over the 120 gb size of the drive. The core of the issue is that the SSD is too small.