i feel like a newb moving windows over

[noahferraro1]

okay here it is simply,
i have a 1Tb HDD almost full of everything on my PC i just bought a 275 GB ssd that i want to just move windows onto for now. i dont know what needs to be done so that i literally can boot from the ssd and have windows itself run faster without moving everything over. every program just wants the whole HDD to move to the smaller ssd that cannot fit it.

any downloads and "walkthoughs" to help since every video seems to only help with the whole drive when i just want to figure out the specific files and what not to move over.
thanks

 

[USAFRet]

okay here it is simply,
i have a 1Tb HDD almost full of everything on my PC i just bought a 275 GB ssd that i want to just move windows onto for now. i dont know what needs to be done so that i literally can boot from the ssd and have windows itself run faster without moving everything over. every program just wants the whole HDD to move to the smaller ssd that cannot fit it.

any downloads and "walkthoughs" to help since every video seems to only help with the whole drive when i just want to figure out the specific files and what not to move over.
thanks

You cannot move 'only the OS'. Doesn't work like that.

Obviously, your "almost full" 1TB drive won't squeeze into a 275GB SSD.

2 options:
Pare down the actual used space of your 1TB drive to below 200GB. Then you can clone everything over.
or
2. Clean install on the SSD. This involves a reinstall of everything else.

Do you happen to have another drive handy? Internal or external?

 

[noahferraro1]

okay here it is simply,
i have a 1Tb HDD almost full of everything on my PC i just bought a 275 GB ssd that i want to just move windows onto for now. i dont know what needs to be done so that i literally can boot from the ssd and have windows itself run faster without moving everything over. every program just wants the whole HDD to move to the smaller ssd that cannot fit it.

any downloads and "walkthoughs" to help since every video seems to only help with the whole drive when i just want to figure out the specific files and what not to move over.
thanks

You cannot move 'only the OS'. Doesn't work like that.

Obviously, your "almost full" 1TB drive won't squeeze into a 275GB SSD.

2 options:
Pare down the actual used space of your 1TB drive to below 200GB. Then you can clone everything over.
or
2. Clean install on the SSD. This involves a reinstall of everything else.

Do you happen to have another drive handy? Internal or external?

so when deleting other items what would be needed to save in priority wise, and yes i do i just need another sata cable which i need to get since i dont have 3 at the moment. would it be smart to just plug in the other hdd the third one i have available move a bunch of the large stuff to that one then plug the ssd in a move everything else over? sorta rambling on not sure the best solution lol

 

[USAFRet]

so when deleting other items what would be needed to save in priority wise, and yes i do i just need another sata cable which i need to get since i dont have 3 at the moment. would it be smart to just plug in the other hdd the third one i have available move a bunch of the large stuff to that one then plug the ssd in a move everything else over? sorta rambling on not sure the best solution lol

So, you have 3 drives, and only 2 SATA cables?
No problem.

Investigate.
Determine exactly what you can move off to the second HDD. Files, not applications.
Doc/music/video/downloads, yes.
SteamApps folder, yes.
Applications and programs, no.

Uninstall programs you no longer use.
Delete old junk out of your Downloads folder.

So...once you have your actual C drive to below 200GB, you can potentially clone things over to the new SSD.

Assuming you still only have the 2 SATA data cables, disconnect the temp drive and connect your new SSD.
Then, these steps exactly. No deviations.

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 original boot partitions, 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
-----------------------------

 

[noahferraro1]

so when deleting other items what would be needed to save in priority wise, and yes i do i just need another sata cable which i need to get since i dont have 3 at the moment. would it be smart to just plug in the other hdd the third one i have available move a bunch of the large stuff to that one then plug the ssd in a move everything else over? sorta rambling on not sure the best solution lol

So, you have 3 drives, and only 2 SATA cables?
No problem.

Investigate.
Determine exactly what you can move off to the second HDD. Files, not applications.
Doc/music/video/downloads, yes.
SteamApps folder, yes.
Applications and programs, no.

Uninstall programs you no longer use.
Delete old junk out of your Downloads folder.

So...once you have your actual C drive to below 200GB, you can potentially clone things over to the new SSD.

Assuming you still only have the 2 SATA data cables, disconnect the temp drive and connect your new SSD.
Then, these steps exactly. No deviations.

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 original boot partitions, 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
-----------------------------

what would be the easiest way to just copy over the files in the first part using a program or going through windows?

 

[USAFRet]

what would be the easiest way to just copy over the files in the first part using a program or going through windows?

What do you mean by this?
For the actual OS, you can't just "copy" the files. A real migration....do exactly as the above steps.

For all your other stuff, copy/paste off to another drive.

 

[noahferraro1]

what would be the easiest way to just copy over the files in the first part using a program or going through windows?

What do you mean by this?
For the actual OS, you can't just "copy" the files. A real migration....do exactly as the above steps.

For all your other stuff, copy/paste off to another drive.

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

(UPDATE) figured it out for that part

 

[USAFRet]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

 

[noahferraro1]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

ill give that a shot, ive been literally copy and pasting so far not the best

 

[noahferraro1]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

https://gyazo.com/05a12ef76ae145cb727c0cb707b980d3

 

[USAFRet]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

https://gyazo.com/05a12ef76ae145cb727c0cb707b980d3

You've still got quite a lot on that drive. 600GB.
157GB of .dat. I'm assuming this is game files? That needs to go.
CAS, PAK...thats another 100 GB.

 

[noahferraro1]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

https://gyazo.com/05a12ef76ae145cb727c0cb707b980d3

You've still got quite a lot on that drive. 600GB.
157GB of .dat. I'm assuming this is game files? That needs to go.
CAS, PAK...thats another 100 GB.

yeah most is games and i have already moved a lot over that is why the drive has space, but is the easiest way to literraly just copy and paste from one drive to another and then delete from the first drive?

 

[USAFRet]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

https://gyazo.com/05a12ef76ae145cb727c0cb707b980d3

You've still got quite a lot on that drive. 600GB.
157GB of .dat. I'm assuming this is game files? That needs to go.
CAS, PAK...thats another 100 GB.

yeah most is games and i have already moved a lot over that is why the drive has space, but is the easiest way to literraly just copy and paste from one drive to another and then delete from the first drive?

This depends on what type of games.
Steam games? Move them, thusly:
To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

Other games? Go through the actual Uninstall.

 

[noahferraro1]

so im at a stand still right now ive moved a lot of big games over but they say that they are still downloaded on the original drive even when i delete and that when i go to steam and my library that they arent downloaded anymore either

Well, you may have done this copying and moving incorrectly.
Install and run WinDirStat. Run it As Administator, with only the C drive selected.

Post the screencap here.

https://gyazo.com/05a12ef76ae145cb727c0cb707b980d3

You've still got quite a lot on that drive. 600GB.
157GB of .dat. I'm assuming this is game files? That needs to go.
CAS, PAK...thats another 100 GB.

yeah most is games and i have already moved a lot over that is why the drive has space, but is the easiest way to literraly just copy and paste from one drive to another and then delete from the first drive?

This depends on what type of games.
Steam games? Move them, thusly:
To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder

Other games? Go through the actual Uninstall.

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

 

[USAFRet]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

 

[noahferraro1]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

i did that yet still cannot access games in the library but i can see them in steamapps

 

[USAFRet]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

i did that yet still cannot access games in the library but i can see them in steamapps

You'll have to tell your Steam client about that new location.
Add Library folder, like this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

 

[noahferraro1]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

i did that yet still cannot access games in the library but i can see them in steamapps

You'll have to tell your Steam client about that new location.
Add Library folder, like this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

doing that not sure whats wrong

https://gyazo.com/5289e323736cd1365cede1ac42f170fa

 

[noahferraro1]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

i did that yet still cannot access games in the library but i can see them in steamapps

You'll have to tell your Steam client about that new location.
Add Library folder, like this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

yeah not sure how to enter a facepalm meme but just throw that in here.....figured it out lol for now im good thank you for the help im going to finish moving everything over then go back to the original plan of moving OS then give an update XD thank you so much

 

[noahferraro1]

hmmmmm well i had coppied the steam folder over and pretty sure that wasnt the right thing to do, guessing i just have to reinstall everything now

If you COPY to elsewhere, then you have to go back and DELETE from the source.

i did that yet still cannot access games in the library but i can see them in steamapps

You'll have to tell your Steam client about that new location.
Add Library folder, like this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

yeah not sure how to enter a facepalm meme but just throw that in here.....figured it out lol for now im good thank you for the help im going to finish moving everything over then go back to the original plan of moving OS then give an update XD thank you so much

 

[noahferraro1]

yeah now steam wants to download an update and do all that stuff every time it starts up...



yeah sooooo update againnnnn just had to make the folder default lolol WHOOPS

 

[USAFRet]

yeah now steam wants to download an update and do all that stuff every time it starts up...

Then you've done something wrong, because mine doesn't do that.