Is it possible to upgrade to windows 10 on a new SSD without having to remove all of the data on my HDD?

[exodasius]

Hey everyone, I've got a bit of a situation.
Here is what I essentially want to do: I want to upgrade my windows 7 (right now on a 1tb HDD) to windows 10 (On my S. Evo 250 GB SSD) without losing the data on the HDD (besides the windows 7-specific files. I don't need those once I have 10). I'm not sure how I can upgrade to W10 and move the Windows installation over to a smaller storage space.

Here's a few ideas that I've come up with:
- Clone the "windows" folder and move it over to the SSD, then use my SSD as the primary drive and upgrade from there (would this even work)?
- Making a new partition using around 650GB of my HDD, and moving everything onto that partition. Then, I'd make a fresh install onto the SSD and delete the smaller partition with all of the windows stuff.
- Making a giant zip file containing everything in the users folder, program 86 and program files , and program data folders, Then, I'd move that ZIP onto an external hard drive, followed by a fresh install onto the SSD finished up with a complete deletion of this hard drive's contents. (I'm really hesitant to try this method)

Does anyone have an easier method?

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

- Clone the "windows" folder and move it over to the SSD, then use my SSD as the primary drive and upgrade from there (would this even work)?
- Making a new partition using around 650GB of my HDD, and moving everything onto that partition. Then, I'd make a fresh install onto the SSD and delete the smaller partition with all of the windows stuff.
- Making a giant zip file containing everything in the users folder, program 86 and program files , and program data folders, Then, I'd move that ZIP onto an external hard drive, followed by a fresh install onto the SSD finished up with a complete deletion of this hard drive's contents. (I'm really hesitant to try this method)

No, no, and no.

Let's investigate:
How large is the new SSD? Apparently 250GB
How much total used space is on the current C drive?
How much of that total is doc/music/funny cat videos?
How much of that total is Steam games?

 

[J_E_D_70]

If the C: is too big to clone:
- unplug HDD
- plug in SSD
- install Win 7 then upgrade to 10
- plug in HDD
- point folders to HDD

And make sure you backed everything up first!

 

[Windwalker95]

I dont have another harddrive to back it up with. How would I do this?

 

[USAFRet]

I dont have another harddrive to back it up with. How would I do this?

My questions above may lead us to the proper procedure.

 

[Windwalker95]

SSD size: 250 GB
stuff on C drive: 563 GB
Doc/Music/Funny Cat Videos: Something like 20 GB
Steam Games: 1 GB (dont have much, but all up in games, maybe 60 GB? Better to be over than under)
Total capacity of current HDD: 1.78 TB

P.S. I can clean my HDD up alot, but I got lots of videos on my pc, most I can proberbly delete.

 

[USAFRet]

SSD size: 250 GB
stuff on C drive: 563 GB
Doc/Music/Funny Cat Videos: Something like 20 GB
Steam Games: 1 GB (dont have much, but all up in games, maybe 60 GB? Better to be over than under)
Total capacity of current HDD: 1.78 TB

P.S. I can clean my HDD up alot, but I got lots of videos on my pc, most I can proberbly delete.

Have:
Win 7
HDD
Too much data to fit on the new SSD

Want:
Win 10
SDD

Given your drive sizes and current used data, the only way is a clean install of Win 10 on the SSD, activating with your valid Win 7 license (yes, this works), and then also reinstall your applications.


Or, reduce the total used space in your C drive to below 200GB, clone the Win 7 to the SSD, then Upgrade to Win 10.

 

[Windwalker95]

Can I also keep my data from the HDD?

 

[Windwalker95]

So maybe I could uninstall applications and see how much space that leaves me?

 

[USAFRet]

Can I also keep my data from the HDD?

Depends on what you mean by 'data'.
pics/docs/video, yes.
Too many people lump applications in with 'data.

If you can get the current used space on the C drive to below 200GB, then we'll see.

 

[Windwalker95]

I mean the pics, docs, videos, games

 

[USAFRet]

I mean the pics, docs, videos, games

"pics, docs, videos,"
No problem

"games"
Maybe problem.

This all depends on how, exactly, you proceed.

Clone or clean install.

 

[Windwalker95]

I will be doing a clean install of windows, but I would like to keep the files. That is what I am getting at. I do have a i think its 200 gb hardrive laying around, but its 8 years old so I dont really trust it.

 

[Windwalker95]

Just so you know, I am in absolutely no rush, I have at LEAST 1 month till I get the drive.

 

[USAFRet]

I will be doing a clean install of windows, but I would like to keep the files. That is what I am getting at. I do have a i think its 200 gb hardrive laying around, but its 8 years old so I dont really trust it.

A 'clean install' on the new drive means a reinstall of your applications.
Whatever exists on the current HDD will still be there. Doc/music/video/etc.
But applications will need to be reinstalled with the new OS on the new drive.
Games, if on the Steam or Origin platform, may possibly be reused.
Other games, just like applications. Reinstall.

 

[Windwalker95]

Oh, that sounds much easier! But this is the main question, Can I have the normal HDD not touched?

 

[USAFRet]

Oh, that sounds much easier! But this is the main question, Can I have the normal HDD not touched?

Given a clean install of the OS on the new SD, simply disconnect the HDD while you do it.
You should do that in any case, data or no data on that drive.

Clean install = only that target drive connected.

 

[Windwalker95]

Thanks! That answers my question! 😀