Migrating boot partition on multi-partition HDD to SSD

[ephraim3]

I currently have a Windows 10 system with two 2GB HDDs in a (motherboard-based) software RAID-1 configuration partitioned as follows according to the Disk Management utility:

"System Reserved" 100 MB, Healthy (System, Active, Primary Partition)
(C: ) 390.09 GB NTFS, Healthy (Boot, Crash Dump, Primary Partition)
450 MB, Healthy (Recovery Partition)
(D: ) 1269.53 GB NTFS, Healthy (Page File, Primary Partition)
202.86 GB Unallocated

The C: partition is the boot drive with most program files. Most, but not all, of the user files (\Users) are on D: rather than C:.

I would like to move all of the files on the boot partition (C: ) to a 500 GB SSD.

So, a few questions:

(1) How do I transfer the OS and all files on C: to a new SSD and have the system boot from that SSD?
(2) How do I do this while maintaining D: on the old HDD as most of the User files?
(3) Is there anything special that I need to do with my Windows 10 license to make it work on the new SSD?
(4) Do I need to do anything in BIOS so that the RAID-1 configuration remains on the old HDD but the system now boots from a new SSD?

Thanks in advance.

 

[USAFRet]

Just so that we're all on the same page, please post a screencap of your current Disk Management window.
Thanks.

 

[ephraim3]

Sorry, how do I copy and paste a screen capture here? I don't see an option to attach a picture.

 

[USAFRet]

Sorry, how do I copy and paste a screen capture here? I don't see an option to attach a picture.

Detailed instructions on posting images on Tom's hardware.
http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2580030/detailed-instructions-posting-images-tom-hardware.html

 

[ephraim3]

https://imgur.com/a/Wa4VRgS

 

[ephraim3]

 

[USAFRet]

OK, so physical drives...you have 2x 2TB physical drives, in a RAID 1?
This will actually be quite complex, and I'm not sure it can be done.

 

[ephraim3]

Yes, they are 2x 2TB physical drives in a motherboard-based software RAID1. I've actually been told that the two drives will work normally if taken out of that configuration, but I've never tried it.

The basic goal is just to separate out the boot partition onto an SSD so that the machine runs faster and I have more space than the current 390gb configuration.

 

[USAFRet]

Yes, they are 2x 2TB physical drives in a motherboard-based software RAID1. I've actually been told that the two drives will work normally if taken out of that configuration, but I've never tried it.

The basic goal is just to separate out the boot partition onto an SSD so that the machine runs faster and I have more space than the current 390gb configuration.

Right.
That's the basic point of a RAID 1...remove a 'dead drive', and the system and data still works (mostly).

The question is...
The SSD will be a single drive and the HDD's will be, in theory, the RAID 1.
How to preserve.

I'd really, really suggest copying all the data from the D partition to some other drive. Just in case things go sideways during this process.


And I'm really not a fan of RAID 1 in regular consumer use. It gives a false sense of security.
In reality, it only prevents in the case of a physical drive fail. Not any of the more common forms of data loss

 

[ephraim3]

Oh, I totally get that RAID 1 only protects against one thing - single drive failure - and that it's not a real backup. However, I have been a victim of hdd failure, and having that RAID 1 configuration was a godsend. (When I said "I've never tried it," I meant that I have never tried taking one of the two RAID 1 drives and seeing if it would work on its own in a totally different computer with a different motherboard.)

I do have other backups, including cloud-based and occasional external drive backups.

So ... what do you recommend after I backup my data to ensure protection against data loss while trying to split out the boot drive onto a new SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

Oh, I totally get that RAID 1 only protects against one thing - single drive failure - and that it's not a real backup. However, I have been a victim of hdd failure, and having that RAID 1 configuration was a godsend. (When I said "I've never tried it," I meant that I have never tried taking one of the two RAID 1 drives and seeing if it would work on its own in a totally different computer with a different motherboard.)

I do have other backups, including cloud-based and occasional external drive backups.

So ... what do you recommend after I backup my data to ensure protection against data loss while trying to split out the boot drive onto a new SSD?

Moving to a whole different PC is completely different than removing one drive in the same system.

On your D partition, that stuff can be copied, in toto, to some other drive for safekeeping.
As long as where it eventually ends up results in a drive or partition labeled D, it will work with the current OS.

So...
Copy all that data from the D, just for safekeeping.

Then, try a clone operation from the existing drive to the new SSD.

Just like this..
My typical steps, changes for your config in RED

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
DESELECT the D partition
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.

WAIT on this step until we know things work
Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
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