Migrating just the os onto new ssd from hdd

[cracralego]

I have had my computer for a while and I decided it would be a good idea to install a ssd just for my os so it can boot faster, I already have a 1tb hdd in the system and want to only move the os onto the ssd, the ssd is only 128 gbs and therefor cannot hold all of my large files so if there is a way to just get the os onto the ssd that would be great

 

[Corwin65]

Can't do it. You can however do this.
Create Installation Media - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15088/windows-create-installation-media
Disconnect Power
Disconnect the HDD
Install the SSD
Install Windows using your just created installation media
Log in with your existing MS account, install all updates, drivers etc.

Shut down PC, unplug, reconnect HDD.
Voila, you will have a full clean install of Windows 10 on your SSD and all your files will be there.
You will have to reinstall your applications.

If it's not too late I'd opt for at least a 240GB SSD.

 

[cracralego]

Can't do it. You can however do this.
Create Installation Media - https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/15088/windows-create-installation-media
Disconnect Power
Disconnect the HDD
Install the SSD
Install Windows using your just created installation media
Log in with your existing MS account, install all updates, drivers etc.

Shut down PC, unplug, reconnect HDD.
Voila, you will have a full clean install of Windows 10 on your SSD and all your files will be there.
You will have to reinstall your applications.

If it's not too late I'd opt for at least a 240GB SSD.

So I can’t migrate it but I can do a fresh install of it onto the ssd, but what will I do with the os installed on the hdd and will I have to delete it?

 

[USAFRet]

As above, you can't migrate "only the OS". Doesn't work like that.

Going into a 120GB drive, you'd need the actual consumed space to be below 85GB.

Questions:
1. How much space is actually consumed on your current drive?
2. What, exactly, consumes this space?
3. Do you have (or can borrow) another drive of reasonable size to move things to temporarily?

 

[malcolm.evans71]

I know this is an old post, but just in case anyone else comes across it, you CAN just migrate the OS to a SSD from HDD. EaseUS Partition Magic has a 'Windows migrate OS' feature for precisely doing this and does it well with no data loss or any need for reinstalling.

https://www.easeus.com/ppc/partition-manager/migrate-os-to-ssd.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwvNXeBRAjEiwAjqYhFnqX1auUGeACEoc_rGhGBjnupFYyCZ1vmLdD5kd7hOpnl9FBRLu4EhoCbeAQAvD_BwE

You can read about this feature at the link above. I am not affiliated with EaseUS in anyway, but just thought I would share this out there.

 

[USAFRet]

I know this is an old post, but just in case anyone else comes across it, you CAN just migrate the OS to a SSD from HDD. EaseUS Partition Magic has a 'Windows migrate OS' feature for precisely doing this and does it well with no data loss or any need for reinstalling.

https://www.easeus.com/ppc/partition-manager/migrate-os-to-ssd.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwvNXeBRAjEiwAjqYhFnqX1auUGeACEoc_rGhGBjnupFYyCZ1vmLdD5kd7hOpnl9FBRLu4EhoCbeAQAvD_BwE

You can read about this feature at the link above. I am not affiliated with EaseUS in anyway, but just thought I would share this out there.

From EaseUS:
" transfer your operating system, configurations, and data on system boot partitions"

This is the whole partition. Not "just the OS".

Please don't give people false hope.

 

[misar]

It is also worth reminding people that what the OP wants is possible IF you partition the HDD into separate system and data partitions.

I always do this with a new PC for various reasons but it can easily be done restrospectively if you really want to avoid reinstalling a complicated OS setup that is working well.

Just move your data to an external drive (quick these days with USB3 or better), shrink the OS partition with one of the free applications, create a new data partition in the empty space and copy/move your data back. Even faster if you already have an external data backup - which you really should.

 

[USAFRet]

It is also worth reminding people that what the OP wants is possible IF you partition the HDD into separate system and data partitions.

And a lot of people want some magic that will somehow split out "only the OS", and leave behind not just their data, but also any and all applications.
Can't be done.