migrating or formatting 2 ssds to have programs on one ssd and os on other

gnat42

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Jun 28, 2014
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I have a 128gb ssd with my os on it and my programs and games now i bought a 256gb ssd since i was running out of room on the 128 gb drive. i used the migration tool but i think it looks it just copied the files so now i have two of everything one in c and one in g partion and now i have an e for system. what is gonna be the best way to get the os on my 128 gb and the rest on my 256. i tired just partioning the 256 before but it still installed files on my 120 gb drive making it full. what is the best way to have os on the 120 and the games and files to save and download onto the 256gb drive?
 
Solution


Well, without details.. its hard to diagnose from your note.. but in simple terms, when you say "even though I moved the downloads folder to my 256 drive"... you clearly did not.
But all "well behaved" programs will give you the option on where to install.. when doing the install, you may need to watch for things like "custom install" or "advanced options" (or similar) rather than just allow the default install (which will usually want to put stuff on your C drive). Usually with a little care and attention its not...
There is not an easy way.. its possible - but you don't sound like you have the tech capability to do it.. it would be messy.
Best option I can think of.
1. clone your 120GB drive to your 256GB drive so you have some room to grow if needed.
2. Wipe your 120Gb drive
3. use your 120GB drive for new software installs.
Its not perfect.. you don't have a pure OS drive and all your progs on another drive.. but it might be an adequate soplution for you.
Otherwise.. its a
1. Backup all
2. Wipe 120GB and do clean install of windows
3. reinstall all your progs on the new 256GB drive and recover prog data from backup.
Cheers
 


How do I get my programs to just install on my 256 and not my 120? Or if I download something? Cause right now if I download something it goes on my 120 even though I moved the downloads folder to my 256 drive
 


Well, without details.. its hard to diagnose from your note.. but in simple terms, when you say "even though I moved the downloads folder to my 256 drive"... you clearly did not.
But all "well behaved" programs will give you the option on where to install.. when doing the install, you may need to watch for things like "custom install" or "advanced options" (or similar) rather than just allow the default install (which will usually want to put stuff on your C drive). Usually with a little care and attention its not difficult.

Cheers
 
Solution


OK thanks was wondering if there's a way so I didn't have to always specify like changing my
Default drive.
 


i migrated my 120 to my 256 and now i got like 4 partions, can i delete my 120 drive through samsung magician or did i do something wrong?
 


Who knows what you did.. 4 partitions sounds a bit crazy.. but since we cant tell what you did - we cant say if that is sensible or not.
But re your question.. since we have no idea what you have done.. safest thing to do is to disconnect your 120GB drive and run your computer.. if it runs OK and you can see/use everything you expect to OK.. then you can be sure all the contents of the 120GB drive is not needed.. and you can go ahead and reconnect and delete/wipe/reformat it.

If it does not work.. then clearly you have stuff on the 120GB drive you still need.. so you have more work to do.

HTH
Cheers
 
So:

You did a clone from the 120 to the 256. Now you have 2 mostly identical drives, and it is very confusing.

Booting up:
Disconnect ALL drives except which one you want to be the actual boot drive.
Start it up and see if it runs.
If so, good. If not...put only the 128GB drive back in and see if it boots. It probably will. No problem.
If and only if it boots with ONLY the 128GB drive in, good. Now we can wipe the 256 drive.

Space management:
See these:
Win 7 & 8: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-1834397/ssd-redirecting-static-files.html
Win 8.1: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-2024314/windows-redirecting-folders-drives.html

Very easy to cause files to save elsewhere.
The 128GB will be plenty for the OS and applications, apart from games.