Move OS from old SSD to new SSD

[RSDS1227]

I have a 250MB SSD with Win 10, a 128MB SSD with Lightroom Backup files, and a 1TB HDD with photos. I want to add a 1TB SSD and do a clean install of the OS onto that drive. I also have the Win 10 install CD. What is the best method to go about getting my new 1TB SSD running with Win 10 on it?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a 250MB SSD with Win 10, a 128MB SSD with Lightroom Backup files, and a 1TB HDD with photos. I want to add a 1TB SSD and do a clean install of the OS onto that drive. I also have the Win 10 install CD. What is the best method to go about getting my new 1TB SSD running with Win 10 on it?

A clean install on the new drive means a reinstall of all your applications as well.
For your install CD, you should probably make a new Win 10 install. USB or DVD:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Then, the install: How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10



Or, you can do a direct clone from the 250GB to the new 1TB.

Exactly like this:
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 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
-----------------------------

 

[RSDS1227]

Sorry I wrote MB when I ment GB. I always get them backwards...

 

[USAFRet]

Sorry I wrote MB when I ment GB. I always get them backwards...

Yeah, I figured. The above procedure still works.

 

[RSDS1227]

Thank you for the quick response. I was thinking of a clean install instead of a clone because IDK what kind of "crap" could be on my existing system. Can you tell me why I should make a new install DVD or USB? Is it because of all the updates win 10 has had since I bought the program?

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you for the quick response. I was thinking of a clean install instead of a clone because IDK what kind of "crap" could be on my existing system. Can you tell me why I should make a new install DVD or USB? Is it because of all the updates win 10 has had since I bought the program?

Right. A new Win 10 DVD or USB created today will have most/all of the existing updates. Depending on how old your current Win 10 DVD is, you may be going through several levels of Update pain after the basic install.

If you're unsure about the viability of your current install, a full wipe and reinstall is recommended.

 

[RSDS1227]

USAFRet, I was successful in cloning my 250GB SSD to my new 1TB SSD but in Disk Management I see that I have 745.20GB of unallocated space. Do I simply create a new simple volume in order to use the rest of my SSD?

 

[madmatt30]

^ if you want it as a separate drive letter then yes.
Create simple olume & assign it a drive letter.

If you want the entire drive as c: then ignore the above.

Simply right click the c drive & use the extend volume option.