moving windows to SSD boot drive, best way?

Mar 30, 2018
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Question... Im getting a 120 SSD today, and 1tb HDD tmrw...

Starting with a 5400rpm 500gb HDD with win 8.1

Can I clone windows onto the the SSD while keeping all of the rest of the data on the original HDD? Or am i going to have to uninstall and remove data until im below 120gb to clone...
I dont want to do a reinstall, mostly because I don't have my product key to reactivate, but if its significantly better to do that, then i might just run windows 10 unactivated for a little while...

last question involving this process,
If i do a fresh install of windows on the new SSD, can i leave my current HDD as it is and load my games from it, even if it is no longer the boot drive, and maybe be referenced by a different copy of windows altogether??? ex: i keep PuBG on my original HDD... and i now boot using a seperate, not cloned, copy of windows(8.1 or 10)... can i load pubg from the original drive while booted in a new OS... will pubg being installed into a drive already containing windows cause errors with loading (such as file paths or dll errors?)

honestly just looking for the least headache filled, yet effective method of migrating into a ssd
 
Solution


Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
q24sFfe.png


Mods and other things will be an issue, because...


"Can I clone windows onto the the SSD while keeping all of the rest of the data on the original HDD?"
No.
You can't clone 'only' the OS.

"I dont want to do a reinstall, mostly because I don't have my product key to reactivate, but if its significantly better to do that, then i might just run windows 10 unactivated for a little while..."
Since this is Wn 8.1, you will need your license key.
An Unactivated Win 10 is just fine.

"If i do a fresh install of windows on the new SSD, can i leave my current HDD as it is and load my games from it"
Steam or Origin games, yes. Anything else, unknown but probably not.
 
So modded games I am most likely going to have to reinstall and remod to keep my file paths straight and prevent stability issues.

I was hoping to avoid that... but I will likely fresh install everything in the end...
However, just for the sake of adding information to this thread, i will report back after I move stuff around and shed light on leaving non-steam modded games installed on the old drive.

So to clarify, do a fresh install of windows, i can leave steam games be, but non steam and mods will likely need a reinstall?
 


Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
q24sFfe.png


Mods and other things will be an issue, because they will then live under a different drive letter.

You will also likely have little permissions issues. A lot of stuff lives under your old /User/ folders and their permissions. You will have to Take Ownership of those. Yes, even if the new 'user' in your new OS is the same name. To NTFS, it is a different persona.


Have all other drives disconnected when you do this install, and then...
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10
 
Solution
Not a big fan of the cost of SSDs yet...
id rather spend the the same of money on a 120 ssd and 1tb hdd than a 256 ssd and be stuck with my old drive still...
i work with a budget unfortunately... this economy does not bless everyone equally or equitably.
though i agree... 120 isnt ideal but its not going to be but an OS boot drive for the forseeable future.