need help with new ssd

[chantler2012]

Alright. I gave up trying to google the answer so I thought I would ask here. I just recently got my new 120gb ssd and have already installed windows 7 home premium and chosen the new ssd as the boot drive instead of the old hdd. My question is how do I now get all the drivers from the hdd onto the ssd and, if possible, get everything to look like it did before the ssd. Please help and thanks in advance.

 

[USAFRet]

You need to reinstall all the drivers, and all your applications.
Drivers on the SDD, applications wherever you want.

 

[chantler2012]

You need to reinstall all the drivers, and all your applications.
Drivers on the SDD, applications wherever you want.

So I essentially have to start from scratch and cant use anything from my hdd currently?

 

[USAFRet]

You need to reinstall all the drivers, and all your applications.
Drivers on the SDD, applications wherever you want.

So I essentially have to start from scratch and cant use anything from my hdd currently?

Right. Your new OS on the SSD knows nothing about the drivers or applications.

To 'install' a driver:
You have to create the proper directory
You have to then copy the relevant files to that directory
Then you have to edit the registry, and point whatever it needs to that newly created folder and file(s)
Then you have to tell the specific hardware where that registry entry is.

Or....you could just let the driver install routine do all that for you.

 

[chantler2012]

Or....you could just let the driver install routine do all that for you.[/quotemsg]
What do you mean by the driver install routine?

 

[popatim]

the driver installation program does all those steps for you.

 

[B4vB5]

Chandler, you could also check if the brand of SSD has a Migration tool that does all this for you. It worked for me with Samsung SSDs and I believe Intel has one too for that. I succesfully pulled both a 40GB Win8 (yesterday) across from an iron disk to a Samsung SSD via their migration tool and zero issues. And I have done it in 2012 with an Intel drive as well, though that was SSD to SSD(X25-M to 520).

The source drive should'nt matter though, what matters, is only that the old drive's current "used size" doesn't exceed the new SSDs total space. Kinda goes without saying, but with small SSDs, just make sure you are not close to the limit either, best to leave 20% free on them for comfort imo.

If you have a laptop, keep the old drive in it and buy a 2.5SATA<-->USB2/3 thingy, that works too for that purpose.

Edit: To clarify, this essentially copies the whole OS drive to the slave SSD, but in a way so it works when you then afterwards swap the SSD drive to become the OS drive. The SSD is completely wiped in the process, so don't assume a little stuff can remain on it, even if there is technically room.

 

[chantler2012]

Chandler, you could also check if the brand of SSD has a Migration tool that does all this for you. It worked for me with Samsung SSDs and I believe Intel has one too for that. I succesfully pulled both a 40GB Win8 (yesterday) across from an iron disk to a Samsung SSD via their migration tool and zero issues. And I have done it in 2012 with an Intel drive as well, though that was SSD to SSD(X25-M to 520).

The source drive should'nt matter though, what matters, is only that the old drive's current "used size" doesn't exceed the new SSDs total space. Kinda goes without saying, but with small SSDs, just make sure you are not close to the limit either, best to leave 20% free on them for comfort imo.

If you have a laptop, keep the old drive in it and buy a 2.5SATA<-->USB2/3 thingy, that works too for that purpose.

Edit: To clarify, this essentially copies the whole OS drive to the slave SSD, but in a way so it works when you then afterwards swap the SSD drive to become the OS drive. The SSD is completely wiped in the process, so don't assume a little stuff can remain on it, even if there is technically room.

The ssd I got is by kingston and I do not believe they have a migration tool. Even if they did my ssd is 120gb and my hdd has roughly 900gb used. What is the easiest way to get all of the drivers I need for Internet, video card, monitor, etc. Reinstalled? When I boot from the ssd, It is completely bare and none of the drivers for my devices and hardware are installed automatically like when it normally does when you plug something in.

 

[USAFRet]

Chandler, you could also check if the brand of SSD has a Migration tool that does all this for you. It worked for me with Samsung SSDs and I believe Intel has one too for that. I succesfully pulled both a 40GB Win8 (yesterday) across from an iron disk to a Samsung SSD via their migration tool and zero issues. And I have done it in 2012 with an Intel drive as well, though that was SSD to SSD(X25-M to 520).

The source drive should'nt matter though, what matters, is only that the old drive's current "used size" doesn't exceed the new SSDs total space. Kinda goes without saying, but with small SSDs, just make sure you are not close to the limit either, best to leave 20% free on them for comfort imo.

If you have a laptop, keep the old drive in it and buy a 2.5SATA<-->USB2/3 thingy, that works too for that purpose.

Edit: To clarify, this essentially copies the whole OS drive to the slave SSD, but in a way so it works when you then afterwards swap the SSD drive to become the OS drive. The SSD is completely wiped in the process, so don't assume a little stuff can remain on it, even if there is technically room.

The ssd I got is by kingston and I do not believe they have a migration tool. Even if they did my ssd is 120gb and my hdd has roughly 900gb used. What is the easiest way to get all of the drivers I need for Internet, video card, monitor, etc. Reinstalled? When I boot from the ssd, It is completely bare and none of the drivers for my devices and hardware are installed automatically like when it normally does when you plug something in.

Go to the websites of your hardware manufacturers.
Download the relevant drivers.
Install them.