New MSI GT70 2PC with 1TB HDD and need to use SSD as booter and HDD as storage

[msigt60and70]

Hello,

I just bought an MSI GT 70 2PC running windows 8.1.

It comes with 1TB HD.

I just got a Samsung 850 500GB for it.

What I'd like to-do is put my IOS onto my SSD and use the SSD as the master booter and still use my HDD for storage.

What's the best way to go about this?

I read some tutorials of what to-do, but I'm a little confused on what to-do

I downloaded Windows 8.1 ISO onto a 8GB PNY FlashDrive for clean fresh install, but haven't used it.

and also downloaded clone software such as: EaseUS and Macrium.

My Samsung also came with Magician/Cloner but had trouble cloning.
1. I installed my SDD
2. I ran the Samsung clone software to clone HDD to SSD, but funny thing is when I went to clone the IOS from HDD to SDD the description for HDD was "Samsung SSD.." The Samsung Clone software didn't even recognize my HDD name.
3. As soon as the SSD received the clone I rebooted MSI and tapped "delete" to set the SSD as the primary booter and disabled the HDD as a booter.
4. The computer started up much slower
5. Also had some IOS cliches "Sky Driver" errors that pop-up randomly when not even using and MSI's "SCM (System Control Manager)". I felt the clone did not go well. I read that Samsung's clone software does not work well at all and leaves cliches in the cloned IOS to SSD

Prior to cloning, I did not attach my SSD to a Sata cable during the cloning process to the USB drive, instead I just installed the SSD into the laptop, Partitioned in Disk Management, then cloned with Samsung's Cloner.

So, I'm starting from scratch and formatted the SSD.

I've read dozens of tutorials in regard to what I want and even read through forums on this site.

Any thoughts of what I should do and which road to take?

Anybody have a great method to do this with simplied type of step-by-step instructions?

I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks Community

 

[bootcher]

Basicaly you have two choices:
1. Cloning the harddrive to your SSD
2. Do a clean install on your SSD

Cloning is good if you want to keep all your current software. Seeing MSI laptops come with some bloatware you might want a clean install and go from there. You will only need your current windows key for a new install, there are many programs out there that can recover your windows key, write it down and use it when the windows installer asks for it (do not post your windows key online, someone will steal it).

If you do want to clone your harddrive, the steps for the different software varies a lot, there is no step by step instructions in general. Pick a good clone software package and do some research on that, read its manual. I have used several cloning with good results, usually I first try the manufacturer's software, or use a general one. Acronis has a good solution.

 

[msigt60and70]

Basicaly you have two choices:
1. Cloning the harddrive to your SSD
2. Do a clean install on your SSD

Cloning is good if you want to keep all your current software. Seeing MSI laptops come with some bloatware you might want a clean install and go from there. You will only need your current windows key for a new install, there are many programs out there that can recover your windows key, write it down and use it when the windows installer asks for it (do not post your windows key online, someone will steal it).

If you do want to clone your harddrive, the steps for the different software varies a lot, there is no step by step instructions in general. Pick a good clone software package and do some research on that, read its manual. I have used several cloning with good results, usually I first try the manufacturer's software, or use a general one. Acronis has a good solution.

First of all bootcher, great avatar )
Second thank you for your recommedation.
Two questions:
1. In order to clone: Do I have to attach my SSD to the USB or can I have the SSD installed in the laptop then clone.
2. For a clean install: Same steps as above without cloning.

Third: What is the best way to have my SSD the main booter while my HDD is just a storage? I've heard that the easiest was is to disconnect the HDD and reboot the computer with SSD and the SSD would take over as main booter, then I could just then reattach my HDD. Is that true from your experience. If not, what avenue would you recommend?

Thank you.

 

[bootcher]

1. If you can connect both the ssd and harddrive to the pc at the same time it would be better, because the USB connection is slower than the sata connection. If not possible you will have to install the SSD after the cloning is done succesfuly (most cloning programs have a file check/verify option after copying, this will take some additional time but is good so you know for sure the cloning was done correctly).
After the cloning you have to find out how to choose your boot disk when booting the pc, this would be something you can find in the BIOS part of the manual. Choose to boot from the SSD, if everything works OK you can set the SSD as boot disk in the BIOS permanently.

2. For a clean install you will have to install the SSD in the pc. I would remove the other harddrive completely to avoid anything happening to it during windows install. After this simply do the windows install from the USB stick.

3. As explained under point 1, you can set the boot order in your BIOS. There is no real need to disconnect/reconnect harddrives to determine the boot order, this is set in the BIOS manually. If windows is installed correctly on any harddrive it will boot if set to boot in BIOS.

 

[msigt60and70]

1. If you can connect both the ssd and harddrive to the pc at the same time it would be better, because the USB connection is slower than the sata connection. If not possible you will have to install the SSD after the cloning is done succesfuly (most cloning programs have a file check/verify option after copying, this will take some additional time but is good so you know for sure the cloning was done correctly).
After the cloning you have to find out how to choose your boot disk when booting the pc, this would be something you can find in the BIOS part of the manual. Choose to boot from the SSD, if everything works OK you can set the SSD as boot disk in the BIOS permanently.

2. For a clean install you will have to install the SSD in the pc. I would remove the other harddrive completely to avoid anything happening to it during windows install. After this simply do the windows install from the USB stick.

3. As explained under point 1, you can set the boot order in your BIOS. There is no real need to disconnect/reconnect harddrives to determine the boot order, this is set in the BIOS manually. If windows is installed correctly on any harddrive it will boot if set to boot in BIOS.

Awesome, I understand.

If taking the clone approach, just to clarify: " If you can connect both the ssd and harddrive to the pc at the same time it would be better, because the USB connection is slower than the sata connection. If not possible you will have to install the SSD after the cloning is done succesfully"

By connecting do you mean SSD and HDD installed to their bays or attached to Sata cable connection to the USB then when clone is done install SSD and HDD to their bays.

Thank you.

 

[bootcher]

By connecting I mean both in their bays, installed in the laptop. If using the sata connection to usb you will still be limited by the slower USB transfer speed. I suspect you have 2 drive bays in the laptop so you can connect both the SSD and the HDD in their own bay and start the cloning process.