New SSD for a boot drive, new to this process

[Devin Waite]

So I just picked up a new 250GB SSD from a friend, and would like to use it as a boot drive, but my PC already has a 1 TB drive as the boot drive, so my question is, how do I go about using the new SSD as the boot drive.
Would I just transfer all of my files from the old drive, to an external drive, and then format the old drive.
I honestly don't know, this is the first time I have done anything like this, so I want to do it right.
If anyone know's the best solution/process for this, please let me know, or link me to a thread/video if you know of a good one.
Thanks for your help.
~Devin

 

[photonboy]

It depends on how much of the 1TB drive has been used up, but in general you are best to CLONE, or use Acronis True Image to create a backup image of the C-Drive (to a third drive or 2nd partition on the 1TB if it has two partitions) then RESTORE to the SSD.

1. Add the SSD, update firmware, then overprovision it (if Samsung use Samsung Magician otherwise see support site for SSD)

2. CLONE if enough space (187GB or less roughly on C-Drive) otherwise you'll have to DELETE or move some stuff. (or backup/restore method)

3. Shut down PC, unhook 1TB HDD cables, then boot up to make sure the SSD is working fine

4. Once working, shut down, attach HDD, boot into BIOS and make sure SSD is first in the Boot Order (or 2nd if DVD drive is first)

5. NOW you can format the hard drive.

6. Create a backup Image of the C-Drive (SSD) to the hard drive (Acronis True Image Free if you have a WD drive. Seagate has the same tool with different name.)

Other:
- if your BIOS has the SATA set to IDE (not AHCI) you'll need to Google the workaround to fix that, OR you'll need to do a fresh install of Windows with AHCI already set (not IDE)

- STEAM should be installed on the hard drive even if using the SSD. It's possible to MOVE the entire installation if you carefully follow the instructions:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

- CLONE SOFTWARE recommended: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx
*Use the VERIFY setting so it ensures the clone is exact. I got an error on my first time but it worked on the 2nd (cloned HDD to SSD). I tried two other programs that did NOT work at all.