Putting Windows on a SSD and using that instead of a HDD

[BeanCurdSoup]

I got a new computer, but I want to to put Windows and the programs on this SSD that I just plugged in and disconnect the HDD completely. I have yet to even take the computer out of the box and set it up with the HDD if that matters. I'm a noob so if you could use layman's terms. Thanks for your help.

I have read that I have to do a fresh install instead of cloning?

 

[Ralston18]

I have done the same several times.

You need software that will clone the existing hard drive over to the new SSD drive. I use free Macrium Reflect. There are other such products.

The gist of it is that you first boot up the system via the HDD. Download and install the cloning utility. The target SSD is usually connected via a USB to SATA adapter (my preference) but the SSD can also be installed as a second drive in the computer hosting the source drive (HDD in your case). You will need additional SATA data and power cables if they are not already available within your case.

Run the utility software following the screen wizards or whatever process is presented.

Once the clone is complete you should be able to shut down, directly swap the SDD and HDD drives, and reboot. If all went well then you should end up with a quieter faster system.

Just be aware that the SSD's are smaller and you may need some brackets to expand the SSD to fit into the space formerly occupied by the HDD.

However if you are lucky your case may already have a bay that is intended for SSD use. Install the SSD in that space.

The most important part is to ensure that you do not mess up or overwrite the existing HDD. Best done by carefully reading each screen and watching the choices being presented.

"Cancel button" is your friend.

Plan out the steps you need (per the cloning software) and then give it a try.

Post any error messages or further questions.

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

I have done the same several times.

You need software that will clone the existing hard drive over to the new SSD drive. I use free Macrium Reflect. There are other such products.

The gist of it is that you first boot up the system via the HDD. Download and install the cloning utility. The target SSD is usually connected via a USB to SATA adapter (my preference) but the SSD can also be installed as a second drive in the computer hosting the source drive (HDD in your case). You will need additional SATA data and power cables if they are not already available within your case.

Run the utility software following the screen wizards or whatever process is presented.

Once the clone is complete you should be able to shut down, directly swap the SDD and HDD drives, and reboot. If all went well then you should end up with a quieter faster system.

Just be aware that the SSD's are smaller and you may need some brackets to expand the SSD to fit into the space formerly occupied by the HDD.

However if you are lucky your case may already have a bay that is intended for SSD use. Install the SSD in that space.

The most important part is to ensure that you do not mess up or overwrite the existing HDD. Best done by carefully reading each screen and watching the choices being presented.

"Cancel button" is your friend.

Plan out the steps you need (per the cloning software) and then give it a try.

Post any error messages or further questions.

1.)So I must download a cloning utility program first? Then I'll have to have both drives connected while I clone the HDD?

2.) Will I have to do anything from the BIOS or just when I need to change the boot drive to SSD?

3.) I got a software disk with the Samsung SSD, what is that used for?

4.) What would be the difference between a clean install versus a cloning of the HDD and which would be better for me to do?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Ralston18]

1) Yes. Macrium leads you through the process very well as do some of the other products. You just need to take your time and ensure that you understand the choices being offered at any given step. Read the procedures before hand. Lots of online tutorials regarding cloning "how-to's".

2) No - if all goes well the SSD will be just the same as the HDD. Unplug HDD, plug in SSD. (Presumption that both are SATA connections.)

3) May provide recovery software and various utilities. I.e. the disc may be (should be) bootable if the existing HDD is not booting. The idea being to get the system running again if the problem is software related. And will circumvent some hardware failures by just using the basic built in drivers and devices.

4) A clean install would not include your data - only the operating system. No data, no applications, no third party hardware drivers. Everything else would need to be reloaded/downloaded and reinstalled. Then configured. I back up to clones but also do data backups per se with respect to certain directories and files. Plus an image or two every few weeks.

Always trade-offs and I tend to be conservative and have multiple recovery options. I do not download movies, books,etc. and have minimal data saved - mostly family photographs. Multiple copies on different media everywhere - excluding the web/cloud.

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

1) Yes. Macrium leads you through the process very well as do some of the other products. You just need to take your time and ensure that you understand the choices being offered at any given step. Read the procedures before hand. Lots of online tutorials regarding cloning "how-to's".

2) No - if all goes well the SSD will be just the same as the HDD. Unplug HDD, plug in SSD. (Presumption that both are SATA connections.)

3) May provide recovery software and various utilities. I.e. the disc may be (should be) bootable if the existing HDD is not booting. The idea being to get the system running again if the problem is software related. And will circumvent some hardware failures by just using the basic built in drivers and devices.

4) A clean install would not include your data - only the operating system. No data, no applications, no third party hardware drivers. Everything else would need to be reloaded/downloaded and reinstalled. Then configured. I back up to clones but also do data backups per se with respect to certain directories and files. Plus an image or two every few weeks.

Always trade-offs and I tend to be conservative and have multiple recovery options. I do not download movies, books,etc. and have minimal data saved - mostly family photographs. Multiple copies on different media everywhere - excluding the web/cloud.

1.) Okay, so since I have yet to literally turn on this new computer and do anything with it, should I still just clone the HDD or do the fresh install? I want it to be the exact same. Don't want to have to do a ton of other crap that would be more tedious if thats the case with the fresh install?

2.) Is there any configuration I have to do with the SSD to optimize it?

3.) When I plug in the SSD do I have to go to disk management and initialize it first before I use Macrium to clone?

4.) After all this my SSD will be shown as my C drive then?

 

[USAFRet]

You can only clone from the HDD to the SSD if the current total used space on the HDD is significantly smaller than the size of the SSD.

For instance:
A 250GB SSD, the total used space on the HDD needs to be below 200GB.

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

You can only clone from the HDD to the SSD if the current total used space on the HDD is significantly smaller than the size of the SSD.

For instance:
A 250GB SSD, the total used space on the HDD needs to be below 200GB.

This might be a dumb question, but instead of cloning the drive can I just download and create a Windows 10 installation disk/USB and put it on my SSD using the link below or is cloning it better?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

 

[USAFRet]

You can only clone from the HDD to the SSD if the current total used space on the HDD is significantly smaller than the size of the SSD.

For instance:
A 250GB SSD, the total used space on the HDD needs to be below 200GB.

This might be a dumb question, but instead of cloning the drive can I just download and create a Windows 10 installation disk/USB and put it on my SSD using the link below or is cloning it better?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Since this is a brand new PC that you have not yet turned on, no, not really.
The OS must be activated first, which only happens after you power up.

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

You can only clone from the HDD to the SSD if the current total used space on the HDD is significantly smaller than the size of the SSD.

For instance:
A 250GB SSD, the total used space on the HDD needs to be below 200GB.

This might be a dumb question, but instead of cloning the drive can I just download and create a Windows 10 installation disk/USB and put it on my SSD using the link below or is cloning it better?

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

Since this is a brand new PC that you have not yet turned on, no, not really.
The OS must be activated first, which only happens after you power up.

Okay guys I put in the SSD and ran the Samsung migration and cloned it successfully and it shows up under My Computer as Drive G. However, once I unplug the HDD or try to boot from the SSD all I get is a black screen with the white cursor and I am unable to do anything?

 

[Ralston18]

Did you use the cable ends that originally served the HDD to connect to the SSD?

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

Did you use the cable ends that originally served the HDD to connect to the SSD?

I got both plugged in right now, do I have to disconnect the HDD and use those exact cables for the ssd?

 

[Ralston18]

From afar I am going to say yes.

Just be careful unplugging and plugging in the connectors. Can be easy to pull a wire loose and not be able to see that that has happend.

My sense is that your system is not sure which drive (if either) is the boot drive.

Are you able to get into BIOS? What is set up for boot order?

 

[BeanCurdSoup]

From afar I am going to say yes.

Just be careful unplugging and plugging in the connectors. Can be easy to pull a wire loose and not be able to see that that has happend.

My sense is that your system is not sure which drive (if either) is the boot drive.

Are you able to get into BIOS? What is set up for boot order?

Okay I just tried plugging the cables into the SSD and I unplugged the HDD completely - still same issue black screen with white cursor. I am able to get into BIOS and the boot order is 1. ) HDD 2.) SSD but I still have the same issue if I change them. Not sure whats going on this is fucked up lol

p.s. I just had to unplug my SSD because when I booted up and got to the desktop it just kept flashing repeatedly lol not sure what that means either

 

[Ralston18]

Probably time to regroup.

Go back to the HDD as before. Get all up and running and then connect up the SSD again.

Maybe try another clone attempt. Could be that something was missed - I am not familar with Samsung migration so unable to advise beyond the general process per se.

Found this guide that may be of help - for us both....

https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/support-software/Data-Migration-with-Samsung-SSDs-699/