Some questions about transferring to a new hard drive.

[sognito1916]

Hello, I've recently bought a new hard drive due to my current one running out of space. I know how to physically install it and all but I have a few questions to confirm about transferring files from my current hard drive to this new hard drive since I have never done this before.

1. Do I need to unplug any other drives before doing this?

2. Should I clone it or just copy and paste files?

3. Is there any setup I have to do for the new hard drive and anything I have to do before ejecting the current hard drive?

Also neither of these two hard drives have or will have an OS, as I have the OS on an SSD for a primary drive.

That's all, thanks.

 

[or.at2497]

1.no.
2. Yes, only if u want to unplug the other drive *and* u have programs installed on the other hdd. Notice that the hdd's letter will be the same as the old one.
3. No, just plug amd unplug while your pc is shut down.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello, I've recently bought a new hard drive due to my current one running out of space. I know how to physically install it and all but I have a few questions to confirm about transferring files from my current hard drive to this new hard drive since I have never done this before.

1. Do I need to unplug any other drives before doing this?

2. Should I clone it or just copy and paste files?

3. Is there any setup I have to do for the new hard drive and anything I have to do before ejecting the current hard drive?

Also neither of these two hard drives have or will have an OS, as I have the OS on an SSD for a primary drive.

That's all, thanks.

For a secondary drive, you don't need to clone it. You can if you want to, but not 'required'.
Copy/paste works just fine. Copy, not move.

Just don't select ALL of it at the same time. Do smaller batches, so that if it fails along the way, you'll have a better idea of where.
At the end of the process, swap drive letters around so that the new drive has the same drive letter as the old one.