SSD as boot, HDD as storage

[Ianb262]

This afternoon I am going to buy an ssd to put my OS on. But I have an hdd with all my files on it. How would I do a clean install of windows on the ssd while keeping the files from the hdd?
Can someone walk me through a step by step process?

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

This afternoon I am going to buy an ssd to put my OS on. But I have an hdd with all my files on it. How would I do a clean install of windows on the ssd while keeping the files from the hdd?
Can someone walk me through a step by step process?

Thanks!

First, what do you mean by "files", on the HDD?
Any applications would need to be reinstalled after the new OS install on the SSD.

Presumably, your HDD has the OS, and all of your applications and 'files'?

What OS is this?
What size is the new SSD?
What size is the old HDD, and how much space is actually consumed on it?

 

[geofelt]

First, disconnect your HDD. Otherwise windows will try to put a hidden recovery partition on it, and you can never boot without the HDD.
Once you have done a clean install on the ssd reconnect the hdd and your files(but not apps) will be available.

If your new ssd can hold the used contents of your HDD, buy a Samsung ssd and use their ssd migration aid to copy your hdd to the new ssd.

 

[USAFRet]

So...
Based on your PM reply:
"The drive is a WD Blue 1tb and the ssd is an 850 evo and is 250gb. My drive has 453gb take. And 933 total. "

A 1TB HDD, about 1/2 used.

This indicates a clean install of the OS on the new SSD. Which also means a reinstall of all your applications.
What OS is this?

 

[Ianb262]

So...
Based on your PM reply:
"The drive is a WD Blue 1tb and the ssd is an 850 evo and is 250gb. My drive has 453gb take. And 933 total. "

A 1TB HDD, about 1/2 used.

This indicates a clean install of the OS on the new SSD. Which also means a reinstall of all your applications.
What OS is this?

Sorry, it's windows 10. Typing on mobile so I couldn't see your whole message

 

[USAFRet]

So...
Based on your PM reply:
"The drive is a WD Blue 1tb and the ssd is an 850 evo and is 250gb. My drive has 453gb take. And 933 total. "

A 1TB HDD, about 1/2 used.

This indicates a clean install of the OS on the new SSD. Which also means a reinstall of all your applications.
What OS is this?

Sorry, it's windows 10. Typing on mobile so I couldn't see your whole message

OK, so do a clean install of the OS on the SSD.
Do this with only the SSD connected.

After, then reinstall your applications. They will not work in their current location on the HDD.

Which is why I asked: "what do you mean by "files" "
Your personal files...doc/music/video...fine.
Your applications, no.

 

[Ianb262]

So...
Based on your PM reply:
"The drive is a WD Blue 1tb and the ssd is an 850 evo and is 250gb. My drive has 453gb take. And 933 total. "

A 1TB HDD, about 1/2 used.

This indicates a clean install of the OS on the new SSD. Which also means a reinstall of all your applications.
What OS is this?

Sorry, it's windows 10. Typing on mobile so I couldn't see your whole message

OK, so do a clean install of the OS on the SSD.
Do this with only the SSD connected.

After, then reinstall your applications. They will not work in their current location on the HDD.

Which is why I asked: "what do you mean by "files" "
Your personal files...doc/music/video...fine.
Your applications, no.

Thank you so much . 2 more questions, how do I retain like a text file so i know which programs I should re-install. And, will my current windows 10 license transfer to the SSD? Thank you 😀

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you so much . 2 more questions, how do I retain like a text file so i know which programs I should re-install. And, will my current windows 10 license transfer to the SSD? Thank you 😀

Text file:
Either print it out, or save it on a USB that you know will not get wiped

Win 10 license - Yes. You can reinstall on that new SSD, in the same system, with no problem.
When it asks for the license key, at the bottom of that window it says "I don't have a Product key"
Click that, proceed.
When it goes online, it will activate itself.

Also....be sure you have all the drivers for your system before you do this. The new OS will not have those.
Primarily, you need the LAN driver (or WiFi if that is what you use).

 

[Ianb262]

Thank you so much . 2 more questions, how do I retain like a text file so i know which programs I should re-install. And, will my current windows 10 license transfer to the SSD? Thank you 😀

Text file:
Either print it out, or save it on a USB that you know will not get wiped

Win 10 license - Yes. You can reinstall on that new SSD, in the same system, with no problem.
When it asks for the license key, at the bottom of that window it says "I don't have a Product key"
Click that, proceed.
When it goes online, it will activate itself.

Also....be sure you have all the drivers for your system before you do this. The new OS will not have those.
Primarily, you need the LAN driver (or WiFi if that is what you use).

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

No.
You download them from the manufacturers website.
Motherboard, GPU, etc.

Save those downloads on a USB....the same one where you saved that text file.

You will need 2 USB sticks.
1 for the OS install, and 1 holding your drivers and that text file.

 

[Ianb262]

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

No.
You download them from the manufacturers website.
Motherboard, GPU, etc.

Save those downloads on a USB....the same one where you saved that text file.

You will need 2 USB sticks.
1 for the OS install, and 1 holding your drivers and that text file.

😀 I am in the process right now, will update you when done

 

[Ianb262]

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

No.
You download them from the manufacturers website.
Motherboard, GPU, etc.

Save those downloads on a USB....the same one where you saved that text file.

You will need 2 USB sticks.
1 for the OS install, and 1 holding your drivers and that text file.

Hey, I finished my SSD last night and it's working great! Only thing I'm wondering is what should I do with my old HDD? It's connected but still has all my old program files and windows files.

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

No.
You download them from the manufacturers website.
Motherboard, GPU, etc.

Save those downloads on a USB....the same one where you saved that text file.

You will need 2 USB sticks.
1 for the OS install, and 1 holding your drivers and that text file.

Hey, I finished my SSD last night and it's working great! Only thing I'm wondering is what should I do with my old HDD? It's connected but still has all my old program files and windows files.

If there is currently nothing on it that you still need, wipe it.
Verify this 100%
Then check again.
Then wait a couple of days, and check again.

When you are absolutely ready, Disk Management
Select each partition, Delete.
Leaving one large unallocated space.
Create a partition using that whole space
Format it, give it a drive letter.

Then, just use it for things that do not require the speed of the SSD. Your music playlist does not play any faster if it lives on the HDD.

 

[Ianb262]

Thank you. Sorry for one more question, how do I backup the drivers. Is there a free software?

No.
You download them from the manufacturers website.
Motherboard, GPU, etc.

Save those downloads on a USB....the same one where you saved that text file.

You will need 2 USB sticks.
1 for the OS install, and 1 holding your drivers and that text file.

Hey, I finished my SSD last night and it's working great! Only thing I'm wondering is what should I do with my old HDD? It's connected but still has all my old program files and windows files.

If there is currently nothing on it that you still need, wipe it.
Verify this 100%
Then check again.
Then wait a couple of days, and check again.

When you are absolutely ready, Disk Management
Select each partition, Delete.
Leaving one large unallocated space.
Create a partition using that whole space
Format it, give it a drive letter.

Then, just use it for things that do not require the speed of the SSD. Your music playlist does not play any faster if it lives on the HDD.

It's weird that when I try to access my old User Folder it doesn't load completely. Is there anything i can do about this?

 

[USAFRet]

It's weird that when I try to access my old User Folder it doesn't load completely. Is there anything i can do about this?

You need to "Take Ownership" of that folder.
Even though you may have the same username, NTFS sees that as a whole different user.
That folder and things in it are permission linked to that old 'user'.