SSD Installed as Boot Drive (windows 7) with a HDD with all of my previous data on it, but it doesn't load that data

[BiomeBuster]

So as the title says I have recently installed an SSD with windows 7 on it as my boot drive and I previously had a hard drive as the boot drive and storage for all of my games. Now that I've installed windows 7 onto the SSD, the data from the hard drive refuses to show up. I can access the files and whatnot, but it refuses to load anything up.

 

[USAFRet]

So as the title says I have recently installed an SSD with windows 7 on it as my boot drive and I previously had a hard drive as the boot drive and storage for all of my games. Now that I've installed windows 7 onto the SSD, the data from the hard drive refuses to show up. I can access the files and whatnot, but it refuses to load anything up.

"but it refuses to load anything up"
You're referring to your 'programs'?

Yes, that is what will happen.
The new OS on the SSD knows nothing about the old applications. Can't use them.
You'll need to reinstall them.

 

[BiomeBuster]

Well that's rather depressing. So should I clear my hard drive of all the previous data since I have to reinstall it all anyway?

 

[USAFRet]

Well that's rather depressing. So should I clear my hard drive of all the previous data since I have to reinstall it all anyway?

What type games are these?
If on the Steam platform, you can probably get away with not doing a full reinstall.

It is strongly recommended to wipe that old drive.
But if these are Steam games, you can copy the entire SteamApps folder to elsewhere, wipe the old HDD, and copy them back.
Then, tell the new Steam client you're going to install where those games live.

Like this:
Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

 

[USAFRet]

All your other applications will need a reinstall, though.

 

[BiomeBuster]

Well that saves the heartache of having to spend the next week downloading steam games, but it sucks having to reinstall all of those programs... thank you for your help!

 

[Dugimodo]

If you want to use the old drive as storage then yes it's best to clear all the old windows files off it.
But first check the PC boots with the old hard drive disconnected unless you are sure you set windows up with only the SSD connected.

If you add an SSD and want to keep all your existing programs and files then you need to use cloning software to duplicate your old drive onto the new one - and that means you have to make sure it will all fit first. Most SSD manufacturers have free tools to help do this on their websites or you can use something like the Aomei partion assistant program which has a handy wizard for migrating the OS to SSD

 

[BiomeBuster]

Ouch if I would've known that I would've done that instead of doing a fresh install on the SSD and reinstalling all the drivers... live and you learn, I guess

 

[BiomeBuster]

Now I've got myself into a rookie mistake. I can't find any of the drivers to allow me to connect to the Internet. I've installed my mobo's drivers

 

[USAFRet]

Ouch if I would've known that I would've done that instead of doing a fresh install on the SSD and reinstalling all the drivers... live and you learn, I guess

Have you wiped the old drive yet? Cloning may still be possible.
What size is the new SSD?
How much consumed space is on the old drive?

 

[BiomeBuster]

SSD is a mere 250 GB with merely 223 GB left, and the HDD has 403 used of 1 TB, didn't wipe anything yet

 

[USAFRet]

SSD is a mere 250 GB with merely 223 GB left, and the HDD has 403 used of 1 TB, didn't wipe anything yet

403GB used space, and a 250GB SSD.
That's not gonna work, unless you can reduce that 403GB to under 200GB.

If you can get there, we can clone that whole thing over.

 

[USAFRet]

If you can get that actual used space to below 200GB, this:

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[BiomeBuster]

Most of that 403GB are games. I don't mind having to reinstall a few.

 

[USAFRet]

Most of that 403GB are games. I don't mind having to reinstall a few.

Uninstall as needed.
Clone (as above), wipe the old drive, and reinstall games as desired.