SSD setup with existing HDD

[themafia36]

So i bought an SSD to upgrade a PC i just built last month and i'm completely lost on what to do, there is so many different answers on the internet that i cant decide on how to start. I know i have to do a clean install of windows on the SSD, then what? I just want to have the OS on the SSD and use the HDD as storage. Here is my specs if u need to know.

SSD: Samsung 840 120GB
HDD: 1TB
OS: Windows 7 64 bit
MOBO: MSI Z87-GD65
CPU: Intel Core i5 4670k
GPU: MSI GTX 770
RAM: 8gb gskill ripjaws

 

[rolli59]

Do a clean install with the HDD disconnected and storage controller set in ACHI mode. Then reconnect the drive. Here is a lot of useful info http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/270102-32-useful-articles-part

 

[ram1009]

First of all, you don't have to do a clean install. You could clone the old HDD to he new SSD if you want. However I would recommend a fresh install. If you do a fresh install unplug the HDD first. Once the OS is up and running plug the old HDD back in and migrate your data at your leisure. It sounds simple because it is simple.

 

[gopher1369]

I agree with both of the comments above. Just to add:

If you want to clone the HDD onto the SSD (which is what I would do, it's much quicker than a reinstall) then I recommend Clonezilla. I've used it sucessfully and best of all it's free.

http://clonezilla.org/

To state the obvious: the amount of data on the harddrive must be smaller than the capacity of the SSD. EG if you have a 250Gb SSD then you must have less that 250Gb of data on the HDD before you start cloning, or it won't fit!

 

[themafia36]

First of all, you don't have to do a clean install. You could clone the old HDD to he new SSD if you want. However I would recommend a fresh install. If you do a fresh install unplug the HDD first. Once the OS is up and running plug the old HDD back in and migrate your data at your leisure. It sounds simple because it is simple.

Hi so i was reading about other people who need help like this and i read that its recommended to use Intel's Smart Response Technology, which my motherboard supports. My question is, since i allready have the OS installed, do i have to do a re-install of windows set on RAID or can i just go into the BIOS and switch it to RAID mode?

 

[gopher1369]

I'd recommend the opposite - don't use Intel SRT. The difference is that normally you choose what data goes onto your SSD and what data goes onto the HDD. With SRT turned on Intel manages this automatically for you. I'd much rather choose myself than have Intel try to work out what's best for me.

I'm pretty sure (not 100% but fairly sure) you'd have to do a reinstall. Switch to RAID mode without reinstalling and your machine won't boot.

SRT maxes out at 64Gb. But 128Gb drives are relatively cheap nowadays. The advantage of SRT was a few years back when SSDs were really expensive, you could purchase a small drive, say a 20Gb drive, which woud be too small to install Windows on to, turn on SRT and use the 20Gb as a cache drive.

 

[themafia36]

I'd recommend the opposite - don't use Intel SRT. The difference is that normally you choose what data goes onto your SSD and what data goes onto the HDD. With SRT turned on Intel manages this automatically for you. I'd much rather choose myself than have Intel try to work out what's best for me.

I'm pretty sure (not 100% but fairly sure) you'd have to do a reinstall. Switch to RAID mode without reinstalling and your machine won't boot.

SRT maxes out at 64Gb. But 128Gb drives are relatively cheap nowadays. The advantage of SRT was a few years back when SSDs were really expensive, you could purchase a small drive, say a 20Gb drive, which woud be too small to install Windows on to, turn on SRT and use the 20Gb as a cache drive.

I followed the guide from here http://www.overclock.net/t/1156654/seans-windows-7-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds and ive got the OS on the SSD now, i moved all the stuff in the users folder on the SSD to the HDD users folder. Now im just confused about one thing, how do i play the gamest that are on my HDD, when i click Battlefield 3, it says i have to re-install Origin, but if i already have Origin on my HDD, do i re-intall it back in the HDD? Do i have to re-install Steam, Origin, and all the games back in the HDD? Can you help me please?

 

[gopher1369]

If you reinstall Windows then you also need to reinstall all of your programs, games etc. This should help you get started:

edit: Hmmm Tomshardware doesn't like the link. The link is just ninite.com (no http, no www, just: ninite.com)