[SOLVED] Storage upgrade help.

[killer147896325]

I have a dell optiplex mini tower... Im not quite sure if it's mini tower or sff
Anyways I have a hard drive connected to it right now. I'm looking to upgrade or add an SSD. My problem is there is no extra internal power cables. I was wondering if I could get a ssd and use it on the esata port on the back of the computer would that work. Or could I make a ssd my main drive, then somehow move the internal hard drive to the rear port. Sorry if this seems a bit complicated I've confused myself trying to research it

 

[androbourne]

Why dont you just purchase the SSD you want, clone your internal disk to the SSD using usb adaptor or a docking station. Then pull out the old hard drive and install the new SSD in its place?

 

[killer147896325]

Because I have a Two Tb internal drive I do alot of video editing and footage. I record motovlogs and capture video game footage I would be very crippled without the 2Tb drive. All I would do is over crowd SSD. (Currently I have around 200 gigs of footage that needs edited and gone through wiating on more ram in the mail)

 

[androbourne]

Ok.

Well you can install the new SSD and install Windows etc... then remove the 2TB and put it in an external enclosure then use it like an external hard drive?

Just remember you may need to remove windows from that 2tb drive so it doesn't attempt to dual boot to it if it has windows on it.

Something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LS5NFQ2/ref=s9_acsd_top_hd_bw_bAqpP1_c_x_4_w?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-3&pf_rd_r=EZ34TRQ695YCE82FYD42&pf_rd_r=EZ34TRQ695YCE82FYD42&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=4f3a3e36-c598-581a-bdda-6635ea8feafa&pf_rd_p=4f3a3e36-c598-581a-bdda-6635ea8feafa&pf_rd_i=160354011

 

[killer147896325]

I want you to know I appreciate the help more than you can guess. My second question is I know my PC only has usb 2.0s but there is a esata port on the back would that be faster and do they have a docking station that would hook up to that?
Also how would I go about transfer my windows/ deltering it from the old drive( I'm very new to pc upgrading I'm trying to learn)

 

[androbourne]

Yes esata enclosure would do better then. You can get something like this that can do both usb and esata.

https://www.amazon.com/Rosewill-Enclosure-External-Aluminum-function/dp/B005KGNXTE/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1544734158&sr=8-4&keywords=esata+external+drive+enclosure

Are you trying to clone your system or do you have install cds and cd keys to do a fresh install with? I would recommend you just remove the old 2tb drive and install the new SSD then do a fresh install of Windows on the SSD.

What version of Windows are you running?

 

[killer147896325]

I have an old version of Windows 7 with no key and no CD but I do have a flash drive I could put windows 10 on it but idk if it would run better with 10 or without

 

[killer147896325]

I'm running an old windows 7 verison. But I'm I could go to 10 but I'm a bit frightful of if it would run better or worse

 

[androbourne]

Without a valid Windows 7 key I cant really help you here. You could try to upgrade to Windows 10 and if it activates then you could tie it to your Windows account and make an iso with Windows Media Creation Tool, burn the ISO to usb and then swap out your old HHD with the SSD and reinstall Windows, then when you log in with your Windows account, it should activate.