[SOLVED] Switch PC from HDD to SSD

[nicholasowens699]

Hello,

So recently I got a Samsung 860 EVO with 1tb, currently, my PC's main drive is a 1tb HDD. What I'm wanting to do is switch the main drive from the HDD to the SSD. With this, I want the SSD as the main drive with the OS and all my programs and the HDD just as extra storage. How could I do this? I also want to just start with a clean install of windows and put important folders on a USB drive.

 

[alexoiu]

Hi, Power off, disconnect the HDD, connect the SSD, power on, install Windows on the SSD, shut down, reconnect the HDD, power on, go to BIOS, make sure that the SSD is the 1st boot device.

 

[carltonje]

use easeus or something equivalent to clone your ssd from hdd and after its up and you make sure running good then reformat hdd for storage.

 

[USAFRet]

To clone to the new SSD:

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.
-----------------------------

 

[USAFRet]

But if you want to start from a complete blank slate on the SSD:
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

 

[carltonje]

look at this as well. if you want a clean install for cleaning up all the fractured files they will not be copied will be a clean file only clone.