Using SSD as boot drive.

[swankyseagull]

Hello, I just got a Samsung 840 Evo 120GB for Chirstmas, and I am trying to make it my boot drive. Whenver I go to my BIOS (my mobo is a GIGABYTE GA-Z87X-D3H) I see options to set boot priorities, but there is no Hard Drive BBS Priorities option like there is in the manual. Yes, I have updated the BIOS.

I've also tried Samsung's Migration Data software which doesn't seem to work for me (it doesn't allow me to choose all the files which I don't want to migrate, such as in my Programs C: files).

I have also tried a clean install of Windows on my new SSD (I am using Windows 8.1), but that hasn't seemed to fix anything.

I would appreciate any advice at this point, but I would like to avoid purchasing any unnecessary software such as Paragon.

Thanks in advance.

 

[clutchc]

If you did a clean install of Windows, it had to have made the SSD the boot drive. ???

 

[swankyseagull]

If you did a clean install of Windows, it had to have made the SSD the boot drive. ???

Isn't a clean install on a drive installing it as if it is a new computer? All I know is that I installed Windows separately on the SSD. I guess I need a run-down on what a clean install actually is.

 

[clutchc]

Do this. Unplug the SATA cable from the hard drive. Then install Win again.
Sometimes if you leave a previous drive connected that used to be a boot drive, Win will install the boot sector to that drive drive instead.
Then when you have Win up and running, you can shut down and plug the SATA cable back in.

 

[swankyseagull]

Do this. Unplug the SATA cable from the hard drive. Then install Win again.
Sometimes if you leave a previous drive connected that used to be a boot drive, Win will install the boot sector to that drive drive instead.
Then when you have Win up and running, you can shut down and plug the SATA cable back in.

Ok so I tried installing Windows on the SSD with the HDD unplugged entirely (power and SATA). Basically, it seems that there's another Windows on the SSD now. Are you saying leave the power for the HDD plugged in but keep the SATA cable still plugged in?

Since there's a fresh copy of Windows on the SSD now, would that actually help?

 

[clutchc]

You're fine. Just tell the install pgm to install over the existing copy of windows.
Or follow this guide: http://www.overclock.net/t/1240779/seans-windows-8-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds

 

[swankyseagull]

You're fine. Just tell the install pgm to install over the existing copy of windows.
Or follow this guide: http://www.overclock.net/t/1240779/seans-windows-8-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds

Ok, I think I can take it from here. Before I go on, do I need to back up my data on my HDD? It sounds like all the stuff you're suggesting is only SSD related, which obviously has nothing on it but Windows. I just want to make sure though, I've got about 300GB of games and mods on my HDD that I'd rather not lose haha.

 

[swankyseagull]

You're fine. Just tell the install pgm to install over the existing copy of windows.
Or follow this guide: http://www.overclock.net/t/1240779/seans-windows-8-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds

Ok, so I reinstalled Windows on the SSD and nothing seems to have changed, it is still a separate Windows from the HDD copy

 

[clutchc]

It appears that the HDD has an old Win installation as well as your data and games. It would be expected to still contain Win if it used to be the boot drive. Not sure what your problem is. Can you boot to Windows with the HDD disconnected? If so, all is good.