Hey,my parts are coming today and i ordered a SSD instead of HDD however i'm gonna use the HDD of my laptop but the problem is that on my laptop's HDD there is an installed windows . And i'm wondering what would happen when i put the HDD and the SSD in the same time . Or if i first put the SSD for the first boot and install the windows on it and put the HDD after that but what's going to happen ? There will be 2 devices with installed windows on them ... if someone can clear this mess for me i would appreciate . Or Can i erase the HDD before putting it on the new computer ?
What will happen ?
- Thread starter mamomi12
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Boogieman_WD
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Hey there, mamomi12!
Basically when you're installing Windows, you should always have only one drive connected to your computer (the one you are installing Windows to). This is necessary, because sometimes some of the system files might be written on one of the secondary drives and thus create future problems with your OS (operating system). So go ahead and connect the SSD and install Windows. When you've completed the installation process and everything seems to be working fine, turn off the computer and connect the HDD. It doesn't matter that it has another Windows installation, as long as you're booting from the SSD, you should be able to boot to Windows as usual. Once you've done that, just backup any data which you might have on it and you wish to preserve and go ahead and reformat it so that you can use it as a secondary storage drive without any trace of the old files left on it.
edit: I forgot to mention - set your SATA mode from your BIOS/UEFI to AHCI before you start the Windows installation process (usually it's AHCI by default for newer motherboards but it might be IDE as well sometimes).
Hope that helps. Please let me know how everything goes.
Boogieman_WD
Basically when you're installing Windows, you should always have only one drive connected to your computer (the one you are installing Windows to). This is necessary, because sometimes some of the system files might be written on one of the secondary drives and thus create future problems with your OS (operating system). So go ahead and connect the SSD and install Windows. When you've completed the installation process and everything seems to be working fine, turn off the computer and connect the HDD. It doesn't matter that it has another Windows installation, as long as you're booting from the SSD, you should be able to boot to Windows as usual. Once you've done that, just backup any data which you might have on it and you wish to preserve and go ahead and reformat it so that you can use it as a secondary storage drive without any trace of the old files left on it.
edit: I forgot to mention - set your SATA mode from your BIOS/UEFI to AHCI before you start the Windows installation process (usually it's AHCI by default for newer motherboards but it might be IDE as well sometimes).
Hope that helps. Please let me know how everything goes.
Boogieman_WD
Gallarian
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When you boot a PC with two or more Operating Systems installed at the same time, the boot order settings in your BIOS will determine which one loads up.
So, if in the boot order you have the SSD (with an OS on it) to boot first, it will ignore the Windows OS installed on anything else.
For you then; if you build your PC and install your brand new empty SSD AND your HDD with Windows installed, the boot order will go through the list and find the HDD with windows on it, and boot from there (even if the SSD is first in the order, as it will obviously not detect any OS on it).
What I suggest you do is:
1) Build your PC and install the SSD ONLY.
2) Boot up the PC with a Windows disc/usb in the disc drive / usb port.
3) Follow the on screen instructions and install Windows onto your SSD
4) Once complete, turn off your PC and install your HDD.
5) Turn on your PC and enter the BIOS
6) Find your Boot Order settings and ensure your SSD comes before your HDD in the order. Save and Exit.
7) Once into Windows, use Disk Manager to format the HDD.
Done
So, if in the boot order you have the SSD (with an OS on it) to boot first, it will ignore the Windows OS installed on anything else.
For you then; if you build your PC and install your brand new empty SSD AND your HDD with Windows installed, the boot order will go through the list and find the HDD with windows on it, and boot from there (even if the SSD is first in the order, as it will obviously not detect any OS on it).
What I suggest you do is:
1) Build your PC and install the SSD ONLY.
2) Boot up the PC with a Windows disc/usb in the disc drive / usb port.
3) Follow the on screen instructions and install Windows onto your SSD
4) Once complete, turn off your PC and install your HDD.
5) Turn on your PC and enter the BIOS
6) Find your Boot Order settings and ensure your SSD comes before your HDD in the order. Save and Exit.
7) Once into Windows, use Disk Manager to format the HDD.
Done
kyzarvs
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...or use the windows partitioning tool during the install and set it up the way you want it from the start?
Disagree with "you should always have only one drive connected to your computer (the on you are installing Windows to)." - that needs a caveat of "if you are unsure about working with partitions" or similar, there's no technical reason to only have one drive during install, it's purely down to the potential for human confusion.
Disagree with "you should always have only one drive connected to your computer (the on you are installing Windows to)." - that needs a caveat of "if you are unsure about working with partitions" or similar, there's no technical reason to only have one drive during install, it's purely down to the potential for human confusion.
Boogieman_WD
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Hi kyzarvs!
You are somewhat right, but not entirely. It's not mandatory to have only one drive connected to your mobo during the Windows installation process and the reason is not because someone might get confused with partitioning or installing Windows on the wrong drive. There are many cases where some of the system files or the boot, system reserved or other partition is written on one of the secondary drives, which might lead to conflicts during OS updates and if (God forbid) the secondary drive fails, the user won't be able to boot to Windows and this is not always repairable. I've seen this often enough to suggest it. After all it's better to be safe than sorry.
Gallarian
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Boogieman_WD :
There are many cases where some of the system files or the boot, system reserved or other partition is written on one of the secondary drives, which might lead to conflicts during OS updates and if (God forbid) the secondary drive fails, the user won't be able to boot to Windows and this is not always repairable. I've seen this often enough to suggest it. After all it's better to be safe than sorry.
+1
Literally spent an hour yesterday with another member trying to sort a problem with his HDDs caused by this exact situation.
kyzarvs
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Boogieman_WD :
Hi kyzarvs!
You are somewhat right, but not entirely. It's not mandatory to have only one drive connected to your mobo during the Windows installation process and the reason is not because someone might get confused with partitioning or installing Windows on the wrong drive. There are many cases where some of the system files or the boot, system reserved or other partition is written on one of the secondary drives, which might lead to conflicts during OS updates and if (God forbid) the secondary drive fails, the user won't be able to boot to Windows and this is not always repairable. I've seen this often enough to suggest it. After all it's better to be safe than sorry.
Hi Boogie 😉
Semantics time (very boring day here)! 😀
Does that ever happen if the user uses the partition tool to dictate locations? ie does Windows say one thing in the partition selection and then actually do the other? If so I (sit) corrected, thanks for letting me know - I've never experienced that in more than a few installations. If not, then it's down to the user taking the defaults, not knowing to partition properly and making sure Windows isn't being a biff - which is what I originally tried to state.
Boogieman_WD
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No worries mate! 😉
Yes, I've seen this happen even by going for the advanced options, selecting available disk space, creating a new partition and everything. You can do that a dozen times and never encounter a similar problem. It's actually pretty rare for the regular user (having in mind s/he doesn't reinstall Windows often for some reason). But even if it's a rare occasion I wouldn't take that chance. Basically, you could check right away in Disk Management if everything is in order, but you'd have to go through the installation process again if it turns out that it had messed up everything.
Note that I have yet to encounter a similar case with Windows 10, so I don't know if this still exists, but I've seen it with the older versions.
On the other hand, your remark is correct as well. It really sounds like we might have misunderstood each other and I apologize if this is the case. It's quite possible (especially for inexperienced users) to select the wrong drive just as you've suggested and install Windows on the HDD instead of the SSD for example if they go with the default options.
Yes, I've seen this happen even by going for the advanced options, selecting available disk space, creating a new partition and everything. You can do that a dozen times and never encounter a similar problem. It's actually pretty rare for the regular user (having in mind s/he doesn't reinstall Windows often for some reason). But even if it's a rare occasion I wouldn't take that chance. Basically, you could check right away in Disk Management if everything is in order, but you'd have to go through the installation process again if it turns out that it had messed up everything.
Note that I have yet to encounter a similar case with Windows 10, so I don't know if this still exists, but I've seen it with the older versions.
On the other hand, your remark is correct as well. It really sounds like we might have misunderstood each other and I apologize if this is the case. It's quite possible (especially for inexperienced users) to select the wrong drive just as you've suggested and install Windows on the HDD instead of the SSD for example if they go with the default options.
Hey,guys i just built my PC (it took 4 hours 😀 ) and everything is working fine except the optical drive . However i will try to install windows from USB . I have one question . When the TV is connected with my GPU via HDMI i can't turn the computer off 😀 i mean press the power button but when i release it the computer boots 😀 i can't explain it to myself . When i took off the HDMI the PC shutted down successfully .
Gallarian
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Couple of interesting issues you got there!
1) If an optical drive does work, there are only really 4 reasonable possibilities:
- Problem with the SATA cable, be it not connected properly or damaged
- Problem with the SATA power cable, as above
- Faulty drive
- Faulty SATA port on the motherboard
As such, my first go to would be to make sure that both the power and data cable are properly connected to the drive, the motherboard and the PSU. After that, Id try replacing said cables. After that, I'd try a different SATA port, and after that, I'd probably start to assume I've got myself a faulty drive.
When you say it doesnt work; what exactly do you mean? As in, it wont power on at all? Or it powers on but its not recognised by your system?
2) What happens when you shut down via the start menu? Same issue?
1) If an optical drive does work, there are only really 4 reasonable possibilities:
- Problem with the SATA cable, be it not connected properly or damaged
- Problem with the SATA power cable, as above
- Faulty drive
- Faulty SATA port on the motherboard
As such, my first go to would be to make sure that both the power and data cable are properly connected to the drive, the motherboard and the PSU. After that, Id try replacing said cables. After that, I'd try a different SATA port, and after that, I'd probably start to assume I've got myself a faulty drive.
When you say it doesnt work; what exactly do you mean? As in, it wont power on at all? Or it powers on but its not recognised by your system?
2) What happens when you shut down via the start menu? Same issue?
Gallarian
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It wont open, but the power LED is on?
If it just wont open, it might be jammed. Turn off your PC (as in totally from the wall off), get a letter opener or something similar and 'jimmy' the drive around a bit. Turn the PC back on and see if you can get it to open.
If it just wont open, it might be jammed. Turn off your PC (as in totally from the wall off), get a letter opener or something similar and 'jimmy' the drive around a bit. Turn the PC back on and see if you can get it to open.
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