[SOLVED] Will a PC refresh allow me to pick which drive windows boots from?

[Xyzen]

I just bought a Evo 970 500gb and I want my windows to boot from that will a refresh work?

 

[USAFRet]

No.
The "Refresh" within the OS will simply redo it on the original drive.

Moving to a new drive means either a clone operation from old to new, or a clean install on the new drive.

What size/make/model is the old drive, and how much space is consumed on it?

 

[Xyzen]

No.
The "Refresh" within the OS will simply redo it on the original drive.

Moving to a new drive means either a clone operation from old to new, or a clean install on the new drive.

What size/make/model is the old drive, and how much space is consumed on it?

It's a 1TB WD Blue with around 450gb used.

 

[USAFRet]

It's a 1TB WD Blue with around 450gb used.

At 450GB used, that is a no go for a direct migration.
That actual used space needs to be below 400GB for this to work.

 

[USAFRet]

If/when you can delete or uninstall enough to get under 400GB, migrate from the old to the new.

Since thisis a Samsung target drive, use the Samsung Data Migration, with these steps:
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Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
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