Moving windows to SSD

[LucasGranato]

I currently have a almost full 1T HDD and im going to buy ans SSD soon.

I´ve been watching some stuff on hot to transfer your OS to an SSD but all of them had empty HDDs winth only windows installed, they where basically cloning everytinhg in the HDD to the SSD, meaning i wouldnt be able to use the same method.

How can i transfer my OS to my SSD still keeping all my stuff in the HDD intact ?

[DailyProcrastinator]

Cloning would work, everything remains on your HDD as if it did before but your SSD has an exact replication of all the data. 

[LucasGranato]

Is it possible to only clone the OS? All the videos ive seen have cloned the entire HDD to the SSD.

My HDD being full would mean that the SSD would not have space (unless i can clone just the OS).

[LucasGranato]

5 minutes ago, JM21 said:

Cloning would work, everything remains on your HDD as if it did before but your SSD has an exact replication of all the data. 

Is it possible to only clone the OS? All the videos ive seen have cloned the entire HDD to the SSD.

My HDD being full would mean that the SSD would not have space (unless i can clone just the OS).

[GoodBytes]

3 minutes ago, LucasGranato said:

Is it possible to only clone the OS? All the videos ive seen have cloned the entire HDD to the SSD.

My HDD being full would mean that the SSD would not have space (unless i can clone just the OS).

No. You can't pick and choose. Cloning means every bit (even left over deleted old data bits) will be transferred from your HDD to your SSD.

Assuming you could, you'll be missing your programs/games in any case.

 

If you don't want to transfer everything, then you need to clean install Windows on your SSD (my recommendation for simplicity sakes, is to unplug your HDD, put your new SSD, and install Windows, and once everything is up and running (Windows activated, updated, all drivers found/installed, all works fine), then connect your HDD to the next availible SATA connector. Then you can transfer what you want from your HDD to your SSD (Document, Pictures, Saved Games, downloaded games, etc.), then you can install your programs. Note: For Steam, if you decide transfer your games from your HDD to your SSD, then install Steam, you may notice that Steam library still notes that the games are missing, that is fine, the moment you Downloads/start the game, it will detect the already downloaded files, see if everything is updated, download/install anything missing on your system to run the game, and then start the game, it will not actually re-download the entire game (unless there has been an update that was released, since last played, then it will download that).

 

[DailyProcrastinator]

41 minutes ago, LucasGranato said:

Is it possible to only clone the OS? All the videos ive seen have cloned the entire HDD to the SSD.

My HDD being full would mean that the SSD would not have space (unless i can clone just the OS).

Exactly as @GoodBytes said

[rares495]

I've done both software cloning using Acronis/Samsung and hardware cloning(through an AXAGON HDD rack) at work and there are always corrupted files and windows errors. Not worth the hassle for an operating system that installs in 5 minutes IMHO.

[homeap5]

1 hour ago, rares495 said:

I've done both software cloning using Acronis/Samsung and hardware cloning(through an AXAGON HDD rack) at work and there are always corrupted files and windows errors. Not worth the hassle for an operating system that installs in 5 minutes IMHO.

You're doing it wrong, that's why. I made dozens of clones and it always works. But of course I'm using different soft (Macrium Reflect) and NEVER clone working system that is in use during clone. And it's never few minutes. For someone who uses his system for long time, it's days off installing all programs, restoring settings, setup everything again, restoring saves, configs etc. Only for people who don't use their computers so much (like one browser and few games) it's "5 minutes" (more in fact, but that is not important). And for sure guy who asks for cloning is not a person who use one program (I assume if someone asks for cloning is not someone who don't want to loose wallpaper only).

 

OP: you can do it in two steps. First clone your hdd to another hdd. Then remove files that you don't need and clone that second hdd to your new SSD.

[GoodBytes]

2 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

You're doing it wrong, that's why. I made dozens of clones and it always works. But of course I'm using different soft (Macrium Reflect) and NEVER clone working system that is in use during clone.

You are doing an image, not a clone. That is why it works.

[homeap5]

4 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

You are doing an image, not a clone. That is why it works.

Yes, but effect is the same - system is cloned to another drive. And with Macrium Reflect it's the same, it's not just mindless sector clone software. That is why you can clone bigger disk to smaller one (if you have enough empty space).