How to best move OS and files from old drive to new drive

[keegan_M_P]

I just got a new ssd and I am trying to figure out how to move my os and files on the old drive to the new drive and eventually clearing off the old drive. Any help would be great thanks. 

[tkitch]

best answer:

 

Plug in the new SSD, and unplug the old drive.

 

Install windows on the SSD and configure it to fully update / run / etc.

 

Reconnect the old drive and copy over any files you want from it.

 

Don't try to move the old drive to the new one, it's a bad call in general.

[emosun]

use macrium reflect

or yeah just reinstall windows.

[Master Disaster]

Cloning, check Macrium Reflect however. important aside, you won't be able to do a clone if the current drive contains more data than the total size of the SSD.

[Master Disaster]

1 minute ago, tkitch said:

best answer:

 

Plug in the new SSD, and unplug the old drive.

 

Install windows on the SSD and configure it to fully update / run / etc.

 

Reconnect the old drive and copy over any files you want from it.

 

Don't try to move the old drive to the new one, it's a bad call in general.

Huh? Cloning is perfectly fine and works in almost every case. There are cases where moving your files wouldn't work, for example if you have software installed and don't have the key/media to reinstall it.

[Dedayog]

Best way... reinstall Windows and then move files normally.

 

2nd best way (and very close behind)... clone the drive with various software.  Depending on what drives you have, the manufacturer may have software.  If not, Macrium Reflect does a great job.

[emosun]

6 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Cloning is perfectly fine and works in almost every case.

ehhhh , sometimes clones just don't work right. They are SUPPOSED to work fine but i've seen some weird issues sometimes when cloning that made me wonder why I didnt just do a fresh install.

[keegan_M_P]

50 minutes ago, tkitch said:

best answer:

 

Plug in the new SSD, and unplug the old drive.

 

Install windows on the SSD and configure it to fully update / run / etc.

 

Reconnect the old drive and copy over any files you want from it.

 

Don't try to move the old drive to the new one, it's a bad call in general.

if im trying to use the old drive as a boot drive on another computer should i buy a new windows key and use that as the fresh install on the new drive then copy the files over 

 

[Dedayog]

1 minute ago, keegan_M_P said:

if im trying to use the old drive as a boot drive on another computer should i buy a new windows key and use that as the fresh install on the new drive then copy the files over 

 

Yes, keep each machine unique and separate with their Windows.

[keegan_M_P]

7 minutes ago, Dedayog said:

Yes, keep each machine unique and separate with their Windows.

thanks