Moving Windows

[tS_kStin]

So I have a secondary rig that I built and do not use much and I put a faster SSD in it so I was wandering if I could replace all the files on that SSD with the ones on my main. That includes OS and programs. Then I would put the 840 from the secondary into my main and format the OCZ that is in my main now when I put it in the secondary. Does this work?

[GoodBytes]

If I understand you well...

- You have 2 computers, your main one, and some old one.

- Your old one was upgraded with an SSD already, and you want to put it on your new main one.

- You new main one, has an HDD, and Windows, programs and files on it already

- You want to duplicated everything on the HDD, on the SSD, effectively deleting all traces of old data on the SSD, so that you can, simply insert it on main computer, as a main drive, and essentially act like you always had an SSD, and your old computer can have the HDD, which you'll either throw away, or re-install Windows and give it to someone or have another use for it, in some fashion.

 

If so. Yes you can. It's called disk cloning. You'll be clowning the HDD content to your SSD. They are a variety of software out there, that does this for you.

 

However it must be noted that:

 -> The content of your HDD must be BELLOW the max size of your SSD. You can't say "just Windows and programs.. ignore the rest".. it will take EVERYTHING, and move it to the SSD. So your SSD needs to be big enough, or you need to do some big cleaning.

 

Personally, I never done it, as doing all this prep work, with chances that it fails, is not worth it. I find it faster to simply clean install. Assuming you have a fast USB flash drive, and Windows ISO already, within minute you can put the ISO on the USB flash drive and make it bootable (http://wudt.codeplex.com/releases/view/37074), and install Windows in under 7min, then quickly install my drivers and programs. As for Steam games, I just install Steam first, then I copy the entire Steam folder with the games from the HDD to the SSD, assuming it will fit. Else, no choice, keep it on the HDD. Oh and I transfer AppData folder from the HDD to the SSD, replacing all files. This will transfer all my programs configuration over to my new install. So now, all my program will be configured exactly how it was, including bookmarks, logged in session in a web site and so on.

[tS_kStin]

If I understand you well...

- You have 2 computers, your main one, and some old one.

- Your old one was upgraded with an SSD already, and you want to put it on your new main one.

- You new main one, has an HDD, and Windows, programs and files on it already

- You want to duplicated everything on the HDD, on the SSD, effectively deleting all traces of old data on the SSD, so that you can, simply insert it on main computer, as a main drive, and essentially act like you always had an SSD, and your old computer can have the HDD, which you'll either throw away, or re-install Windows and give it to someone or have another use for it, in some fashion.

 

If so. Yes you can. It's called disk cloning. You'll be clowning the HDD content to your SSD. They are a variety of software out there, that does this for you.

 

However it must be noted that:

 -> The content of your HDD must be BELLOW the max size of your SSD. You can't say "just Windows and programs.. ignore the rest".. it will take EVERYTHING, and move it to the SSD. So your SSD needs to be big enough, or you need to do some big cleaning.

 

Personally, I never done it, as doing all this prep work, with chances that it fails, is not worth it. I find it faster to simply clean install. Assuming you have a fast USB flash drive, and Windows ISO already, within minute you can put the ISO on the USB flash drive and make it bootable (http://wudt.codeplex.com/releases/view/37074), and install Windows in under 7min, then quickly install my drivers and programs. As for Steam games, I just install Steam first, then I copy the entire Steam folder with the games from the HDD to the SSD, assuming it will fit. Else, no choice, keep it on the HDD. Oh and I transfer AppData folder from the HDD to the SSD, replacing all files. This will transfer all my programs configuration over to my new install. So now, all my program will be configured exactly how it was, including bookmarks, logged in session in a web site and so on.

Well I did it and the 2 SSDs were the same size so no problem there. I would have done a fresh install but some programs idk where the install disks went. But anyways it is working now and I just have to do a couple things.

[GoodBytes]

Very good, thanks for keeping us updated