Question about adding an SSD

[Austin42]

Okay so I will try and explain my situation as best I can, basically I currently have a PC with one 500gb hard drive and another 2TB hard drive, the 500gb drive has Windows 7 and most of my standard applications, and my 2TB drive has my steam library, itunes library and photos. What I want to do is add an SSD with Windows 10 to replace Windows 7, however I do not want to lose any of my data on either of my current hard drives. I would like to know the most efficient and safe way of doing this so that when I have the SSD, Windows 10 will boot, Windows 7 will be obsolete , but all of my files such as steam games, photos and applications are still recognized in the new operating system. Sorry if this is very common to understand but I just need a bit of help,  Thank You.

[IcyLetters]

Im assuming you mean to keep the 500Gb drive and just add the SSD into your system? I'm not the best with drives and storage (Basics mainly). So you need to install Windows 10 on the SSD but before that you have to format the SSD to be able to install anything on it, iirc. I think during installation of Windows it asks for the drive to install the OS. Don't take my word for it.

[TAHIRMIA]

4 minutes ago, Austin42 said:

Okay so I will try and explain my situation as best I can, basically I currently have a PC with one 500gb hard drive and another 2TB hard drive, the 500gb drive has Windows 7 and most of my standard applications, and my 2TB drive has my steam library, itunes library and photos. What I want to do is add an SSD with Windows 10 to replace Windows 7, however I do not want to lose any of my data on either of my current hard drives. I would like to know the most efficient and safe way of doing this so that when I have the SSD, Windows 10 will boot, Windows 7 will be obsolete , but all of my files such as steam games, photos and applications are still recognized in the new operating system. Sorry if this is very common to understand but I just need a bit of help,  Thank You.

If I understand correctly Then upgrade to windows 10 With your CURRENT 500GB HDD then use some cloning software to clone the 500GB HDD to the SSD and install your SSD and everything should work fine.

 

 

 

*I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU LOSE DATA*

[Mira Yurizaki]

Here's what I'd do.

• Update everything to the latest and greatest on the C:\ drive (which means the OS if that's what you wnat)
• After verifying everything's good from the update, power down and install the SSD
• Verify the SSD is more or less working (BIOS sees it, Windows sees it)
• Clone the HDD on to the SSD using some clone tool.
• Remove the SATA cables from everything but the SSD
• Verify the system boots up and everything more or less works fine with the SSD
• Plug everything back in and configure BIOS to boot from the SSD first or take out the old system HDD and put it on an external drive/dock to muck with it.

[Cracklingice]

What Tahirmia said.  A clean install of windows 10 will mean you need to reinstall all the software so upgrade is your best path based on your desire not to have to reinstall.  Back up the 500gb hard drive before doing anything and then upgrade the 500gb hard drive to windows 10.  Then use disk cloning software to clone the 500gb hard drive to the ssd.

[Cracklingice]

Also - as far as the backup - you can use the software cloning tool to create an image file of the 500gb on the 2tb assuming you have enough free space.  *Be certain to create a disk image and not disk clone or it will erase the 2tb*  You can also use any old hard drive you have around that is large enough to hold the image file (basically the used portion of the 500gb).  I used clonezilla when I did my backup - but - even though this software does not create the free space in the drive as part of the image, you cannot make an image of the 500gb with any amount of free space and put it on a SSD smaller than the hdd with it.  Some software will allow you to clone a drive to a smaller drive if the used space is less than the destination - but I haven't found a free solution to do this yet.
Typing all this makes me remember it's been more than a month since I did my last backup and I need to get hot on making a new one.

[Austin42]

Thank you all for the very insightful replies, really do appreciate it!!!