Help with adding an ssd

[Leej065]

Ok this may seem stupid but I've just bought an ssd and would like to put Windows on it will I have to completely wipe my  Hdd to be able to put Windows on the ssd?

[crysilis]

Just now, Leej065 said:

Ok this may seem stupid but I've just bought an ssd and would like to put Windows on it will I have to completely wipe my  Hdd to be able to put Windows on the ssd?

you could clone it

[Enderman]

1) unplug HDD

2) plug in SSD

3) install windows http://www.howtogeek.com/224342/how-to-clean-install-windows-10/

4) plug in HDD (make sure you DO NOT boot into the HDD, you want to boot into SSD, this can be set in the UEFI boot priorities)

5) if possible, move your files to the SSD, format the HDD, then move the files back

6) if not, then try to delete the windows files from the HDD leaving just your user files like documents and videos and stuff

7) reinstall your programs

[Zero_Hour]

I'm not a fan of cloning drives, I would honestly just create backups of anything important such as photos and docs and then do a clean install however that is up to your discretion.

[DragonTamer1]

42 minutes ago, lopj245 said:

I'm not a fan of cloning drives, I would honestly just create backups of anything important such as photos and docs and then do a clean install however that is up to your discretion.

I would second this. Even if you don't plan on wiping it I would make backups just in case.

 

If you are installing to the SSD, you can remove your HDD and have the boot priority to your Windows boot device. Install the OS on the SSD (you could possibly do it while it's still installed, just look for the drive that matches your SSD capacity). Make sure in your BIOS you have the boot priority set to the SSD and not the HDD.