Moving windows to an SSD

[hawthorne]

Hello, 

 

My mate is planning on getting an SSD because currently he has all of his files on one 1tb hard drive. He doesn't have a windows disk or a copy of windows on a USB stick.  His windows key is also an OEM key not sure what this mean but I dont think you can use them to active windows in the same way. 

 

What is the easiest way of transferring windows to the SSD while leaving all of his files and games on his current hard drive.  

 

Any suggestions are appreciated. 

 

Thanks 

 

David 

[Master Disaster]

Question, do you want to clone his original drive fully (so you end up with 2 copies) or do you want Windows only on the SSD & files/games on the second drive? 

[Skiiwee29]

You can try, but honestly the best is to install fresh. if its windows 10 he can go HERE and download a tool to create the USB install drive. Otherwise, if hes dead set on it, you can download Macrium Reflect which is a free disk cloning software. 

[Corrupt_Liberty]

What version of windows?

[bughtoo]

i have related question:

using the Macrium reflect

 

Can i clone windows with all the files from my 480gb SSD to my 476GB HDD? I want to use the SSD on other PC and the pc doesnt need SSD that it is currently on.

[hawthorne]

3 minutes ago, legacy99 said:

You can try, but honestly the best is to install fresh. if its windows 10 he can go HERE and download a tool to create the USB install drive. Otherwise, if hes dead set on it, you can download Macrium Reflect which is a free disk cloning software. 

He is running windows windows 7 can you link me to the usb tool, I will look into it, what sort of size usb stick is he going to need.

3 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

Question, do you want to clone his original drive fully (so you end up with 2 copies) or do you want Windows only on the SSD & files/games on the second drive? 

No, the final result needs to be os and programmes on the SSD and games and files on the hard drive, we dont mind reinstall programmes and games if need be. 

 

 

[Master Disaster]

Just now, hawthorne said:

He is running windows windows 7 can you link me to the usb tool, I will look into it, what sort of size usb stick is he going to need.

 

No, the final result needs to be os and programmes on the SSD and games and files on the hard drive, we dont mind reinstall programmes and games if need be. 

 

 

Remove the HDD, plug in the SSD. 

Install Windows 7 OEM (you can't get it from the internet easily) 

Reconnect HDD

Format HDD

Reinstall stuff

Profit

[hawthorne]

6 minutes ago, Corrupt_Liberty said:

What version of windows?

Windows 7, he way toying with the idea of purchasing windows 10

[hawthorne]

Just now, Master Disaster said:

Which Windows version? 

Windows 7 64 bit, home premium. 

[Corrupt_Liberty]

Just now, hawthorne said:

He is running windows windows 7 can you link me to the usb tool, I will look into it, what sort of size usb stick is he going to need.

No, the final result needs to be os and programmes on the SSD and games and files on the hard drive, we dont mind reinstall programmes and games if need be. 

 

 

The USB creation tool only works for Windows 10.  You can download a Windows 7 ISO though.  He should be able to activate it with his OEM key that is on the sticker.  There really is no easy way to separate the files on his HDD.  

[Master Disaster]

2 minutes ago, hawthorne said:

Windows 7 64 bit, home premium. 

Remove the HDD, plug in the SSD. 

Install Windows 7 OEM (you can get it from the internet easily) 

Reconnect HDD

Format HDD

Reinstall stuff

Profit

 

It will take a few hours but it's really the only way to do it properly. I'll pm you a link to a Win 7 iso. 

[Corrupt_Liberty]

1 minute ago, hawthorne said:

Windows 7, he way toying with the idea of purchasing windows 10

He can still upgrade for free.  The free upgrade is available for people who use "assistive technology".  But they don't actually check to see if you use any of them.

 

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/accessibility/windows10upgrade

[hawthorne]

1 minute ago, Corrupt_Liberty said:

The USB creation tool only works for Windows 10.  You can download a Windows 7 ISO though.  He should be able to activate it with his OEM key that is on the sticker.  There really is no easy way to separate the files on his HDD.  

Is there an easy way of removing the os from the hard drive to free up some space. 

[hawthorne]

Just now, Master Disaster said:

Remove the HDD, plug in the SSD. 

Install Windows 7 OEM (you can get it from the internet easily) 

Reconnect HDD

Format HDD

Reinstall stuff

Profit

 

It will take a few hours but it's really the only way to do it properly. I'll pm you a link to a Win 7 iso. 

All of his personal files are on the hard drive, is there an easy way of removing the windows files??

[Master Disaster]

Just now, hawthorne said:

All of his personal files are on the hard drive, is there an easy way of removing the windows files??

It's easier to remove his personal files, format then put them back but you can always simply delete anything you don't want from the drive. 

 

As for the iso, get this tool... 

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

[Corrupt_Liberty]

1 minute ago, hawthorne said:

All of his personal files are on the hard drive, is there an easy way of removing the windows files??

The easiest thing to do would be to back up what he needs on USB or blank DVD's.  DO the Windows 10 Upgrade on his current HDD.  After you've verified that it has Activated, do a fresh install on the SSD.  Then he can wipe the old HDD and copy all his files back to it from backup.

[hawthorne]

8 minutes ago, Corrupt_Liberty said:

The easiest thing to do would be to back up what he needs on USB or blank DVD's.  DO the Windows 10 Upgrade on his current HDD.  After you've verified that it has Activated, do a fresh install on the SSD.  Then he can wipe the old HDD and copy all his files back to it from backup.

 

9 minutes ago, Master Disaster said:

It's easier to remove his personal files, format then put them back but you can always simply delete anything you don't want from the drive. 

 

As for the iso, get this tool... 

https://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft/67-microsoft-windows-iso-download-tool

Turns out he has barely any personal files so there should be no problem putting them onto a usb stick and then wiping the hard drive. Thanks for all the help! Will mark as solved in a bit. 

[Ingrid_W]

If he installed programs and system together, he can try clone system to SSD using cloning software. If he wants only OS on SSD, he can try "migrate OS to SSD" using partitioning software. Some partition manager do have this feature like AOMEI Partition Assistant.

After successfully migration or cloning, format C drive under Windows PE mode. He may turn to aforementioned tool to create a bootable USB (PE mode) and then delete C drive there.