Add SSD boot drive to 2 HDD system (with windows on HDD)

[Lennart van de Merwe]

So I want to upgrade my dad's pc by adding an SSD boot drive; He's currently using a harddrive to boot into windows and that makes his PC even slower then it already is (i3 530; 8GB gt 730 2gb). So I want to add an SSD to boot from, my plan is to install the SSD in the systeem, boot from a windows install USB drive and install windows on the SSD and boot from it, but my question is:
Is this even possible? -I assume yes-
and
How can I delete the old windows 10 on the HDD without damaging files? -I hope the windows installer can do this for me but I am not sure-

 

Pls help.

[Lurick]

The best way is to unplug the HDDs, install windows on the SSD and get it up and working. Then shutdown the system, plug in the two HDDs and force the system to boot from the SSD. Copy all files that aren't windows files off the one HDD with Windows on it to the other drive or the SSD. Format the HDD that had windows on it and then move things back as needed.

[Lennart van de Merwe]

Just now, Lurick said:

The best way is to unplug the HDDs, install windows on the SSD and get it up and working. Then shutdown the system, plug in the two HDDs and force the system to boot from the SSD. Copy all files that aren't windows files off the one HDD with Windows on it to the other drive or the SSD. Format the HDD that had windows on it and then move things back as needed.

That won't work because the two HDD's are both almost completely full (2x 500gb) and I am planning on buying a 40 to 120 gb ssd only for budget reasons.

[Lurick]

5 minutes ago, Lennart van de Merwe said:

That won't work because the two HDD's are both almost completely full (2x 500gb) and I am planning on buying a 40 to 120 gb ssd only for budget reasons.

Then there isn't much you can do unless you have space on your rig or an external drive where you can transfer the files for a brief period of time then you could do it that way.

[Lennart van de Merwe]

Just now, Lurick said:

Then there isn't much you can do unless you have space on your rig or an external drive where you can transfer the files for a brief period of time then you could do it that way.

Okay thank you, I'll try to use my own rig and an external drive.

[Lurick]

1 minute ago, Lennart van de Merwe said:

Okay thank you, I'll try to use my own rig and an external drive.

Yah, it won't be long term, just enough to get the files off so you can wipe the drive and move everything back so there isn't any windows stuff left on it  

[Qyoon]

Even if windows is installed on another HDD you can still use it as you want.

Just certain folders won't be available but you can read and write on it.

I do that all the time with my hotswap bays.

 

So you can basicly install windows on the SSD.

And format the drive later down the road.

 

Just be sure you uninstall programms first.

Because the new windows install won't be able to see them.

 

[Lennart van de Merwe]

1 minute ago, Atsura said:

Even if windows is installed on another HDD you can still use it as you want.

Just certain folders won't be available but you can read and write on it.

I do that all the time with my hotswap bays.

 

So you can basicly install windows on the SSD.

And format the drive later down the road.

 

Just be sure you uninstall programms first.

Because the new windows install won't be able to see them.

 

But by uninstalling you'll effectively delete all of the files on the drive so... That would mean I'd have to do some serious storage cleaning on that PC.

[Qyoon]

You are not forced to but Lurick's advice is the clean way to do it.

The other one still works but is not as clean and takes more time.

 

[Technomancer__]

You can use cloning software to clone the HDD to the ssd

That was what I did when my mom got an ssd.