Migrating Windows from Mechanical HDD to SDD

[CSheldon]

Not really sure on how to migrate my windows over to my new SSD which will be here by the end of the week, starting the thread now, so i have a pretty good idea on how to do it!

 

[maniac]

i've never been a fan of migration tbh. personally i would backup the games and important documents and do a clean install on the ssd.

 

[SavageCupcake]

i've never been a fan of migration tbh. personally i would backup the games and important documents and do a clean install on the ssd.

This. Clean install is far better. Keeps everything clean and free of old programs etc that you don't need. Plus it's simpler.

 

[Bartacus]

This. Clean install is far better. Keeps everything clean and free of old programs etc that you don't need. Plus it's simpler.

I agree. But if the OP needs to migrate, I'd recommend using a prog like Acronis TrueImage Home to back up the OS to either a USB stick or blank DVDs, and do an image restore from that onto the new disk. I did that when I migrated from a single HDD to a RAID0 boot array, and it worked flawlessly. TrueImage is a very nice little program, and came free with my ADATA SSDs. Highly recommended. :beerchug:

 

[CSheldon]

Well the only thing on my mechanical is just games anyway, nothing too interesting..but is there a way i can just delete the OS of the Mechanical and just put a fresh setup on the SSD?

 

[maniac]

so if you don't need anything from the hdd, put in your windows cd and when prompted to choose the drive to install window to, click on the hdd, advanced options and format it to have a clean slate.

Then power off the system (do not install windows yet), unplug the hdd (for some apparent reason with the hdd plugged in, the os puts the bootmgr on it and without it cannot boot), then switch it back on and get into bios and set it to ahci not ide.

Now install windows normally and once the installation is complete you can re-plug the hdd and voila

 

[CSheldon]

So basically..just wipe clean my HDD, and re-install everything again ;(, takeszzzzzz ages. lol

I will try back up some games which i got skyrim,Tombraider, etc. (cough)

 

[vorticalbox]

if windows was installed on IDE mode and then you try boot on ACHI it fails, at least it did on my motherboard.

you can always connect your previous drive after the fresh install to copy files over.

 

[CSheldon]

Alright, so basically..wipe my old drive clean? Disconnect, put bios into ACHI mode instead of IDE, then install a new OS on my SDD and jobs a good 'en?

 

[maniac]

or you can leave the hdd as is and just unplug it, then when you connect it later after installing the new os you can copy the files you need to the ssd

 

[vorticalbox]

Alright, so basically..wipe my old drive clean? Disconnect, put bios into ACHI mode instead of IDE, then install a new OS on my SDD and jobs a good 'en?

i wouldn't wipe your old drive until you know you've got everything you need off it.

or you can leave the hdd as is and just unplug it, then when you connect it later after installing the new os you can copy the files you need to the ssd

yeah thats what i did with my SSD.

 

[CSheldon]

That'll work? Saves me backing up all the files? but how will i acess all the stupid shortcuts and shit..? because obviously it'll want to install them on my SDD?

Like for games and such? Is there some way they just work? or is that what the Bios Mode is for?

 

[vorticalbox]

That'll work? Saves me backing up all the files? but how will i acess all the stupid shortcuts and shit..? because obviously it'll want to install them on my SDD?

Like for games and such? Is there some way they just work? or is that what the Bios Mode is for?

for games you will need to install them again, but music/pictures/files you can just copy after then wipe the drive.

 

[CSheldon]

Install on my Mechanical or SDD?

 

[vorticalbox]

Install on my Mechanical or SDD?

you can install anything where you want. i would save SSD for OS/programs and your favorite games and install the rest on the mechanical.

 

[CSheldon]

So..that means i'd just have to re-install them? nothing else?

 

[Bartacus]

Are your games in Steam by any chance? If so, you could do a backup within Steam, and re-install the Steam client on the SSD and do a restore from within the new Steam client.

 

[CSheldon]

Nah..biggest majority are just stand alone games

 

[Bartacus]

In that case, be sure to locate your saved games and back them up, if needed.

 

[CSheldon]

Alrite. I'll just..unplug my HDD. and install my OS on SDD then..go from there, see whats what, and what i need to do, if i get stuck, i got you guys on OC3D