Windows 10: How can I keep OS on the SSD and everything else on the HDD including future installs,...

currently have a laptop with windows installed on the C drive which is the SSD but everything else also installs onto the SSD. Id much rather have only the OS installed on the SSD and everything else to be on the D drive HDD. at the minute everything automatically saves/installs on the user folder which is in the C drive. Is it possible to move user files to the D drive or do i need to reinstall windows and configure to my preference or what would be the best way to go about having the HDD for storage and the SSD for the OS and occasionally other Apps that I want to run smoother. iv tried changing the default download/install location through settings and it made no difference. downloads still went to the downloads folder in the C drive.

:)

 

OS on new SSD, keep existing data on HDD and use as external drive

Hi,

use steps you suggested, there should be no problem.

Just replace HDD with SSD first then run installation. Do not forget to remove Windows files from HDD after the end of a process.

 

Installing OS on SSD that's already on a HDD

Hi there,

I heard that copying/moving OS from drive to drive isn't good. I just bought a SSD for my Freshly build PC which has Windows 10 Home installed on HDD, Now I'm willing to Install Windows on SSD for great performance.

I have some questions:

1) How do I install OS on SSD whiles it's still active on HDD?

2) How to install it? (I have Windows 10 USB drive)

3) How to enable SSD in UEFI BIOS?

4) Will I lose my data on partitions of HDD?

5) Will 120 GB space of my SSD cause any problem while updating Windows?

6) After install, Would I need to contact MSFT for that 'loong' code to activate Windows? (I had to contact for that code when I reinstalled Windows on my PC from My Laptop!)

And a off-topic question:

How to rename (Re letter) a Partition? I've Optical drive names 'D' and it's between my 'C' and 'E' drive partition.

 

Transfer of licenced OS from HDD to SSD

I have recently purchased an SSD. Originally windows was installed in HDD. Now I want to transfer the OS from HDD to SSD. Will I lose my LICENSED version of windows, if I do this? And it is mentioned in settings that my windows is activated with the help
of digital license key. Where to find that digital license and how to transfer OS from HDD to SSD?