Windows 10: How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess?

Discus and support How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess? in Windows 10 Ask Insider to solve the problem; I have 2 drives in my PC that I need to replace. The first is my C: drive (a 148GB SSD), on which Windows 10 is installed. I need to move the OS to a... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Ask Insider' started by /u/robbierocketpants, Feb 7, 2021.

  1. How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess?


    I have 2 drives in my PC that I need to replace. The first is my C: drive (a 148GB SSD), on which Windows 10 is installed. I need to move the OS to a larger SSD (a new 500GB SSD).

    The second drive is a standard 3TB HDD. I have a lot of programs installed on this drive. It's dying so I need to move these installations to a new HDD.

    I really don't want to have to reinstall all these programs, so I was planning on using Aomei Backupper to do a system clone of the OS to the new SSD, and either SteamMover or ApplicationMover to move the programs to the new HDD. The latter apps, in theory, should move the installations correctly whilst maintaining their relationship to the OS.

    My question is, how do I do this without making a mess? It feels like whichever one I do first (transfer the OS or move the HDD installed programs) I'm risking the possibility that the programs won't know where Windows is and break them. Any thoughts on this?

    submitted by /u/robbierocketpants
    [link] [comments]

    :)
     
    /u/robbierocketpants, Feb 7, 2021
    #1

  2. SSD for new Windows, keeping files and programs on HDD

    Alright, I know this was asked a few times before, but each scenario I found was a bit different so I wanted to be safe and present my situation for review.

    I currently have a 1TB HDD with Windows 10 and just obtained a 240GB SSD. I want to install Windows 10 (which I've already obtained an ISO from Microsoft to work with) onto the SSD along with some major games so improve performance. However, I want to keep
    the majority of the files and programs on my HDD. I was given two options to take, both of which I have questions about before I proceed.

    Option 1) Create a backup of my HDD onto an external hard drive, format the HDD, boot from my flash drive containing Windows and install it onto the SSD. Retrieve the files from the backup and move them back onto the HDD.

    In this scenario I'd need to reinstall all the programs I have, because I assume they wouldn't work properly with a new OS installed. If this is correct, should I uninstall the programs before the backup to make things cleaner? During the re-installation,
    I'd be choosing the HDD as the location, but would it be able to launch the program located on another drive easily? This is my first time attempting to use multiple drives.

    Option 2) Leave my HDD as it is, install Windows onto the SSD and ensure my computer boots to the SSD from the BIOS.

    This bypasses the problem of needing to back up and retrieve files. However, would the programs continue to work? This goes back to my previous concern of launching programs located on another drive.

    Thoughts? Suggestions? I haven't messed with this in like eight years so I'm a bit nervous, especially considering how much this gaming rig has cost me so far. Would kill me inside to lose anything or be out of commission fixing it for a week.
     
    VetisAysel, Feb 7, 2021
    #2
  3. SSD for new Windows, keeping files and programs on HDD

    Both options you gave concern re-installing applications.



    Option I suggest: if the space taken up (used) on your current hard disk drive is LESS than the the space you will have available on your new SSD (formatted size), utilize some third party partitioning tool to shrink the partition to minimal size (under
    the size of the SSD) and then use another tool to make an image of that partition or clone that partition onto the SSD and then take out the HDD and see if everything is working properly on your SSD. Once you have determined that, if you want the extra space
    the HDD will grant you, put it back in and format it /use it.
     
    Shenan Stanley, Feb 7, 2021
    #3
  4. How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess?

    Windows 10 on HDD to a new SSD

    I have recently replaced the 500 GB HDD in my laptop running Windows 10 with a 480 GB SSD. The laptop was fully configured with my applications and other settings. The steps I took were as follows:

    1) Shrink the C: drive so it was significantly smaller than the SSD (by at least 100 GB) using the Disk Management tools in W10.

    2) Copy all the files from D: onto an external HDD.

    3) Download Ubuntu Linux and burn on to a DVD.

    4) Download Windows 10 from Download Windows 10 and burn this on to a DVD.

    5) Close down and boot the laptop from the Ubuntu DVD from step 3 (I used a USB DVD rewriter).

    6) Plug in the external HDD.

    7) Open a Linux terminal and cd to the external HDD.

    8) Copy the C: partition to the external HDD using a command such as:

    dd bs=1024k if=/dev/sda1 of=C-drive

    where sda1 is adjusted to point to the correct partition.

    9) Close down and remove the external HDD.

    10) Remove the HDD and replace with the SSD.

    11) Perform a clean install Windows 10 from the DVD from step 4. Deleting all partitions from the SSD if it has had any created on it. When it asked for the product key, there was an option to enter it later. Make sure that the C: drive that is created is
    the same size or bigger than the C: drive was on the HDD.

    12) Repeat steps 5, 6 and 7 then run the command

    dd bs=1024k if=C-drive of=/dev/sda4

    With the clean install of W10 64bit, sda4 was the C: drive on the SSD after the installation.

    13) Reboot from the SSD. The first couple of times my laptop reported errors and went into repair and diagnostic cycles. The last one said something like Reboot or Go to further tools. I cannot remember the exact messages but the meaning was as I have described.
    I rebooted and Windows 10 came up and ran perfectly.

    14) With the SSD working I shrank the C: drive a few GB to make sure the physical space was the same size as the actual filesystem.

    15) Create a D: format it and copy all the saved files on to the new D: from the external HDD.

    Job done. All my applications worked perfectly and the laptop connected to my wireless network without needing the pass phrase re-entering. I had tried several other ways of cloning the HDD to the SSD, but as the SSD was 20 GB smaller this was the only way
    I managed to get it to work.

    I hope this helps others to make the HDD to SSD transition.
     
    Grangeland, Feb 7, 2021
    #4
Thema:

How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess?

Loading...
  1. How to move Windows to new SSD and programs to new HDD without making a mess? - Similar Threads - move SSD programs

  2. How to move OS from HDD to SSD without formatting HDD?

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    How to move OS from HDD to SSD without formatting HDD?: I'm upgrading my laptop with HDD to SSD and will be using HDD as secondary storage from CD drive. I want to move my windows 11 OS to SSD without formatting HDD. Can any one help me ?Imy HDD have 2 partitions C,D drive Where D has only all media files....
  3. How to move OS from HDD to SSD without formatting HDD?

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    How to move OS from HDD to SSD without formatting HDD?: I'm upgrading my laptop with HDD to SSD and will be using HDD as secondary storage from CD drive. I want to move my windows 11 OS to SSD without formatting HDD. Can any one help me ?Imy HDD have 2 partitions C,D drive Where D has only all media files....
  4. Moving to a new SSD

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    Moving to a new SSD: I have a desktop PC with a 930GB hard drive only 220 GB used; it's working ok but for various reasons I'd like to get a SSD drive and move to it. My nearby PC service company says they can easily install the new disk, and upgrade from my current Windows 7 to Windows 10....
  5. Moving to a new SSD

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    Moving to a new SSD: I have a desktop PC with a 930GB hard drive only 220 GB used; it's working ok but for various reasons I'd like to get a SSD drive and move to it. My nearby PC service company says they can easily install the new disk, and upgrade from my current Windows 7 to Windows 10....
  6. Moving OS, Files and Programs to new SSD

    in Windows 10 Ask Insider
    Moving OS, Files and Programs to new SSD: Quick question, I'm on Win 10 home, build 2004. I've got an M.2 SATA III SSD that I'm getting rid of and upgrading to an M.2 NVMe SSD. Fortunately I have two M.2 slots on the motherboard, so I can use a migration tool. But I will be removing the old one and swapping the new...
  7. Moving SSD to new laptop without reinstalling?

    in Windows 10 Updates and Activation
    Moving SSD to new laptop without reinstalling?: Both laptops have valid windows 10 licenses. One is old as balls and had a SSD breath new life into it but it still struggles, and the new one is a decent system held back by a slow drive. I'd like to avoid reinstalling all my apps and setting things up the way I like, so...
  8. Moving Windows 10 from a hdd to ssd on a new computer

    in Windows 10 Network and Sharing
    Moving Windows 10 from a hdd to ssd on a new computer: My friend has just bought a brand new computer and has had me install a 2TB ssd to replace the 2TB hdd which was originally installed in the computer. I want to migrate the Windows 10 OS to the new ssd and remove the hdd after this has been done. Can I just copy the files or...
  9. Moving OS to new SSD but keep Programs on HDD

    in Windows 10 Network and Sharing
    Moving OS to new SSD but keep Programs on HDD: Hello, Is there any way to move/clone the OS to a new SSD while keeping the programs on the HDD (and being able to still keep the previous location association with shortcuts) (example: Shortcut on desktop: Location: (HDD) C:\Users\Sam\Desktop Name: Steam Target:...
  10. How to move program file on ssd to hdd

    in Windows 10 Customization
    How to move program file on ssd to hdd: Can anyone please explain in detail if it is possible to make my program files running in OS on SSD to HDD. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-other_settings/how-to-move-program-file-on-ssd-to-hdd/1737445e-72ba-4252-9261-1bf3109791b4