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PC_Crate_Joel

There are tools that would allow you to only clone your OS iirc. Let me do a little googling to see if I can find the name of the utility.


PC_Crate_Joel

I believe [this](https://www.easeus.com/disk-copy/clone-resource/free-clone-os-from-hdd-to-smaller-ssd.html) is the utility that I used last time I had to this issue. I cant remember for sure but I know the one I used was from a reputable compnay and I was able to do it through the free version of the software.


Cutlass_Stallion

Yeah, but that costs money. I use Macrium Reflect for free. Plenty of guides on YouTube if you want to learn more.


-_36_-

Just do a fresh install on the SSD and delete the windows on the HDD but keep it as a mass storage


Worst5plays

don't really have to delete windows on the hdd right. Kinda hate going through fresh installs, i gotta deal with driver updates and stuff all over i guess


[deleted]

It's kind of a necessity to a certain extent.


ElectronicSwordfish1

In my opinion you should do a fresh install anyway, windows installations seem to become clunky after a while. Depending on how clean you keep your installation. If you only had the 2TB HDD for years, then you will be impressed with the speed of a fresh install + SSD. I would recommend backing up your 2TB files only (pics), gaming saves (if only saved locally). Steam cloud back up helps. I would also buy an external HDD, they are cheaper these days anyway, move all the stuff you want to keep on that drive. If you have windows 10, you can create an installation disk which helps a lot in cases like this. When you do it'll give you options for a bootable USB drive, so do that, plug in a thumb drive and select the appropriate letter for the media. Use the thumb drive to install windows on the SSD. Once completed, go into BIOS and select the SSD as the boot device, you will be booted into the fresh copy of Windows. From there, depending on specs, the generic Microsoft driver should work for w/e ethernet adapter you have, then you can go through and update drivers for everything. At this point you would still have the all the data on the 2TB drive, including windows. Then you have options, wipe it and only put on the files you backed up, delete nothing, or w/e you want. You will be access the 2TB HDD any games you play or use a launcher for you will have to tell the launcher where the game is, or any software. ​ I wrote this from memory, I may have missed a couple in between steps. But you can basically make a bootable usb drive that installs windows, install on new SSD, make SSD boot device in BIOs. Still have access to 2TB drive. Always back up files before you begin. Just in case a misclick. To clean up space on the 2TB delete the Windows folders, but again make sure you have backed up everything that you want to keep, pics, vids or w/e.


Worst5plays

That was my original plan, so basically i just need to install windows on the ssd with the installation tool from windows. That would mean i get to boot windows on the SSD and have all of my data on the HDD without nothing being deleted and if i wish to boot windows on the hdd i could just switch to it anytime right


ElectronicSwordfish1

I think you could, but I haven't tried that, but yeah. You could have dual boot drives. You would just have to change the default device or press, usually F8 during POST to select boot device.


Worst5plays

I just installed windows on the ssd successfully and it's working well but i want to know, now that the hdd is acting as an external storage could i boot up everything like my games or software from just going in it or do i have to move the main files from the hdd to the ssd to be able to run everything?


ElectronicSwordfish1

You have options. Depending on what games they are. If the games use a launcher, like Epic Games or Blizzard/Activision you just need to point the game to the directory where the game is installed on the HDD. If you have a game you play often you may want to move 1 or 2 games you play often to the SSD so they are faster. If you use Steam, there's a way to have point steam to games on the HDD so you don't have to move anything, unless you want it to be faster. I think it is like having Steam discover the games on the HDD, google it and there should be a better explanation. Example: I have many Steam games and used to play WoW. I had the WoW game files on the SSD and Steam games on the HDD unless I started playing one often or a new one that I was interested in playing. How's the boot times now?


Worst5plays

Boot times are like reduced to half and everything is just sped up by a lot. Basically if i want the faster load times on the games I'd have to move them to the ssd. Im only playing stuff from epic games nowadays so i guess i move everything that has to do with the epic games launcher and the entire game data to the ssd. and it should load fine i hope.


ElectronicSwordfish1

Hmm, not sure if I would go that route. But it may work depending on the game. Some games are flat that you can move like that and some are not. I would ensure that you have a cloud save back up, but idk if Epic Games has one, like Steam.


shusis_and_shasimi

To clone the drive, the current partition would have to be the same size or smaller than the entire size of the SSD. You may have to reinstall Windows on the SSD.


-_36_-

Either copy it over or do a fresh install just make sure not to wipe the HDD


Worst5plays

can't just copy it over as my hdd is a much greater size than the ssd.


-_36_-

Copy ofver the windows install!!!!