How to migrate Windows 8.1 to SSD from HDD?

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 15:38

Hi, I want to move my Windows installation which is on my HDD currently, to my SSD. As my SSD is smaller in size than my HDD, is there any way I can migrate Windows only, and not my files? Also, how can I remove Windows from my HDD? As I won't be using the installation on there. I need to know how to make my SSD the default boot drive as well.
Thanks
DJL99

D3K · 24 Jul 2015 at 15:57

Samsung and Corsair have their own tools for imaging over, Magician and Toolbox respectively. I don't know about the others.

However, Corsair Toolbox did not copy over my MBR properly, so I had to rebuild it.

ED209 · 24 Jul 2015 at 16:09

Follow this guide here

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18576917

free software and tells you how to do it.

once you have your SSD up and running connect your HDD as a second drive and then format the drive.

one thing you will need to do as well is set your sata ports to ACHI in the bios and while your at it may as well check your bios is up to date

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 16:49

So, I need to format the HDD after it's set up as the secondary drive? or the SSD?

Glanza · 24 Jul 2015 at 16:51

HDD not the SSD.

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 16:56

I can't, as it has all my files on it. I want to migrate from HDD to SSD. My HDD is 1TB and my SSD is 500GB, so I can't back up my HDD to my SSD.

koolpc · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:07

I think he means format it after you have done the change over!

ED209 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:10

other option is to connect your SSD, disconnect the HDD and do a clean install of windows.

once done connect your HDD back up and copy the files over you require and install any programs you need

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:10

I only want to migrate Windows to my SSD, not my whole HDD as well as Windows. I also want to remove Windows from my HDD, so it is only on my SSD.

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:12

I just want to know if there is a way to remove my current Windows installation from my HDD.
EDIT: Just Windows, not the whole thing.

ED209 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:14

as far as im aware you cannot migrate just the windows install from a HDD

all the programs in windows install files to a number of locations so the migration software is not going to know where everything is stored to not move it over.

you either migrate everything (installed apps, documents etc) or you do a clean install.

the migration software makes a image of everything so you then restore it to the SSD as it was before.

once you have everything you need on the SSD (OS documents and apps etc) you can then format the HDD

if you just want windows do a clean install and then copy stuff from your HDD after if anything is needed, no point cloning the HDD if all you want is windows

ED209 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:18

go here, download the 8.1 tool that can download the ISO or make a USB stick for you

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/create-reset-refresh-media

boot from USB stick, install 8.1 and use your product key during install. a OS install on its own only takes 20 mins

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:21

I mean, how can I remove my installation from my HDD after i've installed it on my SSD?

ED209 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:24

connect the HDD as a second drive and then just right click on it and go to format.

it will remove everything off it so make sure you have everything from it before hand.

if you do a clean install make sure the SSD is the only thing connected as if the mbr is stored on the HDD (sometimes windows does this) when you format it your HDD the PC may not boot and you will need to repair the OS.

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 17:29

Is there not another way to remove it? Can any programs remove it? I don't want to format my HDD as there is 630gb being used, which cannot fit on my SSD because I have 250gb left.

EDIT: I found a tutorial https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/888023

DJL99 · 24 Jul 2015 at 19:23

I'm going to get an external HDD so I can backup my HDD for when I format it. I am going for the Samsung 1TB one. Do I have to format the SSD too, or is it just the HDD?