How to reinstall Windows 10 on a different HDD?

darrenkarp

darrenkarp

darrenkarp

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Hi All,

My rig has 3 x HDDs. A 250GB SSD, a 500GB SSD and a 1TB mechanical HDD. Currently, my OS and all my apps are on the 500GB SSD which is running low on space. What I want to do is move or reinstall the OS to the 1TB HDD retaining all my apps, etc. on the 500GB SSD. Is that possible? If so, can someone point me in the direction on what I'd need to do please.

Many thanks
Daz
 
You can use Macrium Reflect to clone the drive to the 1TB, then use Disk Management to extend the volume on the 1TB. You will find the mechanical drive a lot slower than the ssd and this will impact on your system. If you can, buy a 1TB SSD.
 
DO NOT DO THAT!

Do not move your OS from the SSD to HDD everything will begin to run terribly my friend!

There are a couple of tricks you can do if you really need to free up some space

#1 is removing the hybernate feature of windows. If you don't use it you can free up a chunk of space. Follow the below for how to do it.
  • Search for CMD and right click, run as admin <- the admin step is important here
  • When cmd is open type in powercfg.exe -h off this will disable hibernate and free you up some space.
  • reboot your system
#2 thing you can do to free up a little space is getting rid of virtual memory IF you have a good amount of ram
again follow the below to do it
  • search windows for "performance" and press the option "adjust the appearance and performance of windows"
  • Press the advanced tab at the top
  • Where it says virtual memory press change
  • There is a tick box at the top " automatically manage paging file " uncheck this
  • check no paging file followed by the set button next to it
  • press yes to the promt and reboot your system

All in all this tends to save me between 20-30gb
 
Have a look into Sabrent Rocket SSD drives. You can buy an M.2 1TB for ~£110 and the reviews of it seem very favourable.
 
Move your non-productivity, less disk sensitive apps and documents off to the HDD, keep your OS on the SSD. Games and media really don't need to be on an SSD, the only saving you'll get is a few seconds of game load times.
 
Thanks for all the replies. What about putting the OS on the 250GB. That should free up a chunk of space on the 500GB wouldn't it? If so, how would I do that and still keep my apps working?
 
What's primarily taking up the space? Use Treesize to get a good idea. If it's mainly games, they should be able to be moved to a different location very easily. Steam is as simple as adding a game folder in settings and then cutting and pasting the data folder over. I can't quite remember how easy it is for origin and other launchers, Google will tell you.

If it's your Users folder, then try moving it: https://www.dummies.com/computers/o...e-the-location-of-user-folders-in-windows-10/
 
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