Hey everyone! I recently upgraded to an SSD, which I initially used as a secondary drive for gaming. Now, I'm ready to make it my primary boot drive. I've cloned all my files from my HDD to the SSD using Macrium Reflect, but it turns out that the Windows OS didn't get cloned over. I've been researching how to properly install Windows on the SSD, but I'm worried that the installation process might wipe everything.
Here's the situation:
- My main HDD (ST2000DM008-2FR-102) still has Windows and all my files.
- I'm trying to install Windows on my new WD_BLACK SN850X HS SSD so I can boot from it.
- I want to keep using my HDD for documents after switching to the SSD.
I'm confused about the best order and method to make all of this happen. Should I create a Windows installer on a USB, shutdown my computer, remove the HDD, boot off the USB, and install Windows on the SSD, then re-clone the HDD onto the SSD? Do I need to uninstall Windows from the HDD after that? Or is there a better way to do this? Thanks for any advice!
2 Answers
Be careful with the USB installer! I ran into some trouble myself where I had to wipe my drive and merge partitions before the installation would work. If you're not seeing the Windows option on the SSD after cloning, it's best to clone the OS first. You can still use your HDD as a backup if you want, and it won't hurt to keep the old OS there for safety just in case.
It sounds like you’ve got the right idea! Just make sure to back up everything important first. After that, create a USB installer for Windows, boot from it, and install Windows directly onto the SSD. Once you've done that, go ahead and delete the Windows installation from the HDD to avoid any confusion. You didn’t really clone the OS if it’s not booting from the SSD, so a fresh install is definitely the way to go!
Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload