Hey everyone! I just got an SSD installed in my PC and I've been running everything on my HDD until now. I've got Windows 10 installed on the SSD and Windows 11 on the HDD, which means I have a fresh start on one and my old setup on the other. I'm looking to switch my OS over to the SSD for better speed but I want to keep all my files on the HDD, including games, music-making software, and documents.
Here are a few questions I have about this process:
1. Since my SSD has Windows 10 and my HDD has Windows 11, can I simply move Windows 11 over to the SSD to have the latest version? Or do I need to upgrade the SSD to Windows 11? Also, will I need a new activation key for Windows on the SSD?
2. What's the best way to use my SSD and HDD together? Should the SSD just hold the OS while everything else goes on the HDD, or is there a better setup? I'm kind of new to all this and want to understand how to use them effectively. Is the HDD only for storage, or can it also run programs?
3. Is it possible to transfer my files while moving the OS to the SSD?
4. What software should I use to copy the OS over to the SSD?
I'm looking forward to your advice, and thanks in advance for helping out a beginner!
1 Answer
You can clone your drive to transfer the OS rather than just copy it; cloning handles essential components like the bootloader. Generally, you shouldn’t need a new key, as your existing one should work. If you're unsure, a fresh install of Windows on the SSD is often a cleaner option. I recommend using the SSD for your OS and daily applications since these benefit greatly from the speed. Reserve the HDD for larger files and games that don't need quick access, like those with long queues in multiplayer.
How do I clone the drive? And when you say 'just reinstall,' do you mean I should delete Windows on the SSD and then install it again?