I'm looking to move my files like photos and videos from an old HDD to a new SSD. Both drives currently have an OS on them and I've already got a new Windows key for the SSD. People suggest doing a fresh install of Windows on the SSD, but I'm more interested in just transferring my files without reinstalling programs. I heard cloning the drive and then reinstalling Windows without formatting might be an option. Is that a good way to do it?
3 Answers
So you really just want to copy files, not clone the entire drive, right? If that's the case, installing Windows fresh on the SSD and then just connecting the HDD to transfer files is the way to go! No need to complicate things.
I’d recommend simply installing Windows on the new SSD first. Once that's up and running, you can connect your old HDD and copy over the files you need. Just make sure to wait until Windows loads from the SSD before plugging in the HDD; then your PC should recognize it as an extra drive without any hassle.
Just to clarify, the 'new key' you're talking about is for the Windows installation on the SSD, right? After you install Windows, connect your old HDD and grab the files you want. It's straightforward and keeps everything neat without having to mess with cloning.
Yeah, that's key! Once the OS is loaded, it’ll make accessing your old drive super easy.