TOPIC: Computer Help

I have a Desktop PC and I have purchased a Solid State Drive to replace the old HDD, has anyone done this before? I am after advice on what to use to clone my HDD so its exactly the same on the new SSD. Also installation help... I've browsed through videos and will have a god at plugging it in etc.

This is the drive I have bought: www.amazon.co.uk/SanDisk-PLUS-Sata-2-5-i...ds=sandisk+250gb+ssd

If install the SSD to my pc by plugging it in, can I clone it that way or do I have to do it via usb and purchase this www.amazon.co.uk/Startech-inch-Drive-Ada...s=ssd+to+usb+adapter

As you can see I am no expert, but with a little help id be able to manage, here is hoping.

Thanks guys

It all depends, it isn't *to* difficult but not that straight forward either.

First thing you need to know, how much space are you using currently? 250Gb in modern terms is not a lot especially if you've got any music or movies on the machine at the moment. Make sure you've got the space with a little wiggle room.

If you are happy that 250gb is all you'll ever need then you don't need to the external usb to sata but it does make life easier.

Did you get a 3.5" conversion kit or any screws or a sata cable with your SSD?

Cheers for the reply Armo

I have a 1tb Hard Drive that I will still be using for movies software etc, I just purely want my OS on the ssd for smoother running.

Essentially having C Drive on SSD and running my 1tb as a D Drive.

Don't think I got a sata cable, After work tonight I will open up my rig and see if there's spares..... Should be I recon.... I paid 700 for the system anyway.

No worries.

The problem is, you don't want to clone your existing hard drive (that'd be a mirror image of what you've got now). You want to re-install Windows (i'm guessing) on the SATA and boot from that and leave all your programs and what not on the old one.

That's more complicated, at the minute you've got a C: drive, that's going to become your D: drive so everything that references your C: drive needs to be changed.

As long as your not on Windows 10, it's not the end of the world.

You won't have a spare SATA cable, i'd put money on it but they cost pennies. You'll also (probably) need some screws to secure the thing but it depends what you've got in your case. Funnily enough, the link you posted suggests adding the cradle and sata cable!

I would suggest removing everything bar your documents off of the old drive, install windows on the new SSD and then re-install your programs on the old HDD again. It's a bit more of a pain in the arse and maybe worth the £30-50 (i'm guessing) to have somebody do it for you if you think you might struggle.

As long as you've got all the software you want putting back - windows disks and software and whatnot, it's doable.

When you get it all done, be aware that programs will want to download to Drive C automatically, you can change this to go to drive E (your old hard drive) some things still need to go on C drive, itunes won't load anywhere else but you can move the music folders over to your other drive etc.

It is a little bit of a nightmare but there are plenty of online help sites, we used them last year when I bought a new PC and the SSD card on top to do what you want to do.

Remove HDD from Laptop
Insert SSD in it's place
Insert old HDD into USB enclosure and plug in.
Boot laptop using cloning program (ie from cd/dvd/usb stick) (Should included with a decent SSD conversion kit)
follow clone software instructions and clone drive
Remove software disc/stick Unplug usb enclosure, boot as normal.

That won't work Feckwittery,

he's already said his HDD is 1000MB and his SSD is 250MB - not enough space. He's also said, he wants to keep his movies and documents on his old HDD and just his OS on the SSD.

I would recommend installing your software to the SSD as well to get the most benefit from it, the programs will load up much quicker. I recently replaced my main had with an SSD and my boot-up time dropped from about 150 secs to 50. Loading programs showed a similar improvement. The shutdown time dropped from s minute to12 secs.

Just reinstall. It's less of a pain in the arse than you might think. You'll know what programs you've got, and even if you forget to reinstall one you can just do it when you go to use it and realise that it's not there. Only takes a minute. You won't lose any of your data like videos, music, porn etc

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Armo wrote:
Skim read and missed that bit, fair enough (assuming you've messed your GB v MBs up) (It should work if he brings down the contents of the HDD under 250GB)

250GB drive: TBH, I wouldn't bother putting Windows on it, either cloned or fresh install. By the time it's on you won't have much in the way of usable space left to play with. It'll quickly fill.
Don't know which laptop you have but some decent ones have space for a second drive. I'd stick the SSD in the spare slot and install Ubuntu (or other preferred version of linux) on it and have a dual boot system.

You still haven't read his post properly... He's on about a desktop and just wants to use the SSD for his OS.

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Unplug your large hard drive and set as slave using pins on hdd .install SSD into pc install to sata connection on motherboard make that the first hdd to boot after which ever drive you are going to use as boot for reinstall of operating system. Once done plug large drive into pc it should now pick it up so you can access your photos and music from whithin your new operating ssd. hope this helps

Thanks for your input guys, I will take all this advise on board, going to sit down after work tonight and try and tackle this....

Few things I have forgot to mention is that currently on the HDD is Windows 10 which was an upgrade from Windows 8.... I no longer have a windows disc, as I moved house and lost it in the moving process. Therefore I cannot do a fresh install.

I have checked the rig last night and there was spare sata cables inside which was a bonus.... Still feel a bit out of depth with this sort of thing, but I will have to give it a go later.