Moving Boot Partition

Hey all,

This is probably much simpler than I expect, but I can't find any specific instructions myself and I do NOT want to mess anything up here.

I want to separate my data and boot files. I have two 1TB hard drives and a 320GB. I want to move the boot drive and necessary operating partitions from one of the 1TB drives to the 320GB drive.

How can I succesfully clone the boot partition while leaving behind data files?

Here's a screenshot of Disk Management if it helps.


And if you're curious why I want to do this; I transfer a lot of large files around frequently (Files on my PC to NAS, using bittorrent, FTP/VPN work stuff, etc.) and I use my PC as a bit of a HTPC running Kodi. I could be wrong, but I assume separating my data files and my boot files will allow the PC to run a bit more smoothly when there are all sorts of file transfers going on all over the place.

You can use Macrium Reflect Free to create an image of the partitions required to backup Windows then restore that image to the new drive you want to use. It's good practice to ensure that new boot drive is the only drive connected when you first boot and to ensure only the main boot drive has an active partition (unless you have a dual boot system).

As it is it won't work you need c and the UEFI partitions but they come to over 403 gig so it won't fit in the present state

Samuria said:

As it is it won't work...

Yup. This is right. The partition I would need to clone with Reflect is 433GB, about twice the space I have on the 'new' drive.
I'm letting Explorer calculate how much space C:/Users takes up, but I know for certain that it's well over 100GB of data.... that took a while... it's 353GB.

I think I might need to clarify what I'm ultimately trying to achieve. I want all of my user files, data, movies, pictures, documents, etc. on my current 1TB drive, and all of the files to run programs and Windows on the 320GB harddrive.

From the sounds of what has been suggested, using reflect will mirror my user files as well; not what I want I think.

I can always move data files to NAS or somewhere to reduce my primary partition's size and clone it, but where do I go from there?

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A quick addition: In the near future, I plan on getting an affordable SSD to put the primary partition on to really help make boot time and other things a lot snappier. Ideally, I'd just go out and pick up a 4TB SSD, but manufacturers say the prices won't reach HDD prices til 2020. So, I'll move stuff to the HDD for now which will make things slightly more tolerable until a month or so from now when I get an SSD (and at that point all I'll have to do is clone the 320GB HDD to the SSD) Then I'll sit on that for a few years until I can afford a >1TB SSD at which point I'll clone (or more likely just move with Explorer) my data HDD(s) to it and retain the separate, smaller SSD.

Ok,

I've moved some data files around and cleaned up space on my drives.
C:\ now has less than 200G.

Now what do I need to do now?

Steve C said:

You can use Macrium Reflect Free to create an image of the partitions required to backup Windows then restore that image to the new drive you want to use. It's good practice to ensure that new boot drive is the only drive connected when you first boot and to ensure only the main boot drive has an active partition (unless you have a dual boot system).

These instructions sound like they're going to move EVERYTHING from C:\ to my new drive (mounted at E:\), this isn't what I want to do.

I want to move the operating system and program files to the new drive, but leave behind user files.

Might have been easier to use something which allows file/folder exclusion from an image. I think the only free version to do that is Paragon Backup and recovery 14. Takes a while to calculate the exclusions, though.

O&O disk image 10.5 Pro is quicker in that respect.

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After install O&O disk image offers to update to 10.5.5 ( upgrade to v11 is not free )


There is also Pguru which isn't really an imaging program ( no scheduling etc). It does make manual images with exclusions - even the free ( non registered ) version
Recover deleted files, Partition manager and Windows backup - PartitionGuru

foxtrot1014 said:

Ok,

I've moved some data files around and cleaned up space on my drives.
C:\ now has less than 200G.

Now what do I need to do now?



These instructions sound like they're going to move EVERYTHING from C:\ to my new drive (mounted at E:\), this isn't what I want to do.

I want to move the operating system and program files to the new drive, but leave behind user files.

Park the user files somewhere else or create a separate partition on the SSD for your user files and don't select that partition when you create the system image. I keep my user files on a HDD and file access is still very fast.

f14tomcat said:

May need to do it in a couple of steps. First, get all your user files off somewhere else. Nice tutorial here to accomplish that: Move Users Folder Location in Windows 10 Windows 10 Installation Upgrade Tutorials
Then, all should be left is the OS and Program Files, Program Files (x86), etc...... everything BUT your user files. Macrium an image of that. Restore the MR image to the new drive. Move the user files back to the previous drive, where they were. And point to them there from the OS on the new drive.
Make any sense? Or am I missing the whole point? Wouldn't be the first time.

You know... this sounds like exactly what I want to do. I haven't done it yet (will within 24 hours), will post how it goes when I get there.

Steve C said:

Park the user files somewhere else or create a separate partition on the SSD for your user files and don't select that partition when you create the system image. I keep my user files on a HDD and file access is still very fast.

I don't actually have an SSD yet, just separate HDDs. I actually did find some trustworthy articles that confirmed that even with HDDs, having program files and user files in separate locations will make the OS operate quicker. The most ideal thing is to have the OS on an SSD and user files on a separate one, but an SSD/HDD combo is almost just as good (as you mentioned). And considering the cost of drives, it's really the most cost-speed-effective option. I'm stilling waiting a while to get an SSD for OS and then a few years from now when the price has deflated dramatically I'll get an SSD for user files, because why not?

foxtrot1014 said:

You know... this sounds like exactly what I want to do. I haven't done it yet (will within 24 hours), will post how it goes when I get there.


I don't actually have an SSD yet, just separate HDDs. I actually did find some trustworthy articles that confirmed that even with HDDs, having program files and user files in separate locations will make the OS operate quicker. The most ideal thing is to have the OS on an SSD and user files on a separate one, but an SSD/HDD combo is almost just as good (as you mentioned). And considering the cost of drives, it's really the most cost-speed-effective option. I'm stilling waiting a while to get an SSD for OS and then a few years from now when the price has deflated dramatically I'll get an SSD for user files, because why not?

Having two SSDs gives much flexibility in how you arrange your files. Go for it if you can afford this solution.