windows 10 install on SSD

Adgj533 · 12 Feb 2019

Hello Guys,
I am new here, ( first post YAY!). So right now I am running windows 7 on my C drive and it is getting full, i have 20GB left of my 981TB drive. Mostly games and other applications and I can feel that the programs are getting laggy to start, I am assuming its bc the drive is full.
So My question is if I buy a new SSD and install windows 10 on it, can win10 detect my current programs and applications that are in the C drive? Also C drive also has windows 7, Do I have to delete it or just change the boot order in bios to use the SSD as the primary? I have tons of applications some are even locked to my HWID (school) so installing a new OS from scratch and then reinstalling all the programs is going to be a pain.
Do you guys have any easier methods to this? If not I am probly going to buy a new Drive and move my games over.
Let me know your thoughts
Thanks for the help, appreciate it

Samuria · 12 Feb 2019

Welcome to the forum. The simple way to do this is to clear some space then do the free update to ten which will keep all your games and software. Having done that you have options which will depend what size SSD your going to buy. Installing ten on a new drive won't be able to use any games from the old drive you would have to install everything again

dalchina · 12 Feb 2019

Hi, you have a large drive. 20GB free is extremely marginal for normal operation- you could well be suffering performance issues now.

Upgrading to Win 10 will create a copy of your present Windows folder. Look at that- you need that much space, and then free space in addition.

Each 6 monthly upgrade siimilarly creates such a folder, so you need 20-25Gb (say), + working space free.

It's a very good idea to keep personal files away from C: - in your case, with a desktop, I'd suggest on another disk, rather than in the default Documents/Videos/Photos library folders.

Space analysis: Tools like Wiztree can help to see where your space has gone.
Download WizTree - MajorGeeks

Using Ccleaner can help to remove rubbish, as can Windows own Disk clean-up.

Preparing for the upgrade:
a. Create a disk image - Macrium reflect (free) is recommended time and again. All manner of things can go wrong when upgrading, and you can end up with an unbootable PC. A disk image gives you a second chance.
b. Uninstall any AV and security programs
c. Disconnect any unnecessary peripherals.
d. Check compatibility of key programs and versions with Win 10.

It is possible some of your programs will not be compatible with Win 10, and some may be removed during the upgrade.

If the upgrade goes well, your accounts, data and programs will be retained.

You can perform the upgrade manually by downloading the iso, logging in, rt clicking the iso and mounting it, then running setup.exe from the newly created drive.

If not I am probly going to buy a new Drive and move my games over.

Considering moving games or other programs: that normally means re-installing them. If you specify the install path as D:\ ..... how much you save from your system drive depends very much on the design of the game. Inevitably folders related to it will be created on C: anyway.

Easier and wiser to start with moving your personal files.

You may find Win 10's appearance takes some getting used to - it is slowly improving a little- and customisation is more limited. There are things you can do- see examples in threads in Customisation. Here's mine:

windows 10 install on SSD-snap-2019-02-12-13.35.37.png

You may also wish to consider a start menu replacement if you have a large start menu with several levels of folders and are used to using drag 'n drop there. Win 10's is quite different.

spapakons · 12 Feb 2019

Hello!

I have a better idea. You cannot obviously install an SSD without either moving a large amount of data on another disk or doing a clean installation of Windows 10. So you can buy a new 2TB standard hard disk (SSD would be too expensive, assuming there is a 2TB one) and either clone your old disk to the new disk, or install the new 2TB as second and move all your software there. In the first case once you do a complete clone of your old disk to the new, you replace your old disk with the new (keep the old as backup) and boot your computer. It should load Windows without any issue, if required you can then expand the Windows partition to take all unallocated disk space. Then upgrade to Windows 10. In the second case, you move your personal folders (Documents, Downloads etc) to the new hard disk to free space on the old disk. I would also move the "Program Files" and "Program Files (x86)" folders to the new disk. Doing that (see appropriate Tutorials in this forum) you should have only a small amount of data on the old disk which fit on an SSD. So if you want an SSD you could then make a complete disk clone of the old hard disk to the SSD and then replace the disk with the SSD. Windows should load without any issue and find all your remaining data and applications to your new 2TB disk. Keep the old disk as a backup and then upgrade to Windows 10.

Adgj533 · 12 Feb 2019

Hello guys, thanks for the detailed replies. I was cooking something with oil in my stove, btw the time it took me to finish reading all 3 of your replies, my stove caught on fire and when i was trying to put the fire out, it burned my entire arm. im going to take this as a bad omen and NOT upgrade to windows 10.
In no way I am blaming you all, I just thought it was funny lol

spapakons · 13 Feb 2019

Sorry to hear that. Computer and cooking doesn't mix. I had once forgotten the oil on the frying pan and caught fire. Fortunately, I was able to extinguish it before burning the whole kitchen! Of course the frying pan was destroyed and thrown away and I had hard time cleaning the kitchen. So I either cook first, play next, or go with my laptop in the kitchen to keep an eye (not recommended).