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Is it possible to install Windows on an SSD while keeping data on the HDD?

Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -  
cristali Posted messages 9483 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   -
Hello, I will try to be as clear as possible. I bought an SSD that I would like to install windows on. The problem is that I have two HDDs, one of 1 terabyte where I have Windows and mostly games, and the other of 2 terabytes where I have games but also videos lasting several hours that I absolutely want to keep. My question is: can I install Windows on the SSD while keeping the data from the second HDD? Since Windows is not installed on the second HDD, I think it’s possible. Thank you in advance

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4 answers

  1.
    fabul Posted messages 42134 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 062
     
    Hi,

    You must disconnect the HDD where Windows is currently installed.

    Install on the SSD as if the HDD didn't exist.

    Once Windows is on the SSD, you can reconnect it and use the PC's Boot Menu to choose the startup from the SSD.

    Then, recover the data from the old Windows partition before formatting it, or rather, deleting the partition that contains Windows and the other system partitions, and expand the other one if there is one, and set the SSD as the first boot disk in the BIOS.

    You can use AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard to do what needs to be done on the HDD.
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    1. Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
       
      So I didn't quite grasp your message 100%, but what you're telling me is that basically, since I'm going to have a duplicate of Windows, I'll need to use a menu to tell my SSD to boot Windows. When you mention "enlarging other partitions if there are any," which partitions are you referring to?
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      1. fabul Posted messages 42134 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   6 062 > Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention  
         
        the PC Boot Menu: https://www.malekal.com/liste-touches-acces-bios-boot-menu-constructeur/

        You can also go into the BIOS and specify the SSD to boot from permanently in the first position.

        Does your disk where Windows is installed have just one partition?

        If you have data, the simplest thing would be to copy it elsewhere to delete the partitions and create a new one.
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      2. Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   > fabul Posted messages 42134 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        Yes, there is only one partition on my two HDDs, I haven't touched it. (I admit I just understood what a partition is... Well, I think, lol, but yes, on my two HDDs, it seems there is only one partition with a unique access path.)
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      3. Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   > fabul Posted messages 42134 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        I transferred the entirety of my documents folder from my hdd1 to my hdd2. I don't know if it's useful, but since my hdd1 has Windows which is going to be uninstalled, you never know.
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      4. Louix19 Posted messages 70 Registration date   Status Member Last intervention   > fabul Posted messages 42134 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRmVSmQJZPQ&feature=youtu.be&ucbcb=1 In this video, the boy says that if I completely reinstall Windows, I will lose all my data. I don't care about losing my games or software, but I don't want to lose my videos and documents.
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