How to upgrade HDD?

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kiwifidget

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#204642 11-Oct-2016 09:38

On my Win10 PC I have a 100GB SSD for my C:\ where Windows and Programs are installed.

I have a second normal HDD (D:\) which hosts my User and Downloads folders.

I would like to replace the HDD with a bigger one, but I am unsure how to handle the relocated folders.

Would Windows recreate User and Downloads folders on the new HDD automatically and then I just copy the data back, or will it chuck a hissy fit as the folders dont exist anymore once I change the HDD?

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robjg63

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#1648955 11-Oct-2016 09:47

If you buy a seagate disk you can use the seatools program - its pretty much a wizard you can just follow to copy/clone a disk to a new disk. At least one of the disks needs to be seagate to use the software.

You would:

Install seatools (might be seagate disk wizard now I think about it) from the seagate site
physically install the new disk.
Open up the seagate program
Select the original disk to copy/clone
Select the new target disk
start the operation - it should ask to reboot and when it starts the seagate program kicks in and does the job - can take an hour or so depending on data volume.

Machine shuts down - you remove the old disk and restart your machine.

Voila!

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kiwifidget

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#1648959 11-Oct-2016 09:52

Unfortunately there will be no Seagate disks in my scenario.

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robjg63

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#1648968 11-Oct-2016 10:12

Well what brand will you have in the mix then?

Suggest you checkout the manufacturers websites - they most likely have some similar tools.

The seagate tools are a cut down acronis disk cloning suite.

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trig42

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#1648969 11-Oct-2016 10:12

It should be fine, so long as the new disk has the same drive letter.

Where is your Program Files folder located? That may be a little more problematic.

I would just try copying everything off the old Data/Docs drive to the new one BEFORE booting to Windows if possible. A cloning tool would be better though (like Acronis) Most HDD manufacturers offer something to do this task.

reven

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#1648978 11-Oct-2016 10:23

plug in the new drive (leave existing), clone drive you are replacing to new drive, then replace old drive with new drive. everything will be in the right place, just with a bigger hard drive.

lots of free hdd cloning apps out there.

kiwifidget

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#1648979 11-Oct-2016 10:26

How's this for a plan?

Move contents of Users and Downloads to a USB-HDD.

Relocate Users and Downloads back to C:\

Replace old D:\ with new bigger and better D:\

Relocate Users and Downloads back to D:\

Move contents of Users and Downloads from USB-HDD back to D:\.

Job done and no money spent?

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