Progs/data from one HD to another....

[looper]

I currently have an old Intel X-25 SSD (160GB), which is now nearly full. I use a WD 'MyBook' external as backup. So, I need a new main HD.

I really don't have the money for another SSD in a larger size, after just getting a nVidia 780 which should arrive on Saturday I hope.

I'm thinking of the WD 'Black' in a 1 or 2 TB size. Once I decide, is there an EASY way to get everything from the intel SSD to the new one? I have Win 7 (64 bit).

 

[Essence_of_War]

So you're switching from ssd to spinner?

Seemslike it would make sense to keep your os and such on the ssd and add an HDD for that steam/games/pr0nz folders

Is that an option?

 

[looper]

Yes, for sure. That's what I intend, but did not state...

But, can I just switch all that over to the new HD? What's the easiest way to do that?

 

[Essence_of_War]

OK, so just to be clear, you want to keep the SSD with your OS installed, but you'd like to add an HDD, and to take load off the SSD, you'd like to move lots of the stuff that's not either the OS or basic applications to the HDD, sound about right?

First thing is to figure out what exactly is taking up most of the space on your SSD. I'll assume by your rig that you're a gamer, so it's likely your steam folder is pretty large. Once you've installed and formatted the HDD, here's how to move your steam folder to a new location:
https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

Moreover, you can always move any of your personal folders (My Documents, My Music, My Videos, Contacts, Downloads, Desktop) to the other drive as well.

Does that sound like what you want to do?

 

[looper]

Yes.

Yes, son and I are 'gamers'. Good info w/ the Steam folder....

YES..........

What I hate is having to re-install progs, so hoping I can 'image' stuff to the WD 'Black' (or a Raptor) if that's the HD I end up getting. How to do that...

 

[Essence_of_War]

I think you might find it's optimal to leave your non-game programs and your OS on the SSD.

But if you wanted to move EVERYTHING to the HDD and ditch the SSD entirely, there are a number of drive imaging/cloning utilites.

I've been very pleased w/ TeraByte's Image for Linux. It's basically a linux live cd that allows you to image/restore drives. Pop it in, image the ssd to an external, then restore the image from the external to the new HDD. Remove the SSD from the system and you should be back up and running from your effectively cloned drive. Check the documentation, it's pretty good, and the software is free to try.

I've heard good things about, or used Acronis True Image and Clonezilla also.