Preparing a new boot drive involves connecting it to your computer and following the appropriate steps for installation.
Preparing a new boot drive involves connecting it to your computer and following the appropriate steps for installation.
You can connect your new SSD as a boot drive and still access your existing HDD files. However, you’ll need to sync your Windows settings, desktop, icons, start menu, and other preferences. Reinstalling drivers might be necessary, but most programs should work without reinstalling browsers or everything. Since your HDD is large and the SSD is smaller, you won’t need to clone your data unless you want a backup.
Check this guide for Windows 10 instructions at the official Microsoft forum link. For Windows 11, refer to the specific discussion on transferring from SSD to PCIe SSD.