Transferring windows 8.1 to another hard drive. Transfer Windows to another empty hard drive using AOMEI Partition Assistant

Many of us sometimes encounter a very unobvious problem when upgrading a personal computer. The hard drive is a priori the slowest component of a personal computer, especially if it is made in the form of a regular HDD. And you always want to somehow speed up your computer. And then, one day, you make up your mind and purchase a small but fast SSD and it seems that now life is about to get better. But an inexperienced user immediately faces a non-obvious task - how to transfer everything from the old HDD to the new SSD? There may be several options here.

Since many computers now run Windows 8.1, we will consider just such a configuration when a new SSD drive is installed in a computer with Win 8.1 installed. On this path, the user faces three problems:

How to directly transfer the operating system, installed programs and data to a new disk?
Typically, SSDs have a significantly smaller capacity than the HDD already installed in the computer, and there is a risk that everything simply won’t fit.
Windows configured to boot via UEFI simply won't boot from another drive. And difficulties may arise even when simply reconnecting the drive to another controller port.

Let's try to figure out what to do and what to do when you have purchased an SSD, but it is not clear how to switch to it.

Reinstall the operating system again

Probably the most sensible option is to reinstall the operating system and all software again. In this case, all the problems that have accumulated in the system will disappear, and no one has canceled the degradation of the operating system. But, sometimes, the user categorically does not want to reinstall, because in this case everything acquired and configured over the years will disappear and he will have to spend days, weeks, and maybe months setting up all the components and programs again.

Use built-in Windows tools

It's already the 21st century, but the most popular desktop operating system, Windows, still does not have any built-in tool for migration within one computer. Although there are a couple of workarounds that can partly help a particularly patient and thoughtful computer enthusiast who strongly does not trust third-party software manufacturers.

Option 1 . In this case, you will still have to install Windows from scratch on the new disk, as well as install all the programs that are needed for use. And the transfer of data and settings is carried out using the built-in Windows tool Windows Easy Transfer. This tool not only allows you to migrate within an operating system of the same generation, but also between systems of different generations, for example, migrating from Windows XP to Windows 8.1.

Using Easy Transfer, you need to export all the necessary data and settings to a folder on your hard drive (just don’t overwrite it), an optical drive or a USB flash drive. And then, on a freshly installed system, it will be necessary to carry out the reverse operation, i.e. direct recovery. Of course, this is not an entirely fair migration from HDD to SSD, but it’s still better than nothing.

Apply a specialized product

And for the average user, not a computer science sensei, third-party manufacturers come to the rescue, offering a wide selection of software for migrating operating systems from disk to disk. Among the most famous are the companies Acronis and Paragon. Both have specialized tools for easily transferring an installed operating system from one disk to another and without the need to perform ritual dances with a tambourine. However, before the transfer procedure itself, you should think carefully, at least 7 times, and carry out the transfer only once. First, you should make sure that you already have backup copies of your invaluable data. This can be either a regular backup copy created by any means and saved on a device separate from the test computer, or it can be a cloud storage like OneDrive in which you store all your work and private documents. Secondly, due to the fact that SSD disks are usually smaller in volume than HDDs, you need to make sure that the filled volume of the transferred partition on your HDD is less than the capacity of the partition on the SSD. If necessary, you can (and even need to) uninstall unnecessary programs and clean the operating system of “garbage”.

Cleaning the operating system from "garbage"

You can clean your hard drive quite successfully using the built-in Windows cleaning utility. It would be a good idea to clean up the system files, especially if the operating system has been in use for a long time.

To migrate the operating system, you can choose one of the products from the manufacturers listed above or any others that are trustworthy. Whether to use a pirated version downloaded from the nearest torrent tracker or honestly purchase the program is up to each user to decide for himself (this is especially true for software from Paragon, which has inexpensive products designed exclusively for transferring a system from one disk to another). However, it should be borne in mind that by installing a pirated program, you are not only robbing the manufacturer, but also risk losing your data during the transfer due to not the most current version of the software. Although, losses and other troubles can occur with a newly purchased official program. It is for this reason that I strongly recommend that you still do not forget about backup copies of your data.

Select the "Migration" section

So, to migrate the operating system from a hard drive to an SSD within the same computer, I will use a professional tool from Paragon Hard Disk Manager Pro version 15. Yes, this tool allows not only migration, but also many other functions, for example, hard drive backup. But, in this context, we are only interested in transferring the system.

Select the disk to which the migration will take place (on the left). Select advanced options, especially "UEFI boot entry" if you want to boot completely from the SSD (right).

By going through just three steps of the wizard, the data is transferred from my old HDD to the new SSD. Both drives are connected to the computer at the same time and during the transfer I can continue to work with my applications, although this is not recommended. The transfer is completed completely after the computer is rebooted, when Windows starts from the SSD.

And, as a conclusion. After migration, you will need to reactivate not only Windows, but also Office, since one of the elements to which these products are linked is the hard drive. And yet, after a successful transfer, you still have the old partition on the HDD; it can either be completely deleted or cleared by formatting.

In the operating system family Windows folder “ My Documents” is located on the system disk, which has its pros and cons. Personally, I don’t always like this folder arrangement “ My Documents“. Therefore, in some cases I need to move this folder to another location and, accordingly, the question arises: How to move the My Documents folder in Windows to another drive?

For the Windows XP operating system, I have already described the answer to this question earlier. Now it’s time to describe how to move the “My Documents” folder to another drive in the Windows 8 operating system. As for the Windows 7 OS, it has almost all the same actions as in Windows 8.

Moving the My Documents folder to Windows XP was a simple task. In Windows 8 this task is no more difficult. So, let's start transferring the My Documents folder to another drive:

First of all, we create a new folder in which the contents of the folder “ My Documents" , For example: D:\Documents

Then open File Explorer and go to Local Disk WITH: -> Users -> User

Right-click on the folder “ My Documents” and in the context menu that opens, select the item Properties.

A window opens Properties: My Documents, in which we go to the bookmark Location.
Here we can see the current location of the folder “ My Documents”.

Please note that the actual path to the My Documents folder looks like this: C:\Users\User\
where User is the name of the user for whom we are transferring the folder.

And the folder itself My Documents called Documents, and accordingly the path to the documents inside this folder looks like this: C:\Users\User\Documents\
where User is the name of the user for whom we are transferring the folder.

Press the [ Move...] (If you want to return the My Documents folder to the default location, then you should select the [Default] button)

Specify the new location (the folder must already be created by you, for example D:\Documents) and press the [ button OK].

The operating system will ask us:

Move all documents from old location to new location? we agree, click [ Yes].

Then Windows 8 will begin transferring files to the new location, which may take some time depending on the size of the My Documents folder. That's all.
Please note that now D:\Documents visible in Explorer under the name “ My Documents“, although the path to it remains: D:\Documents.

Windows 8 is configured by default so that all Metro apps from the Microsoft Store (Windows 8 Apps) are installed on the system drive, and it is impossible to set an alternative installation path for each individual app application, as is the case with classic Windows applications. This means that sooner or later, a Windows 8 Apps user may run out of free space on the system drive. This problem may be especially critical for users of tablets with Windows 8 (in the Surface RT tablet, for example, the size of the system disk is limited to 32 GB and 64 GB) and ordinary computers with SSD drives as a “fast” system disk (usually small in capacity) and large external drives (for example, USB drives for data storage). Moving the directory with Metro applications from the Windows 8 system volume will help free up additional disk space.

As always, Microsoft hasn't provided an easy way to change the Windows 8 Metro Apps installation directory and move installed apps from the system drive, meaning we'll once again have to do a bit of manual work.

Transfer installed Windows 8 Apps to another drive

Let's say we need to move all Windows 8 Metro applications installed to the G:\ drive. Drive G:\, and this can be a separate partition on the same drive, a separate external drive, such as an SSD, USB flash drive or SD card, or even a network drive, must be formatted in the NTFS file system. Let's create a directory on the G:\ drive G:\Windows8Apps.

Then let's try to find out where Windows8 Apps are stored. By tradition, Microsoft uses the C:\Program Files directory as the “default” application directory. For Metro Apps in Windows 8, a separate directory called WindowsApps, which is hidden () and access to it is closed to everyone except the system (when you try to open it, messages will appear You don't currently have permission to access this folder).

To enter the WindowsApps directory, even if you are working under , you will first have to become the owner of this directory, and then set the necessary NTFS access rights to it. This can be done using the graphical interface of Explorer (Folder Options ->Security->Advanced), but it is much more convenient and faster to do it using the command line.

To take ownership of the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps directory, open and run the command

Takeown /F "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" /A /R

After running the command (which may take several minutes depending on the number of Metro Apps installed), you will be able to view the contents of the WindowsApps directory.

Next, you need to give your account (in this example root) full access rights (NTFS Full Control) to the contents of this directory. And again, the easiest and fastest way to do this is through the command line:

Icacls "c:\program files\windowsapps" /grant root:(D,WDAC)

Let's copy (do not move!) the contents of the windowsapps directory to a new disk in the G:\Windows8Apps directory.

Robocopy "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" E:\Windows8Apps /E /COPYALL /DCOPY:DAT

Verify that the file copy operation completed successfully and that there are no error messages upon completion (there is no information about skipped or FAILED items in the final report).

Let's delete the original WindowsApps directory.

Rmdir /S "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps"

Then we will create a symbolic link (symlink), which allows you to transparently redirect requests to the C:\Program Files\WindowsApps folder to the new E:\Windows8Apps directory (thus we solve the problem of “lost” paths for installed apps).

Mklink /D "C:\Program Files\WindowsApps" "E:\Windows8Apps"

Changing the installation path for new Metro Apps in Windows 8

The next step is to redefine the path to the directory with Windows 8 apps in the registry. Open the registry editor (regedit.exe) and go to the branch

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Appx

By default, the system does not allow changes to be made to this registry hive. Therefore, first we will provide ourselves with the necessary rights. Right-click on the Apps hive and select the Permissions menu item. Then click the Advanced button.

In the extended security properties window, click on the Change link and specify your username (to which you need to grant owner rights). In this example it is root.

Click OK twice and grant your account (or group) full rights to this registry key (checkbox Full Control).

It remains to change the parameter value PackageRoot, indicating in it the new location of the folder with Metro applications. In this example it is E:\Windows8App s.

Restart your computer and check the functionality of the installed Metro Apps transferred to the new drive. This way, all installed Windows 8 applications will be transferred to the new disk while maintaining functionality, and in the future, all Windows 8 Apps from the Microsoft Store (which, by the way, can be installed at all) will be installed on it, and not on the system disk.

After purchasing a new HDD or SSD, the first question that arises is what to do with the operating system currently used. Not many users have the need to install a clean OS, but on the contrary, they want to clone an existing system from an old disk to a new one.

So that the user who decides to update the hard drive does not have to reinstall the operating system, it is possible to transfer it. In this case, the current user profile is saved, and in the future you can use Windows in the same way as before performing the procedure.

Usually those who want to divide the OS itself and user files into two physical drives are interested in transferring. After the move, the operating system will appear on the new hard drive and will remain on the old one. In the future, it can be removed from the old hard drive by formatting, or left as a second system.

First, the user needs to connect the new drive to the system unit and make sure that the PC has detected it (this is done through the BIOS or Explorer).

Method 1: AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition

Unlike the previous two programs, in Macrium Reflect you cannot pre-allocate a free partition on the drive where the OS will be transferred. This means that user files on disk 2 will be deleted. Therefore, it is best to use a clean HDD.

Click on the link "Clone this disk..." in the main program window.

The Transfer Wizard will open. At the top, select the HDD from which you want to clone. By default, all drives may be selected, so uncheck the drives you don't want to use.

Click on the link at the bottom of the window "Select a disk to clone to..." and select the hard drive to which you want to clone.

Once you select disk 2, you can use a link with cloning parameters.

Here you can configure the space that will be occupied by the system. By default, a partition will be created with no free space. We recommend adding at least 20-30 GB (or more) to the system partition for correct subsequent updates and Windows needs. This can be done using controls or by entering numbers.

If you wish, you can select the drive letter yourself.

It is not necessary to change the remaining parameters.
In the next window you can configure the cloning schedule, but we don’t need this, so just click "Next".

A list of actions that will be performed on the drive will be displayed, click "Finish".

In the window asking you to make restore points, agree or reject the offer.

The OS cloning will begin and you will be notified when completed "Clone completed", indicating that the transfer was successful.
Now you can boot from the new drive, having first made it the main one for booting in the BIOS. How to do this, see Method 1.

We talked about three ways to transfer an OS from one drive to another. As you can see, this is a very simple process and you usually won't encounter any errors. After cloning Windows, you can check the disk's functionality by booting your computer from it. If no problems are observed, you can remove the old HDD from the system unit or leave it as a spare.

Even novice users know why it is worth moving an operating system from HDD to SSD. Nevertheless, such computer optimization remains an unfulfilled dream for many. Why? Perhaps, simply because the methods proposed by system engineers are often described so vaguely and vaguely that after reading them you want to take a hammer and smash your computer. But this is hardly the best solution, you must agree! Do you want to know how to transfer your favorite Windows 8 to an SSD without much difficulty? Then listen carefully!

Method No. 1: Installing the OS on an SSD using the Recovery program

The most commonplace and at the same time effective way to transfer all system data from HDD to SSD in Windows 8 is to use the Recovery utility built into the system. Launching it is very simple: press and Q on the keyboard at the same time, enter the name of the program into the search and double-click with the left mouse button on the result found. As a result, you will see a window like this:

In it, look for the “Disk Copy” tab in the lower left corner and click on it with the mouse after connecting our SSD to the computer using a SATA-USB cable. As a result, a new window will appear on the screen, where information about the HDD (source) and SSD (target) will be displayed:

What do we need? Find the “Disk Restore Point” section, select “Restore disk to factory settings” and click the button at the bottom of the “Copy disk” window. After this, Windows 8 will restart automatically in system recovery mode.

Note that this process will be used to transfer, install and split data from the HDD to the SSD. This process can take a lot of time: from 45 minutes to 1.5 hours. Therefore, after the process has begun, you can safely go to the kitchen for breakfast, lunch or dinner (whatever is ripe for you there). After the data transfer is successful, turn off your PC, replace your old disk with a new one, start the computer again and work on Windows 8 with an SSD. What could be simpler?

Method No. 2: Transferring data from HDD to SSD using Aomei program

If you do not have the Recovery utility installed and working on your computer, you can transfer data to Windows 8 to an SSD hard drive using the Aomei program. Note that this program is paid, but the developers provide users with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with its work during the trial period completely free of charge. What do you need? Nothing special. Just download and install it on your computer with Windows 8. This process, heavy as a blue whale, will take just a few minutes, no more.

After the installation is complete, connect the SSD and open the Aomei program. The following window will appear:

In it, we find the hard drive we need in the list, hover the mouse cursor over it and click on it with the right mouse button. In the list, look for the “Delete partitions” item and left-click on it:

As a result, all data on the disk will be deleted, and it will be ready to transfer Windows 8. After this, find the “Transfer…” tab in the window on the left and left-click on it:

A welcome window should appear, notifying you that the setup and transfer of data from one disk to another is beginning. Without hesitation (what is there to think about?), click the “Next” button:

After this, the installation wizard will prompt you to select the drive to which Windows 8 information will be transferred from the HDD:

To select a disk, just hover the cursor over it and click once with the left mouse button. After that, click the “Next” button and in the new window “Finish”. As a result of these actions, the computer reboots and automatically begins transferring information from the disk to the hard drive of your choice:

This process does not last long: well, about 1 hour. What does a lot mean? You can endure 3 hours for something like this, can’t you? In any case, after transferring materials from disk to disk, the computer will reboot, and we seize the moment and enter Bios. What we need here is to configure the computer to start from the new hard drive. After this, your favorite PC with Windows 8 installed on it will reboot and be ready to work like an ox from a brand new SSD. Quite a simple installation, right?

Method No. 3: We transfer information from the HDD using the Paragon Home Expert program

A process such as optimizing Windows 8 OS by copying data to an SSD can also be carried out through the Paragon program. It, like the Aomei program, is currently paid, but by registering on the official website, you can test it absolutely free for 30 days. During this time, you must admit, it’s not only possible to transfer data from Windows 8, but also to move mountains if desired.

What do we need? Nothing at all. Download this program from the official website, install it on your favorite PC running Windows 8 and get to work. However, first, make sure to connect your SSD to your computer. After this is done, we launch the almighty Paragon and immediately (what are we waiting for?) we find among the tabs on the left the one called “Copying and Migration”:

To copy our beloved Windows 8 to an SSD, select the appropriate tab in the new window. To do this, simply click on it with the mouse:

After this, wait for the welcome window from the great sensei, that is, the Migration Master. Read the information carefully so that the installation goes smoothly and there are no incidents later:

Have you read it? That's right! Well then, keep setting! We are going! And to do this, click the “Next” button and the Wizard, why, the Migration guru will find the SSD you previously connected. You didn't forget to connect it, did you? In this case, check the box next to “Use all...” and click the “Copy” button:

With the help of such a program, data is copied very quickly, no more than 30 minutes, and without rebooting Windows 8:

When the installation of the operating system is complete, a new window will appear on the screen:

We read everything that is written in it very carefully, so that the described process can be repeated afterwards. Setting up the system is a delicate matter, remember this! In short, this is what we do next: click the “Close” button, reboot the PC, enter the BIOS and make our SSD disk first in the boot list. Dot.