Can I use former boot drive as data drive w/new SSD?

cubdukat

New Member
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2
I am planning on building a new computer, and I want to put a 250GB SSD (Samsung 840 EVO) in it to use with 8.1 Pro. However, most of the programs and data I need are still on the old computer's boot drive, specifically all of my STEAM games (none of which I have the DVDs for.)

My question is if I can create symlinks to the old boot drive without losing data on it. This will most likely be a temporary measure, as the drive's a fairly slow 5900RPM Barracuda, and I want something faster, but I can't afford a better one just yet...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit
Is the old drive MBR or GPT? If MBR it may be easier to use legacy boot options and just dual boot. Boot the old drive when you want to run programs from it.

There is a Steam Mover program and others to move programs to another drive. But you would need a target drive to copy them to. In your case using symlinks may be a lot of work.


But if someone has more info than I about this option I hope they chime in. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
The original boot drive is MBR, but I won't be able to boot from it. The computer it came out of was an AMD FX-powered computer, and the new system is a Core i5 with the SSD in GPT.

I wish I could reuse my old Windows install media, but the Windows 8 was an upgrade disc over a Windows 7 Pro System Builder copy. I don't want to take a chance on them not reactivating me.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro 64-Bit

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.0 x64
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Toshiba Satelite C55D-A Laptop
    CPU
    AMD EI 1200
    Memory
    4 gb DDR3
    Graphics Card(s)
    Raedon 340 MB dedicated Ram
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Built in
    Screen Resolution
    1366 x 768
    Hard Drives
    640 GB (spinner) Sata II
    Keyboard
    Built in
    Mouse
    Touch pad
Windows 8 license transfer a new Windows 8.1 computer. -> link
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo G580
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-3230M
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 4000
    Browser
    Microsoft Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender, standard user account
    Other Info
    UEFI firmware (BIOS) embedded Windows 8 product key.
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