I Installed New Ram & SSD. How do I do a clean Win 10 Install and keep HDD for Storage?

[Dsaroki128]

[Dsaroki128]

Good morning, I figured out that the old HDD is an EFI System. We don't have to remove an Active Flag. No biggie!

It actually made things a bit easier...and I can definitely use the USB connector in the future.

I Deleted and then Formatted the Partitions on the HDD using the New Simple Volume Wizard in Disk Management.

I assigned drive letters and Labeled the Partitions for "Storage" and for "Recovery", assuming that I can use it for Recovery now that I know the HDD is an EFI System.  Not 100% though...

I Installed the HDD back into the upgraded laptop with the new SSD and powered it up.🤞 It booted from the SSD and everything looked dandy.

Now...I needed to allocate my storage data to the Proper Drive (the HDD Storage drive D).  This is where things got tricky, and I had a hard time.  I didn't know that when you choose a folder like: Let's say "Downloads" in File Explorer, right click on it, and go to the location Tab and select "Move" to move the folder to the Storage Device Drive D, you should create folders in that  Drive matching the drive that you are moving it from: for example, I think you want to create folders in the D:\ Drive like: Users\ *Name*\Downloads, or it won't show up when you move it.

So, this is where I am now...

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[erico]

"I assigned drive letters and Labeled the Partitions for "Storage" and for "Recovery", assuming that I can use it for Recovery now that I know the HDD is an EFI System. Not 100% though.."  The old drive is not for recovery, only for storage.

You can't move the whole Downloads folder from the C: drive to the D:\ because the Windows OS needs it to stay in the active Windows installation on the C:\ drive. That is because the Windows installation uses virtual links to know where everything should be as a default.

You can name a new folder as download in the storage drive and in the productivity programs and browsers that you use change the default download folder to the new folder in settings.

You are going to have to read up on Windows, storage and folders to understand how it works.

[Dsaroki128]

Thank you for the Insite Erico. You saved me.

I restored the default settings for the "Downloads" folder back to the original Drive. 

What about Documents, Pictures, Videos, Music, and Contacts folders? Are they ok to move?

And how else would (You) utilize and configure the HDD in this Laptop so that it is useful, productive, and runs efficiently with the SSD?

Your guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks..

[erico]

Moving those folders from the c:\ drive will have a detrimental effect on the operating system.

You can copy them to the storage drive and even use the same names.

Like I said, you are going to have to do like the rest of us.

Create folders with names that make sense to you and organize them in ways that suit your purpose,  make them nested or not.

But remember to not screw up the virtual links that Windows uses by moving folders from the Windows disk. If you do that you will regret it and start seeing "folder or file not found" error messages

[Dsaroki128]

Thank you Erico. Thank you for the prompt reply.

Just to be clear, so what you are saying is that I cannot use the HDD as an active Drive?  What I mean is: I can't use it in a way to free up space on the SSD so that the SSD has more and dedicated room for OS files, Apps, and Virtual Memory for better Performance?

Again, please let me know how (You) would Utilize and Configure the HDD for Optimal Benefit and Performance in this situation.

You are really not giving me a reason to even use the HDD.

Thanks!

[Dsaroki128]

And what does "you are going to have to do like the rest of us." mean?

If something doesn't work, it doesn't work. It doesn't matter if I do like the rest of us or not.

That statement doesn't make sense.

And what does "you will regret it" mean?

How do you know what I will regret?

[erico]

"what does "you are going to have to do like the rest of us." mean?"

It means read up, study and learn.  

There are other new members in the forum who need help and they are my priority.  

You were my priority when you needed assistance as well.

Consider that I have already helped you install Windows as you requested and also with a few other things as well.

I will move on to another thread where someone need helps with an issue

"And what does "you will regret it" mean?"  That was a poor choice of words on my part.

I should have said that you may meet up with some frustration.

Make any changes in your operating system that you want and understand that if you make mistakes and the OS stops working as expected you will have to start all over again.

That isn't a bad thing as it is a rather frustrating learning experience.