Install a clean Windows 10 into SSD while keeping my files

So, I just installed a Crucial MX300 (525GB) into my laptop. Right now, all of my files are inside the 1TB HDD, with around 200 GB free. Of course, I want to install Windows on my new SSD, but cloning isn't possible (I'd have to delete all of my games and redownload them, without mentioning that most of the data is fine to stay on the slower disk). The easiest way I can think to do this, is by installing a fresh Windows 10 into my SSD, and then move/reinstall what I need from one disk to another, and after that, set the SSD as the principal disk and use the HDD as storage (thus deleting Windows from it). Is this even possibile? To have two Windows 10 installed at the same time, even if in different drives? Or there are other ways?

Also, bonus question: my pc came eqiupped with Windows 8, then I made the free upgrade to 10, would I have any problems with license and stuff?

 

You can install win8.1 on your PC but your current license can't be used because w10 consumed it.
Do you have Steam games? Use game save manager to backup your game settings and progress.
If your games are Steam based, then copy the entire folder under Steamapp/common/ to your external HDD.
One thing I can suggest you is to create a partition for storing your games and your files temporarily and use macrium reflect to clone it to the SSD.

 

So, the only way to have Win 10 on my SSD would be by cloning the drive or buying another license? Downloading games isn't really an issue, I have a 300Mb connection and Steam/Uplay will do all on their own, I'd just prefer to start fresh because of all the crap I would unavoidably carry over to the SSD.

 

Why waste both internet bandwidth, time to install and tweak your games when you can simply move to ext. HDD and be smart.
Cloning or clean install will preserve your W10 license. To be safe I'd login to Microsoft account and link your license online.

 

Alright, thanks. To summarize, all I have to do is create a bootable USB with Windows 10, install it on the SSD, and then organize my files between the drives? Simple as that?

 

I think its better to disconnect the current hdd whilst installing w10. I am telling this to avoid Windows Creating bootloader on both SSD/HDD again.

 

Do I have to physically disconnect it or can I "disable" it via software? My pc doesn't have a way to quick reach the slots, I have to unscrew a ton of screws and it's tedious

 

If you have Prema BIOS then you can disable that HDD via BIOS or else disconnect it physically. Or simply move/delete unneeded contents on HDD before cloning. I'd suggest you to clone just C drive with OS.
Don't plug them both because it will confuse Windows 10 which drive to boot.

 

I don't believe this is accurate. You can always go back to Win 8/.1 if you'd like to.

 

Don't listen to that spammer. Your license shouldn't be affected even if you've upgraded as you mentioned. The moment you go online, your machine will be activated automatically using HWID from Microsoft. Only motherboard changes may have issues with activation but if you've upgraded from a retail key, then simply calling Microsoft and speaking to one of their customer service agent will help you activate.

Just install Windows 10 on the SSD and set that as the boot device in the BIOS (you will find 2 Windows Loader entries in the BIOS after you've installed Windows on the SSD) after the first reboot while it's installing Windows 10 on your SSD. Then if you can backup the stuff you want on an external HDD, then format the other HDD in your laptop and copy the stuff that you want from the backup would be the easiest way

 

No need if he creates 2 partitions on the SSD, then Windows will ignore the 2nd disk.

How to properly install Windows on a system with multiple drives

What Prema BIOS? the guy has an Acer laptop?

 

I can't say because if someone pays Prema for custom signed BIOS he may do it, so I hinted the OP about Prema BIOS.

 

Ok guys, thanks for the help, but I believe I messed up somewhere .

At the end I went for cloning, all went fine, except that Windows on the SSD would not boot. I spent a couple of days (after 10 hours at work, so in reality just a few hours) trying to fix it, but nothing worked. I thought it was no big deal, my old HDD was booting fine, so all I had to do was format the SSD and try again. However, now the SSD has been defaulted to C, and therefore it's the primary disk, and I can't format it. I tried removing the SSD and the old drive returns to be C and the default drive to load windows from, but if I place back the new drive the circle restarts (can't boot, boot from HDD, all is fine, but HDD is E an can't format the SSD because "contains Windows and formatting may prevent the pc from running")

How do I format the goddamn SSD to start over?

(The funny thing is that cloning went well, I could launch games from the SSD, and would load lightning fast, but Windows wasn't booting and I could not fix it in any way, from automatic boot repairs to commands from USB)

EDIT: I managed to format the SSD, any advices for cloning? The first time I used Acronis (comes bundled with Crucials SSDs), should I try again with it?

 

Try Macrium Reflect?

 

Macrium Reflect Installation/Usage Guide

Macrium Reflect Download

 

I thought it worked .

Now it's even worse: I formatted the SSD then turned off the PC to restart the cloning procedure. It was not turning off, I just thought of a bug, so I turned it off by the button. Now I can't boot to Windows in any way, the only disk connected is the old drive, but it just won't do anything. If I connect the USB pen with the media creation tool I can't use a restore point because I have to "select a windows installation". If I go to the command prompt and I start the scan for Windows (bootrec /scanos) the system sees it, but if I try to add it at the boot manager it says "path not found". The disk is listed in diskpart, it's on C and correctly says that ~300GB out of 1TB are used. I tried everything, even setting the bios to start in Legacy mode, all I get is "no bootable device found". I simply don't understand what happened.

 

Wipe the windows partition on HDD. install Windows on SSD and everything will be alright.

 

Which is the Windows partition on the HDD? I have one which is 600 MB big, and another one which is around 19 gb called "push button reset", I'm assuming is the second one due to size?

 

Post a screenshot.

 

I'm at work, so it will be ready in 10 hours .

 

Sorry for the delay, here is a picture of the available volumes (only HDD and USB connected)

 

I can't understand italian. Ony thing I can understand Recovery, push button and ESP.
I'd say you remove/format Recovery, push button and ESP partition of HDD. In the mean time create another partition to copy your important files and games. Then format the C: partition of that HDD.
Afterwards unplug the hdd and plug the SSD to install w10 while installing all drivers/apps/tweaks and after everything is done plug the hdd and use them like normal drive w/o any issues.

 

Yeah, sorry about that, I didn't think about the translation, anyway, "nascosto" means "hidden" and "integro" means "not broken" . The next part is just that the OS sees the installation of Windows but can't add it to boot menu because "the specified path can't be located". Anyway, thanks for all your help, I'll do just that

 

I think the ISO is corrupted. Download the stock OS from techbench adg https://tb.rg-adguard.net/public.php