Tech Problem: Having issues transferring to new SSD

Hello squintz69 Welcome to the Seven Forums!

When attempting to transfer files from a larger capacity drive onto a smaller one the first thing needed is a look at just large the files and folders are. The Steam folder here wouldn't even fit on any 120gb drive regardless of the type of drive. The main sub folder to back up from the "C:\Program Files(x86)\steam folder would be the SteamApps folder which contains the user account information, game saves, any patches, and any game mods added onto the Steam game library.



Try 158gb for a start! That's likely a bit larger then what you have there but shows why the Intel migration software is running into problems. The amount of data you are trying to transfer is larger then the capacity of the SSD you have there.

Rather then any transfer program the best way to see files copied over is by the manual copy and paste as you watch the drive fill. You will want to right click on each folder as well to see how large it is as well as how much actual drive space is remaining as you go along.

If you were transferring files from the 120gb drive onto a larger 1tb drive the opposite would be having plenty of drive space left over and not running into the "out of memory" error seen when any drive reaches capacity. The manual copy and paste, pick and choose which files, folders method is the better option to avoid this type of problem.

While not free (19.95) Paragon Migrate will let you decide what to transfer and what not to. It will also align your SSD properly. I use it and it does a perfect job every time. What most do is shrink your 'C' partition, create a new partition from the space made by shrinking and move user files to the new partition, thus creating a data partition. That should create enough sace on you 'C' drive to transfer to the SSD.

If you are planning a clean install of 7 on the new drive another option to mention here would be the Windows Easy Transfer tool. Once all of your programs are back on you can restore the files and setting from the backup made. This allows you to choose which other files and folders to include.

For that however you would need to first be booted in the 1tb or other drive's 7 installation there to make the backup from the 1tb. Having a 3rd drive available for storage/backup purposes can help regardless of which program you use besides watching how large any transfers are allowing for drive space reserved by Windows for things like restore points, any paging file, and system volume information.

squintz69 said:

I just bought a 120gb Intel 520 series SSD and I'm trying to transfer some of my files from my 1TB HDD. I'm using Intel's Data Migration Software which they recommended I used. For me though, it will not let me transfer because I have over 120gb of memory on my HHD. That was expected though.

I was hoping that this migration software would let me transfer some of my files (games from steam or OS if I have room) over to my new SSD but it will not. Does anyone know of a way to do this with this software or any other free software?

Sorry that I do not know much about SSD's, any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

First, Welcome to SevenForums.

Generally, one desires to put his operating system on the SSD as that brings the greatest system performance increase.

What do you want to put on to the SSD?

Let us know what you desire to put on the SSD, then those of us who have performed this operation, can advise you as to the best route.

karlsnooks has an excellent point since most buy a smaller SSD for the OS performance leaving a larger drive for storage and backup purposes as well as custom installs of programs to a second drive rather then loading up the OS. Again that would be mainly due to the smaller capacity.

One fast way to see if what you have total would be right clicking on the 1tb drive in Windows Explorer to bring up the properties screen to see how much drive space is used up. Then deduct some 20gb even 30gb from the total.

If it exceeds 100gb you have a problem where the "pick and choose" effort would be needed to sort out what files and folders would go to the new drive. I know well that well enough from having older builds where drive sizes were different and packing files from a larger drive onto a smaller one often doesn't work.

There are other programs, but my favorite program for seeing what is using how much space on my drives is:
TreeSize Free
JAM Software - Windows Freeware

That totals up things rather fast.