Solved How to move Windows 7 64-bit (c:) to new larger hard drive?

[GARoss]

I keep getting data overload warnings on my SSD 128Gb (c: ) I have another seldom used 2Tb HHD that has some data on it but could easily be moved to another drive. All drives are NTFS. I'd like to move all data on (c: ) to the 2Tb HHD, making it my new booting (c: ).

Can this be done without too much trouble?

 

[MilesAhead]

I would take a look at the cloning features of free imaging programs. Macrium Refflect Free is one example. Make sure when you clone to a larger drive it doesn't require the Windows boot partition to be the same size as the source partition. You could probably live with a 128 GB boot partition. But searching around may side step the limitation.

 

[AddRAM]

Why don`t you just move the data ? Why are you storing all your data on C when you have another drive ?

You want to keep the ssd as your boot drive.

 

[PSCO2007]

As said above, just move data ( pictures, files etc) to new hdd.

I would copy and paste first and when you are sure everything is on new hdd, erase the old data from C.

One of the biggest hogs is the "Windows Old".
If that is on your C drive, you will probably get more than 40gb back.

I try to keep my SSD boot no more than 50% capacity.

 

[MilesAhead]

As said above, just move data ( pictures, files etc) to new hdd.

I would copy and paste first and when you are sure everything is on new hdd, erase the old data from C.

One of the biggest hogs is the "Windows Old".
If that is on your C drive, you will probably get more than 40gb back.

I try to keep my SSD boot no more than 50% capacity.

Other than booting is it really that much faster? Say someone runs a server that's always up anyway? I'm curious because the only SSD I owned I used in a USB 3.0 dock for video muxing. Never had one as system disk.

 

[GARoss]

Thanks for the suggestions. I did move Windows.old but it was only 101MB.

I think keeping my current c: is a good idea. But what else can be moved? I do not store music, video or photo data on c: . The 3 largest visible folders are;

• Windows - 27.2 GB
• Program Files (x86) - 10.7 GB
• Program Files - 6.80 GB.

In hidden folders;

• Users - 22 GB
• Program Data - 4.67 GB.
• I couldn't access Documents & Settings (? GB).

Those add up to 71.37 GB, far from 128 GB's capacity. There's some 40 GB of unseen data (system alerts when HD is at 90% capacity.

So, what can be moved elsewhere?

 

[MilesAhead]

Many programs can be installed in other than Program Files. Also you can check if a program you use has a Portable version. Also you can move the User folder to another disk.

User Profiles - Relocate to another Partition or Disk

What happens when you run disk cleanup?

edit: Where is the page file located? How much disk space is dedicated to shadow storage? IOW, how much is used by restore points?

 

[GARoss]

Many programs can be installed in other than Program Files. Also you can check if a program you use has a Portable version. Also you can move the User folder to another disk.

User Profiles - Relocate to another Partition or Disk

What happens when you run disk cleanup?

edit: Where is the page file located? How much disk space is dedicated to shadow storage? IOW, how much is used by restore points?

Thanks MilesAhead! Disk cleanup cleared over 7 GB off C: . C: now indicates 19.4 GB free of 119 GB. Pagefile.sys is on C:\ & is 15.9 GB. Can User folder be moved? It now reads 18.2 GB.

Below is Restore Setting which was turned off. Maybe that's not good?

 

[whs]

I would get rid of the hiberfile. The command is powercfg -h off. Also, reduce the pagefile to 1 or 2GBs. Those 2 operations should save you appr. 30GBs.

And I would not move any system or program files.

 

[whs]

As said above, just move data ( pictures, files etc) to new hdd.

I would copy and paste first and when you are sure everything is on new hdd, erase the old data from C.

One of the biggest hogs is the "Windows Old".
If that is on your C drive, you will probably get more than 40gb back.

I try to keep my SSD boot no more than 50% capacity.

Other than booting is it really that much faster? Say someone runs a server that's always up anyway? I'm curious because the only SSD I owned I used in a USB 3.0 dock for video muxing. Never had one as system disk.

A SSD for the OS is faster in all regards when you access the OS - e.g. loading programs, etc. I would never again put the OS on a spinner.

 

[GARoss]

I would get rid of the hiberfile. The command is powercfg - h off. Also, reduce the pagefile to 1 or 2GBs. Those 2 operations should save you appr. 30GBs.

And I would not move any system or program files.

Thanks whs.

I cannot find hiberfile. I did try Start/ then paste powercfg - h off into the window. In the Programs list was powercfg - h off so I selected that - a command window appeared briefly & that was it. I saw no changes in C: space.

I have 16 GB of RAM so I reduce the pagefile to zero (0 GB). That did make a big difference. C: now reads 37.8 GB free of 119 GB. This should fix my issue. I'm going to mark this as "Solved".

Thanks everyone for your valued help!

 

[whs]

You have to open an elevated command prompt and run the powercfg command there.

Reducing the pagefile to zero is not a good idea. Give it 1 or 2GBs.

 

[GARoss]

You have to open an elevated command prompt and run the powercfg command there.

Reducing the pagefile to zero is not a good idea. Give it 1 or 2GBs.

I guess I'm not doing something right. I changed Advanced Properties to Run as Administrator. I believe this is now "elevated" as you suggested but I still get an error. Here's a screen capture;

 

[MilesAhead]

There should not be a space after the hypen '-' and before the 'h'. The switch should look like -h


edit: variable width fonts on the web page probably made it look like a space after the hyphen in the whs post

 

[whs]

Sorry, I made the mistale. Somehow a space slipped in. It should be

powecfg -h off

I corrected the original posting.

 

[GARoss]

There should not be a space after the hypen '-' and before the 'h'. The switch should look like -h


edit: variable width fonts on the web page probably made it look like a space after the hyphen in the whs post

Thanks! I changed pagefile to custom 1000 MB min/2000 MB max. C: read 36.8 GB free of 119 GB. I then ran the ECP powercfg -h off. That did make a big difference, too. C: now reads 48.4 GB free of 119 GB. Even better!

 

[whs]

I am glad it finally worked. And don't worry about the reps. Give them to MilesAhead who spotted the mistake.

 

[MilesAhead]

@GARoss glad you resolved it.

 

[GARoss]

I am glad it finally worked. And don't worry about the reps. Give them to MilesAhead who spotted the mistake.

I tried to give them to both of you, MilesAhead was 1st & it wouldn't allow you as a second. I don't get it but consider my thanks!

 

[GARoss]

@GARoss glad you resolved it.

Couldn't of done it with you guys! Thanks again.
George