Want to buy SSD. Already have a machine with an HDD. Questions.

Hey guys,

After helping my friend build his brand new rig and seeing how fast it was to install Windows on an SSD, I am really contemplating getting one. I have a few worries though, for him installing it was easy enough because everything was a fresh install for him. For me on the other hand, I'm going to be installing an SSD into a machine I've already used for at least a year, meaning it already has Windows installed, along with a bunch of programs, and all my files.

I was wondering what would be the easiest way for me to migrate to using an SSD? I've read through some of Sean's guides where he recommends to simply stick with doing a whole new OS install, but the fact that I'd have to re-install all my programs really is the main reason that has stopped me from wanting to get an SSD in the first place. (Or else I would've gotten it a long time ago, money isn't that big of an issue).

Are there any easy ways to transfer my old programs onto a new install? The things that are going to be toughest to reinstall for me are probably going to be school programs (Visual Studio, Xilinx, Pspice, etc.). I don't remember which one had licenses and if I'd have to request new ones and how much of a pain that would be. Programs like Steam, Chrome, iTunes are easy enough to reinstall with sites like Ninite.

Are there any programs out there that will help me just back up all the programs and then restore them on the new OS (i.e. how Titanium Backup works on Android devices).

I know that I'll have to backup my actual data (music, documents, pictures, etc.) somehow. I was thinking about making a partition on my HDD and putting the stuff there and then deleting the windows partition once the new SSD is up and running and then just merging the partitions together so that it's just the whole HDD again. Would this work?

Also, should I be worried about losing anything else in the process?

Sorry for the wall of questions.
Your guys' responses will be greatly appreciated!

 

Apricorn / EZgig software works awesome. Have used it for several SSD upgrades. Also what comes with corsairs force 3 notebook upgrade kits. Just plug the ssd into the adapter, plug it into a USB port. Use the software to clone your current drive to the new SSD. Once done, simply install the new SSD and it will boot right up!

APRICORN ASW-USB-25 USB 2.0 to SATA Adapter

 

Use Seagates tool for it. Based off of Acronis and its free. Simply plug in both drives boot to the Seagate you already have and it guides you through the rest.

http://www.seagate.com/support/inte...-hard-drives/savvio-15k/discwizard-master-dl/

 

Based on your case, I think you should be add some software to backup your data if any error when you do your activities.

 

Acronis, but be sure to BACK UP EVERYTHING JUST IN CASE!