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Adding new HDD, need help

230 views 8 replies 3 participants last post by  Liranan 
#1 ·
Dear OCNers,
I'm on Windows 10 and I just got a new 1TB HDD. My current HDD (500GB) once refused to boot after I downloaded some huge file packets (t'was Skyrim mods) and I'm assuming the AV was trying to scan them, which made it hang, freeze and eventually refuse to be recognized. But after I got rid of the files, it's worked without much noticeable issue only thing being off is occasional high usage .

Currently, I want to back up my important files (less than 10GB of pictures) and make a boot flash-drive of Win 10, then install the new HDD along with the old one. I'll back up my pictures to Google Drive. All the rest of the stuff taking up the space are games from steam, origin, etc so they can be reacquired easily. That way, if old HDD dies, I can install OS and run off the 1TB HDD, but until then, have 1.5TB storage.

How do I install the new HDD hardware wise? Any way I should plug the SATA?

How do I get the OS to recognize the new 1TB drive while running off of the old 500GB one? What is the process?

Is it safe to use both seeing how one has malfunctioned in the past? Can it spread?

Its OK to create the install flashdrive for my legally purchased Windows, right? And all I'll have to do is use my MS account after installing it? I don't wanna use my Windows 8.1 DVD again, and possibly lose Win10. How do I create a boot flashdrive of Win10?

Thanks guys and girls!
 
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#2 ·
Installing a new drive for data storage use in Windows 10 is easy. Just plug in the drive and it should appear in the Windows Explorer. It won't have a bar that shows how much space is used/free though. All you have to do then is right click on it and format it, preferably in NTFS.
In case it does not show up in the Windows Explorer you can right click the Start menu, then click on Disk Management and format + assign a drive letter there.

I don't know about installing Windows 10 on a USB stick or smth like that but I would first try to see if Microsoft's official tool let's you do that:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10
 
#3 ·
Thanks for the information! Its greatly appreciated!
So I won't have to go into BIOS and set any primary / secondaries?
 
#5 ·
Wow thanks, I'll try it! So after its recognized, I just run format and partition it like I did when I installed the OS?
 
#7 ·
Yes, but I'll be able to use the extra space yes?
 
#8 ·
Guys I plugged in the new drive but it doesn't appear at all in Windows Explorer / This PC. I still have the same number of local disks and I don't see the unformulated partition that should be the new HDD. What should I do?

EDIT: I checked disk manager and its says I must initialize the disk. It displays the 1TB HDD as disk 0, so its working, and I won't have to open up the PC again.. It is presenting me with MBR or GPT partition styles. Which should I do? Also, my main 500GB HDD is slisted as disk 1; is that how its supposed to be? Does the number matter?
 
#9 ·
The number makes no difference whatsoever and you can either choose MBR or GPT, it won't matter. What I recommend is replacing the 500GB drive with the 1TB as boot drive as the 1TB will be faster.

What I also recommend is looking into this:

http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/try-resilient-file-system-windows/

ReFS is the Windows equivalent of ZFS/BRTFS and will entirely replace NTFS within the decade (NTFS was outdated when it was released, let alone now).
 
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