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Can I Add Storage Memory to My Windows 10 PC Without Losing Any of My Data and Personal Files?

Anonymous
2020-09-13T18:37:17+00:00

I bought a new computer with inadequate storage memory and I need to add storage memory to it.  

When I spoke to a technician about this, she said that this would involve a reinstallation of Windows 10 and that I would lose my data when she did this.

Is there not a way around this - a way of adding storage memory without losing personal data?

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Install and upgrade

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  1. DaveM121 872.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-09-13T22:25:54+00:00

    Hi Craig, glad to Help!

    3 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. DaveM121 872.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-09-13T19:04:04+00:00

    Hi Craig

    Rest assured, your laptop can take two separate drives, so you will not loose any data or applications

    You can get your tech to install an extra drive, then use that for personal file storage and your Windows 10 and all your applications can stay on the original drive

    When your tech installs the second drive, you can move your files to the second drive as follows

    1.

    Move all your User Library folders to D:

    Open Windows File Explorer

    In the right hand pane, right click your Documents folder and choose Properties

    Select the Location tab

    In the Location box, type D:\Documents then click Apply and Ok

    When that move completes, do the same for Pictures, Videos and Music

    Each time, provide a new folder location, for example, Pictures will go to D:\Pictures

    2.

    Move the location of all future content downloaded from the Microsoft Store

    Open the Settings App (gear icon on your Start Menu)

    Go to System - Storage - Change where new content is saved:

    Change all options you find there to D

    3.

    If you are a Steam Gamer

    Stop all processes associated with Steam

    Move the Steam folder to your D drive manually

    Then open the Steam Control Panel and point that to the new location

    4.

    Please Note: this should ideally be done before you begin installing any software

    For 3rd party applications, some will allow you to choose an installation location, for those, create a new Program files folder on your D drive, then for each application, create a new sub-folder of that folder

    Other 3rd party applications will not allow you to change the installation location, and there is no safe way to move those to your D drive . . .

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2020-09-13T18:41:58+00:00

    What are the specs to your computer?

    Can you give us a screenshot of Disk Management?

    It is possible to replace the disk and clone the old one to the new one and not loose any data.

    You should make a backup of you data anyway.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2020-09-13T18:54:53+00:00

    Hi,

    System Manufacturer:  ASUSTek COMPUTER Inc.

    System Model:       VivoBook_ASUSLaptop X712DA_M712DA

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  5. DaveM121 872.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2020-09-13T18:42:10+00:00

    Hi Craig

    I am Dave, an Independent Advisor, I will help you with this . . .

    It depends on your system, and on whether it can take two drives or just one, I will look into this for you . . .

    What is the Make and exact Model No. of your PC - that will be printed on a sticker on the bottom casing

    Or

    Click your Start Button then just type sysinfo and press Enter

    On the resulting page, what is reported as System Manufacturer and System Model?

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