How do I transfer files from one hard drive to another?

Hi, I am Van. I'm an Independent Advisor and a Windows user like you. I'll be glad to help you today.

Traditionally copy and paste would be the best method to transfer files from a drive to another drive. You will just have to plug your new drive into the PC.

You won't have any problems transferring if it's just regular files like docs, pictures, music, and movies. The only slight issue is the games. Because some of the games can be transferred but some need to download again.

First transfer your regular files. Once done, next move your game folders one by one. If the games come from the Microsoft store, go to Windows settings by pressing Windows key + I, then go to App > Apps & features. Select the app you want to transfer then click move.

If the games come from Steam. Just copy the whole steam folder then paste it to your new drive.

Best regards,

Van

I was wondering how I could maybe transfer all my files/games from my current hard drive to said bigger drive, hypothetically speaking.

Ask Google like so:

how to clone a hard disk

Hi William,

If you have a desktop PC and your drive is a regular SSD or HDD you can connect the disk drive via SATA cable. If your drive is an NVMe type you can connect it via NVMe slot in the motherboard. Turn of your PC, open the casing then plug in the disk drive on their designated slot.

If you have a laptop PC, you might need to use a SATA to USB adapter for the regular SSD or HDD. For NVMe drive check the laptop if it has an extra NVMe slot. Otherwise, you will need an NVMe to USB adapter.

Best regards,

Van

"Ok so how do I plug the new drive into my PC"

• Laptop or Desktop machine ? Laptop can be awkward. I assume you have Windows on a different HDD\SSD so both drive bays are filled.

In this case you will need to use an  external HDD enclosure and connect via USB.

Desktop is just a matter of popping the new drive in a spare drive bay, connecting an SATA cable between the HDD and spare SATA port

and one of the extra HDD\SSD power cables to the new drive.

- As long as your Windows is intact you will have no problems simply copying all game files to the new HDD.

The only time you would have problems is with a clean reinstall of Windows as this wipes out any Registry keys used by the games.

- I also keep a clone of my Windows as a precaution to avoid having to reinstall my disc based games should my Windows SSD fail,

but with games from Steam, etc. you can even do a clean reinstall of Windows, and after reinstalling the Steam client and jumping though

a few hoops (instructions can be found at Steam > Faqs pages) you can run your games without reinstalling them.

btw - I was of the impression that, while you can choose different locations to install games from the MS Store, you cannot copy them to

a new location after they have been installed.

I generally copy and backup new game installs to new drives in smallish (around 100GB) batches as a precaution against the small chance

of file corruption.

Keep your old HDD for backups should your games HDD fail at some time.

• If your Windows is on the same drive as your games, and particularly if the games on in the default location - Program Files (x86) -

or maybe Program Files (64bit games)  you would need to clone the whole lot to the new drive.

This would take a long time with a 4TB drive, and is a big reason for never installing games to the default location, or anywhere

else on the C:\ partition\drive.

Macrium is a favorite around here....

Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free

I've been using AOEMI for a few years....

Free Partition Manager - AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard

.

Ok so how do I plug the new drive into my PC to transfer/copy the files?