Copy WIndows to SSD but keep Programs and Games?

Hi,
I have had my m14x r2 for about a bit over a month now. It came with a 1TB HDD and a 64GB msata drive. Alienware had installed Windows 7 onto the HDD and I figured I'd store programs on the ssd. Now to try and get better performance out of my m14x I wish to copy the OS over to the SSD, while leaving the programs and games on the HDD. I figured I'd Remap the directories if I wanted any programs on my ssd (also, could anyone give me some info on how to do this?). SO basically, I want the same layout and everything now (with shortcuts, although I can make those again) but on my ssd. I was hoping you guys could help me with this, as I have too many programs and games installed/downloaded to format the hdd. I really hope there is a way to do this? ALso would alien respawn/windows backup be able to heelp with this?

Also, *Unrelated* I was wondering if there are any of the osd mods out there as I find the pre-installed ones ugly and dull.

And just in case you were wondering, my specs are Alienware M14x R2 - i7-3610QM 2.3 - 3.3 Ghz, 8 GB 1600mhz RAM, 1600 x 900 resolution, Nvidia Geforce 650m 2 GB Vram, Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit, 1 TB HDD, 64GB Msata SSD

Thanks

 

I suppose it might be possible, but when you start moving the Windows directory you start to run in to problems with the OS not knowing where it is. I'll be surprised if there's a clean way to do what you're asking.

I moved the OS to the SSD but left the programs on the HD. But I had to reformat both drives. I had a backup drive and kinda moved the programs back manually. The Steam ones I checked were able to reverify all the files without redownloading. LoL had to redownload some stuff because I deleted the installer files. KotOR2 I was able to just make a new shortcut.

Sorry man.

 

More thoughts:
I reformatted the SSD and installed Windows to that drive, but didn't reformat the HD. This caused all sorts of problems when I started redirecting folders to the data drive. I had all sorts of permissions headaches. It was a pain.

I googled cloning solutions, but it doesn't look like you can move just the Windows folder.

Maybe there's a way to do it with robocopy.exe from the install disc, but you'd still have to do a reinstall or something to get your booting to work properly.

I don't see any way around either reformatting or living with what you've got. Hopefully someone else knows more and has better news for you.

 

Hi,
So do you have any idea if i could make a windows backup and format both and then get all of my stuff back by loading it through the backup? Also, Since I got my m14x R2 from the Dell Outlet it didn't come with a Windows 7 disc :/ Do you know how I'd go about installing Windows onto my SSD?
Thanks for your replies

 

I've been looking in to this a bit more.

Here's a link to how you can install if they didn't give you the DVD:
How to Install Windows 7 Without the Disc | PCWorld

As for using Windows' own backup software to do it, I don't know. If you're backing up a HD with more than 64GB of data to a 64GB drive, I don't see how that's going to work. Maybe AlienRespawn would be able to do something like that. I don't know how it works.

I'm really hoping someone else has more knowledge on this.

Edit:
I ended up with something like you want to end up with. But I did it completely differently, I had a Windows disc, and so on.

Check out my thread on it. http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m14x/706645-os-installed-32gb-msata-success.html

 

Hi,
I ended up formatting both of my hard drives and figured I'd just have to start from scratch. So I downloaded a legit copy of windows and used the serial on the bottom of my laptop. The difference in speeds is tremendous. I can restart while installing updates in the time it used to take to boot to the logon screen. Thank you for all of your help. as I've managed to increase my WEI by quite a bit - I'll attach a picture of it. Now I'm just installing all of my games and programs and trying to get it back to how it used to be <-- click that