Many PC users are attracted by SSD’s outstanding feature-fast boot time. Even though this feature sounds really wonderful, but some of users flinch due to its high cost. Generally speaking, if you really want to have fast boot time, there is a way for you, installing OS to SSD but keeping everything else on HDD.

Why Install OS on SSD and Keep Other on HDD?

It is well acknowledge that SSD is different from HDD. Due to SSD store data on flash memory chips and there are no moving parts, which refers to SSDs can have faster read or write time no matter where your data is located. In this situation, if you install OS on SSD there will be faster Windows boot time.

For example, if your Windows of laptop is installed on SSD, you can benefit most from it. Because when you don’t use your laptop, the hard drive of your laptop will be allowed to cease from spinning, when there is data need to be read or written, you must wait until it recovers. But there are no moving parts for SSD, so it can’t spin and the data can be read immediately. Furthermore, for Server users who has large amount of data, installing OS on SSD can help then find the remarkable improvement performance.

Although SSD has fast speed, when referring to storage space or price, there may be problem coming out. Because, the price of SSD relies on size, that’s to say if you need larger storage space the more you will need. SSD is already more expensive than HDD, if you need to buy large SSD, the more money you will cost. Therefore, installing OS to SSD but keeping everything else on HDD is the most desirable method for you. In this way, HDD can be regarded as extended storage space which can help you store some data such as photos, videos, or applications. What’s more important is that HDD make you save money to buy a smaller size SSD. this method may help more users afford to buy a SSD.

How to Only Install OS on SSD? 

The users who have installed OS on HDD, some of them feel they can’t install OS of their PC only on SSD?  How can they only install operating system on SSD? The common way is you reinstall your system on SSD and then you install the application on HDD one by one, most of users may not want to do this troublesome work. Fortunately, free partition software-AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard can help you finish the task easily.

AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard is free third-party software which can help you only install OS on Solid State Drive without reinstalling. In this way, the system can be boot from SSD, while the other thing such as your applications, music, videos, or photos are still on HDD. Besides this feature, it also can help you merge partitions, resize partition, make bootable CD or convert MBR between GPT and so on.

How to Migrate OS to SSD:

Before you do:

  • The destination of SSD must have an unallocated space which is equal to or larger than the used space of current OS partition.
  • If you migrate OS from MBR disk to GPT disk, your motherboard must support EFI or UEFI boot.

Step1: Download, install and launch the software. Click “Migrate OS to SSD or HDD” on the left side. And then click “Next” in the pop-window.

migrate-os-to-ssd

Step2: In the next window, choose an unallocated space on SSD as destination place, and then click “Next”.

choose-unallocated-space

Step3: In the window, you can left move the bar to choose the size of new partition on SSD and then click “Next”

create-new-partition

Step4: Click “Finish” to read the note about “Boot Operating System”. And then you will return the main interface.

click-finish

Step5: Click “Apply” to perform the operation. After this step, you can install OS on SSD in your PC.

click-apply

Note:

  • If the operation involves the system partition, the operation will be completed under the PreOS Mode.
  • If you migrate OS between MBR and GPT disks, please upgrade to AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, and you need to enter BIOS and change boot setting (about boot setting, please check your motherboard computer manual) when OS migration is completed.
  • If there is no unallocated space on the destination disk, you can delete useless partition or shrink a large partition to generate some unallocated space.