You can still use your HDD after cloning it to an SSD. In fact, cloning is a process that creates an exact copy of the contents of one drive and transfers it to another drive. So, after the cloning process is completed, you will have both the original HDD and the newly cloned SSD.
Having both drives allows you to have a backup of your data on the HDD in case anything goes wrong with the SSD. It also gives you the flexibility to choose which drive you want to use as your primary boot drive.
However, if you want to take full advantage of the speed and performance benefits of an SSD, it is recommended to set it as your primary boot drive. This means that you will need to configure your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings to boot from the SSD instead of the HDD.
To make Windows boot from the SSD after cloning, you will need to perform a few additional steps:
1. Replace the old drive: Physically install the newly cloned SSD into your computer, either by replacing the existing HDD or adding it as an additional drive. Ensure that the SSD is properly connected and recognized by the system.
2. Set SSD as the boot drive: Access your computer’s BIOS or UEFI settings by pressing a specific key (such as F2 or Del) during startup. Look for the “Boot” or “Startup” menu and set the SSD as the primary boot device. Save the changes and exit the BIOS/UEFI.
3. Remove the HDD (optional): If you no longer need the HDD or want to use it for other purposes, you can remove it from your computer. However, make sure that you have backed up any important data from the HDD before doing so.
4. Test the boot process: Restart your computer and observe if it boots from the SSD successfully. If everything is set up correctly, Windows should load from the SSD, and you can start using your computer with the improved speed and performance of the SSD.
It’s important to note that cloning only copies the contents of the drive, including the operating system and all files. It does not automatically make the cloned drive the primary boot device. You need to manually configure the boot settings to ensure Windows boots from the SSD.
Yes, you can still use your HDD after cloning it to an SSD. However, to fully utilize the benefits of the SSD, you need to set it as the primary boot device by adjusting the BIOS/UEFI settings.