Replacing a suspect disk drive

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In my setup I have two HDDs. One is the system disk, from where Windows 10 boots and which contains program files, users, Windows folders, etc. The other one is a data disk which contains mainly documents and photos. This second one is suspect, and I want to replace it with either an SSD or an SSHD.The existing disk has a capacity of about 1000 GB, of which about 47 GB is in use, but that will grow larger over time as I expand my photo collection. First question: which would be better, SSD or SSHD? (Ignoring cost at this stage.)

I use Macrium Reflect to take regular disk image backups of both HDDs, and the backups are stored on an external USB drive. I know the backups are good, because I have had to restore occasionally. Second question: if I take out the suspect HDD and replace it with an SSD or SSHD, can I then restore a backup image to the new drive?

Third question: would there be any other necessary adjustments, e.g. in the BIOS or elsewhere?

I have not done this sort of thing before, so am looking for guidance.

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First question: which would be better, SSD or SSHD?

Neither. Any form of SSD will be wasted [ie $ ROI] on a data disk, a big slow HD is ideal for that.

I recommend you get a SSD and restore Windows to it. That’s where SSDs shine, running the OS–and some slow-loading programs.

Second question: if I take out the suspect HDD and replace it with an SSD or SSHD, can I then restore a backup image to the new drive?

Don’t know for sure. However, I recommend that you make a file-based copy or backup of your data disk as well–you don’t want to only have an image when doing this kind of swapping around.

Lugh.
~
Alienware Aurora R6; Win10 Home x64 1803; Office 365 x32
i7-7700; GeForce GTX 1060; 16GB DDR4 2400; 1TB SSD, 256GB SSD, 4TB HD

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Here is a discussion on SSHD that I posted when I was buying a new laptop. There are some good links in the thread to explain the differences between SSD & SSHD. http://windowssecrets.com/forums/showthread//169559-Hybrid-HDD-information

As Lugh said, the place for an SSD or SSHD would be the boot drive.
Hope this helps

Don't take yourself so seriously, no one else does
All W10 Pro at 22H2,(2 Desktops, 1 Laptop).

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If you want to determine the status of your data disk, then run a command prompt as an admin and enter chkdsk x: /f where x is the drive letter and that will tell you if it has any bad sectors – but for a more comprehensive check on its status, download the 30 day trial version of HDSentinel – but why is it suspect ?

Hit the green download button and then uninstall it when done to stop the clock so that you can use it again as and when.

http://www.hdsentinel.com/

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Do I understand the backups are also on this 2nd internal HD? Or, did I read wrongly?

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Roland, he said that his images are on an “external drive”.

Bundaburra, you should be able to restore an image to any connected drive (assuming it is large enough capacity) by using your boot media.
If you’re asking if you can run with two drives containing the same operating system, I think you’ll find that’s a “no no” (Microsoft takes a dim view of that).

Image or Clone often! Backup, backup, backup, backup......
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Home Built: Windows 10 Home 64-bit, AMD Athlon II X3 435 CPU, 16GB RAM, ASUSTeK M4A89GTD-PRO/USB3 (AM3) motherboard, 512GB SanDisk SSD, 3 TB WD HDD, 1024MB ATI AMD RADEON HD 6450 video, ASUS VE278 (1920x1080) display, ATAPI iHAS224 Optical Drive, integrated Realtek HD Audio

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Thanks RockE, I was distracted a few times while reading these threads

"Take care of thy backups and thy restores shall take care of thee." Ben Franklin, revisted

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Thanks to all those who replied.

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Why is the disk suspect?
Have you tested it? The manufacturer will have a diagnostics program that will tell you the disk status.

cheers, Paul

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