You gave no clue to the model#, etc. but I suggest you visit the vendors support website. There should be details on how to restore/recovery from the hidden partition located on the original HD. Then use that to install on the SSD. B 100% how all this happens as to NOT destroy or erase your original HD other than maybe the "C" portion. Of course, you save any data you deem critical or use the back-up pgm. either from windoze or what the OEM(vendor) provides. Understand this all varies and win 8.1 may make it difficult. I can only advise that you proceed only when it makes sense to you, otherwise stop. Win 8.1 does provide a method to generate back-up discs or making of recovery/restore discs, under win 8.1 a flash drive is possible as well of 8gb or better.
As for the boot sequence, you *MAY* have an option here to what to boot from. Not a boot menu that select but resetting the bios boot sequence. However, if you have installed in such a way, that you not are prompted for which to boot from, then goto the system setting in control panel. Google win 8.1 boot device selection where you then select the wanted device and then -0/zero- the seconds that menu is displayed.
http://pcsupport.about.com/od/windows-8/a/open-advanced-startup-options-windows-8.htm
*NOTE* Having non physical PS/2 kybd or plain USB one may cause an issue. Wifi type or over-capable USB kybd. can cause issues. Not always, just something to notice.
tada -----Willy ![]()
I have a PowerSpec desktop running W 8.1. As delivered, it had a hard disc drive. I installed a SSD and the intent was to boot from the SSD and use the HDD as storage. Somehow when I installed it I must have missed a step and now it asks which volume I wish to boot from at startup. I have tried to remove the volume which is the HDD from the menu but I can not figure out how to do it. I believe some OE installs might not be formatted that way. I figured I would just move all the non Windows files to the HDD, power down, disconnect it, and attempt to do a clean install on the SSD using the supplied OS disc. That doesn't work, the system does not want to boot with the HDD disconnected even though the SSD has the OS on it. I am hesitant to do the restore with the HDD hooked up as I do not know if it will erase all of my files. I would rather not have to back it all up online as it would take quite a while and I do not know if I have enough space without buying some or spreading it all over free space. How can I do a fresh install? Thanks! I have always been able to figure things out but W 8.1 has me beat.

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