zorin os for me is just slow. apps take forever to open, websites load super slowly, it's just slow. i believe this is because i accidentally installed zorin os on my external hard drive instead of my ssd. my ssd is only a terabyte and upgrading it now is way too expensive. windows is on my ssd, and i want to swap them: put windows on my hard drive (with two partitions, one for larger files and one for windows), and put zorin on my ssd. how do i do that?
i do not mind reinstalling anything, as long as i can keep my data.
This will be a real Tower of Hanoi to move both Windows to an HDD and Zorin to an SSD and before i make any recommendations, you may want to consider using your ssd with both OS's and your HDD as an archive in a file system both can read (ntfs would be easiest).
However, if you dual boot, secure boot, fast boot (including hibernation features), and other unwanted configurations for modern windows might make that indesirable.
If you are dead set on switching windows to an hdd, which will also make it incredibly slow and might be more hassle than its worth:
copy all zorin files to your ssd with windows
install (or clonezilla) windows to your hdd
move you files to the windows install/archive partition
install zorin on the ssd
Having only two drives makes this somewhat a challenge with multiple copies, verification of backups, installing two os's.
What i recommend, without borrowing another drive from a friend is:
from windows, shrink the partition with your os on it (this may take a lot of time) [edit... NickS pointed out this was optional and you can select "install zorin along side windows" instead]
install zorin in the newly empty space on your ssd.
backup data from your hdd
if it's not already ntfs, format your hdd in ntfs for use on both os's.
However, caveats mentioned above (secure boot, etc).
If you disconnect the hdd with Zorin on it then reinstall Zorin using the install alongside windows option (and if you have enough room - I initially installed alongside windows on a 500 Gig ssd) the installation program should take care of shrinking the windows partition, creating a zorin partition and formatting it correctly.
First secure all Your Data. Important! Don't do anything else until You have done that.
Then create a Bootstick with Zorin. Because You have a Windows Installation, I can recommend Rufus to do that. Depending if Your BIOS is in UEFI or Legacy Mode, choose in Rufs on the ''Partition Sheme'' Option GPT for UEFI or MBR for Legacy BIOS. Also disable Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOS.
Then create a 2nd Bootstick with Windows on it. Use the Microsoft Creation Tool or Rufus for that. Use what suits You.
And comes the Point of no return. Again: Have all Your Data saved.
Start the Zorin Bootstick in Live Mode. Look there for ''GParted'' and start it. Choose a Drive and delete every Partition on it. Then choose the other Drive and do the same.
Unplug Your external Drive now. Then start the Zorin Installation Process. When that is done and all is set up. Plug in Your external Drive and then start the Windows Bootstick. Make sure to choose during the Install Process the external Drive as Installation Target.