Disk Image or Transfer

[Bushwack44]

Just bought a desktop PC that came with a 2TB 7200HD - Windows 10 pre-installed and running the current version. I've already loaded all the apps onto the drive and my documents (occupying 600MB).

I bought a 1TB SSD and installed it as a second internal drive. It formatted fine. What I would like to do is a complete transfer of all files from the HD to the SSD and be able to boot from the SSD.

Do I make a disk image of the drive or do a transfer (i.e.: https://pcmover-10.laplink.com/)? Whichever route is recommended, please suggest the best software for the job. Thanks.

[Bako88fanjr]

Just bought a desktop PC that came with a 2TB 7200HD - Windows 10 pre-installed and running the current version. I've already loaded all the apps onto the drive and my documents (occupying 600MB).



I bought a 1TB SSD and installed it as a second internal drive. It formatted fine. What I would like to do is a complete transfer of all files from the HD to the SSD and be able to boot from the SSD.



Do I make a disk image of the drive or do a transfer (i.e.: https://pcmover-10.laplink.com/)? Whichever route is recommended, please suggest the best software for the job. Thanks.

What you want to do is download the exact version of your windows and have the code ready. Start out by safely removing and storing your HD while you install windows onto the ssd. I also would look into doing it correctly by watching YouTube videos.

[Dragunov]

Just bought a desktop PC that came with a 2TB 7200HD - Windows 10 pre-installed and running the current version. I've already loaded all the apps onto the drive and my documents (occupying 600MB).

I bought a 1TB SSD and installed it as a second internal drive. It formatted fine. What I would like to do is a complete transfer of all files from the HD to the SSD and be able to boot from the SSD.

Do I make a disk image of the drive or do a transfer (i.e.: https://pcmover-10.laplink.com/)? Whichever route is recommended, please suggest the best software for the job. Thanks.

This is the easiest, most reliable way to do what you want to do:

Download Macrium Reflect, and "clone" your C drive, to your new SSD. remove 2tb drive, install SSD (now the C drive). Format your 2tb drive as "D" drive. Once this is done, image your C drive, to the D drive. Once done, check the D drive, to make sure the Macrium Reflect image file is there. Make a Macrium recovery USB stick. Put in a safe place.

If you use a swap file, have it run from your D drive.
Send all your TEMP/TMP files to the D drive.
re-direct personal files (Pics, Music, Video etc.) to the D drive.
Turn off Defrag on the SSD (C) drive.
This will seriously reduce the R/W cycles on the SSD.

If you're using a Samsung SSD, download, and use the Samsung Magician software.

If you need help doing any of this, let me know, and I can talk you through it. It's not that hard.

[HibikiR]

https://www.partitionwizard.com/free-partition-manager.html

Use this to transfer the contents of the OS to the SSD.

However, the manufacturer of the SSD may have better software that can do the same thing but with a better interface. I've used Samsung's Data Migration software to great effect.

[Bushwack44]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Now...Why do I have to change the letter designation of the drives (after they're cloned)? Can't I just go into the BIOS and change the boot order?

FWIW, my C drive is the 2TB 7200, the D drive is the DVD player, and the E drive is the new (Crucial) SSD.

This is the easiest, most reliable way to do what you want to do:

Download Macrium Reflect, and "clone" your C drive, to your new SSD. remove 2tb drive, install SSD (now the C drive). Format your 2tb drive as "D" drive. Once this is done, image your C drive, to the D drive. Once done, check the D drive, to make sure the Macrium Reflect image file is there. Make a Macrium recovery USB stick. Put in a safe place.

If you use a swap file, have it run from your D drive.
Send all your TEMP/TMP files to the D drive.
re-direct personal files (Pics, Music, Video etc.) to the D drive.
Turn off Defrag on the SSD (C) drive.
This will seriously reduce the R/W cycles on the SSD.

If you're using a Samsung SSD, download, and use the Samsung Magician software.

If you need help doing any of this, let me know, and I can talk you through it. It's not that hard.

[AtomicOrange]

I used Macrium to clone my hdd to a new Samsung ssd. It worked fine, but it could take a couple of hours or more, so set aside the time and be patient while it is writing to the ssd. Mine is a Asus laptop.

[Bako88fanjr]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Now...Why do I have to change the letter designation of the drives (after they're cloned)? Can't I just go into the BIOS and change the boot order?

FWIW, my C drive is the 2TB 7200, the D drive is the DVD player, and the E drive is the new (Crucial) SSD.

It shouldn't look like that once you install windows to your ssd. Once windows is installed onto your ssd and it is recognized as a boot device it should go smoothly after that (that's why i said you should unplug your HD before you install windows on your new drive).

[Bushwack44]

It shouldn't look like that once you install windows to your ssd. Once windows is installed onto your ssd and it is recognized as a boot device it should go smoothly after that (that's why i said you should unplug your HD before you install windows on your new drive).

Windows came pre-installed on the drive I am cloning (I don't have a bootable Windows 10 on a DVD/CD). How would I disable the HD?

[67Cuda]

Didn't your new second drive come with software to do this?

[Bushwack44]

Didn't your new second drive come with software to do this?

No - The second drive (a Crucial SSD) came with nothing pre-installed.

[Rvg2151]

https://www.partitionwizard.com/free...n-manager.html

Use this to transfer the contents of the OS to the SSD.

However, the manufacturer of the SSD may have better software that can do the same thing but with a better interface. I've used Samsung's Data Migration software to great effect.

This is what I've used in the past and it works quite well. More automated and you dont have to deal with manually changing the drive Letters.

Also if you use the process Dragunov prescribes you dont have to worry too much about what drive is what letter as long as Windows know where to boot from you should be fine.

[Dragunov]

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Now...Why do I have to change the letter designation of the drives (after they're cloned)? Can't I just go into the BIOS and change the boot order?

FWIW, my C drive is the 2TB 7200, the D drive is the DVD player, and the E drive is the new (Crucial) SSD.

Because you want to boot off your SSD, right?

Once you clone over to the SSD, THAT becomes your C drive. For standards sake, you want to boot from your C drive. It just makes things easier.

No need to go into BIOS. You can go in to Disk management and do it. Chances are, when you re-install your 2tb drive, it will automatically become your E drive.

You can designate your 2tb drive as "E" if you like. The important thing here, is to make sure your C drive is your SSD, and boot drive.

Booting from a drive besides your C drive is awkward, not standard, and can lead to making mistakes.

Once you clone your SSD, install it. Don't install your 2tb just yet. Make sure everything is working properly first.

Once you know everything works properly, THEN install your 2tb drive, go into disk management

Find your 2tb drive, then, DELETE volume for every partition. Make SURE you have the right drive!

Your drive will become UNALLOCATED.

Right click the UNALLOCATED space, then "create new volume", accept all defaults, unless you want to change drive letters.

When finished, you should be GTG.

[Dragunov]

This is what I've used in the past and it works quite well. More automated and you dont have to deal with manually changing the drive Letters.

Also if you use the process Dragunov prescribes you dont have to worry too much about what drive is what letter as long as Windows know where to boot from you should be fine.

Mini Tool Partition Wizard is a good program too. I use it for just about everything but cloning drives.

[Bushwack44]

Thanks everyone for the advise. I'll work on the cloning over the weekend (I have a hunch it will be an all day ordeal).

[gawker]

Your SSD maker should have a download that will allow you to transfer your windows 10 from the mechanical drive over to the SSD. After transfer is done. goto your bios and set which drive is the boot drive.