How to transfer Windows 8.1 Pro 32-Bit from HDD to SSD via USB stick?

eterna111

Distinguished
Nov 15, 2007
7
0
18,510
Hey there.

I want to transfer Windows 8.1 Pro 32-Bit from the old HDD to a new SSD I bought.

I DON'T want to buy a hard drive enclosure set, but instead transfer the installation via USB stick, just like I used to do with Windows XP back in the days, using Hiren's Boot Disk and Ghost.

I have both a C: and D: partition, but it's the C: partition I want to transfer like this. The D: partition I can transfer later via en external hard drive.

I have a USB stick that's big enough to transfer the C: partition, so that's not a problem.

Can anyone tell me how I would go about to do this? I searched for it on Google and various forums, but I can't find any solution that doesn't require a HDD enclosure set.

Thanks!
 
Solution
You *might* be able to do it with one of the various migration tools, but it would be a two step process.

1. Migrate to the USB stick
2. Migrate from the USB stick to the SSD.

How much space is used in your current C partition?
Is this a desktop or laptop?

Personally, though....I almost always recommend just a fresh install on the new SSD.

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
You *might* be able to do it with one of the various migration tools, but it would be a two step process.

1. Migrate to the USB stick
2. Migrate from the USB stick to the SSD.

How much space is used in your current C partition?
Is this a desktop or laptop?

Personally, though....I almost always recommend just a fresh install on the new SSD.
 
Solution
I have used Acronis True Image Home Edition to create an image of the C:\ drive, then use the restore image function to copy the operating system to the new hard drive. Windows will probably ask you to reauthorize Windows, since it will detect a change in hardware. I recently had to do this by calling the toll free # that came up in the pop up window asking for reauthorization.
 

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