Cloning to SSD via HDD partition

Johnmac150 · Feb 18, 2015

Hi
I want to move the HDD on my laptop to a new SSD. Can I do it by first cloning HDD to a partition on my USB attached backup HDD and then cloning that partition to the SSD?

USAFRet · Feb 18, 2015

Why all the back and forth?

1. It is actually 2 partitions. The main one, and the small System Reserved.

2. Many SSD's (Samsung) come with a cable, specifically for what you seek to do.

ArtPog · Feb 18, 2015

Yes, that's doable. I take it you would plan to install the SSD as an internal drive in your laptop following the first cloning operation so that it would serve as the destination disk for the second disk-cloning operation. If practicable (the USBEHD is not in a sealed unit) it would be better if you could install the SSD in your USBEHD enclosure so that only a single disk-cloning operation would be necessary. (Another reason why it's usually best for users to purchase a USBEHD enclosure + a HDD/SSD. Much greater flexibility with little, or any add'l cost.)

Solandri · Feb 18, 2015

USAFRet :

It's 2 partitions and the partition table. The partition table will have a flag saying which partition should be booted if the computer tries to boot off the drive.

If you clone the drive, the table and this flag will get copied over from the old drive, and the SSD will work without any additional steps.

If you just copy partitions, then none of the partitions on the SSD will be flagged as bootable. Your computer will try to boot the SSD, and say "no bootable device found." You have to manually edit the partition table and set the "bootable" flag on the correct partition. System Reserved if it has it, otherwise the partition with Windows if it doesn't. If you have a boot manager installed, it can get more complicated.

USAFRet · Feb 18, 2015

Solandri :

USAFRet :

It's 2 partitions and the partition table. The partition table will have a flag saying which partition should be booted if the computer tries to boot off the drive.

If you clone the drive, the table and this flag will get copied over from the old drive, and the SSD will work without any additional steps.

If you just copy partitions, then none of the partitions on the SSD will be flagged as bootable. Your computer will try to boot the SSD, and say "no bootable device found." You have to manually edit the partition table and set the "bootable" flag on the correct partition. System Reserved if it has it, otherwise the partition with Windows if it doesn't. If you have a boot manager installed, it can get more complicated.

Right. And the OP mentions "a" partition. That will not work as stated.

g90814 · Feb 18, 2015

I use a program called Macrium Reflect (free verison).

It will do all this for you... you can clone drives, or create images of drives, all while windows is running.

USAFRet · Feb 18, 2015

g90814 :

Usually, yes.
Read enough in here, and you will see multiple examples of where it did NOT work.

Johnmac150 · Feb 19, 2015

ArtPog :

What I would like to do is:
1. Shrink partition on USBHD to create new empty partition
2. install the laptop HDD into my PC and use CopyTrans to clone to new partition
3. Replace laptop HDD with SSD and clone from partition to SDD

...or should I just spend a few pounds on an external SATA adapter and clone directly?

ArtPog · Feb 19, 2015

First of all I'm not at all familiar with the CopyTrans program you will be using but I assume you've previously used that program and are satisfied with its disk-cloning capabilities with respect to your situation.

In lieu of the process you outlined is there any reason why you couldn't simply install your laptop's disk and the SSD as a secondary drives in your (desktop?) PC and then use that CopyTrans program to clone the laptop's contents directly to the SSD?

Johnmac150 · Feb 19, 2015

ArtPog :

Got mixed up - I meant Macrium Reflect!

ArtPog :

That might work - I could disconnect Optical and Data HDD SATA drives and use those connections (or shell out for additional SATA cable, I suppose). Would be quicker than using USB as well.

ArtPog · Feb 20, 2015

Should work.

leon2006 · Feb 21, 2015

Clone your HDD to your SDD directly....One step you will be done...After cloning remove your OLD HDD and replace it with the new SSD....One step

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