Cloning OS to SSD causes "Windows needs to be repaired" error

Aaron Pung · Mar 7, 2016

I just got a Sandisk 240GB SSD today and I've tried cloning my OS from my hard drive to the SSD with the AOMEI software. The whole process goes smoothly during pre-boot copying, but when it is done and I try booting from the SSD, I get the error stated in the title. I've tried removing the HDD and changing boot priority to the SSD, but that's what gives me the error. If I plug my HDD back in, it boots up just like normal. Does anyone know what the deal is? I'd really like to ditch my hard drive as soon as possible!

USAFRet · Mar 7, 2016

1. Don't use AOMEI. Macrium Reflect instead.
2. How much used space is on your existing drive, and how large is the SSD?
3. Is your original drive still intact?

littleleo · Mar 7, 2016

I had an issue and I tried 3 different software programs until I found one that worked right. Keep trying and check the settings be sure you indicate the target is an SSD.

Aaron Pung · Mar 7, 2016

I'm trying the process one more time before I try different software so I'll report back when that's done. I'm transferring 163gb to a 240gb SSD so I don't think that's the issue. My original drive still works perfectly fine.

USAFRet · Mar 7, 2016

Aaron Pung :

Macrium Reflect
Free
It works

Aaron Pung · Mar 7, 2016

I'm trying Macrium now, the second time I tried AOMEI didn't work either. I'll report back when Macrium is done.

Aaron Pung · Mar 7, 2016

Okay now I'm getting a "Not all copied, insufficient space" error when there is clearly enough space. I am putting 168.18 onto a 223.57 disk. Why does this happen?

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

It shouldn't. At all.
Possibly some gunk left over from the failed AOMEI attempts, taking up space?

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

I tried with Macrium too but I'm still getting the same error as before. What's going on here?

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

Boot from your existing working drive, and get a screencap of your Disk Management window.

I want to see how this new drive is configured.

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

USAFRet :

http://i.imgur.com/dnjEpkl.png

The first one is the SSD

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

OK...so your new 240GB drive is Disk 0?

Take out the new drive, Disk 0
Verify the system boots properly
If so, delete ALL those partitions, leaving a large blank space

Redo the clone thing, with Disk 0 as the target.
If I got the drives the wrong way, please clarify.

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

USAFRet :

That's correct. The system does boot fine when the SSD is taken out. I formatted each time before cloning again. Both times Disk 0 was the target. It took over three hours to do it with Macrium, why should I do it again if the same thing will happen?

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

Not 'formatted', but rather delete all those partitions, leaving one large space.

1. It should NOT take 3 hours. I've never had one take that long
2. Given proper drive sizes, I see no reason why this will not work

Is this a brand new Sandisk 240GB drive?

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

USAFRet :

Aaron Pung :

Not 'formatted', but rather delete all those partitions, leaving one large space.

1. It should NOT take 3 hours. I've never had one take that long
2. Given proper drive sizes, I see no reason why this will not work

Is this a brand new Sandisk 240GB drive?

I'll try doing that, but I don't know why it took so long. It is a brand new one out of the box from Amazon. Exactly how do I delete the partitions?

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

USAFRet :

I'll try doing that, but I don't know why it took so long. It is a brand new one out of the box from Amazon. Exactly how do I delete the partitions?

From that Disk Management window
Right click, Delete Volume

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

"Windows cannot delete the active system partition on this disk."

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

Are we sure we're selecting the correct drive?
And not the drive it is booted from?

That message says that whatever drive you are trying to manipulate is in fact the drive it has booted from.

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

It is the correct drive. I try deleting the volume under E: (the SSD, Disk 0) and that's when it gives me that error.

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

I cannot visualize why this is not working.

Macrium Reflect should not throw an error of not enough space.

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

USAFRet :

I resized the partitions when it did that and then it let me go ahead. Should I try some other software just for the heck of it? Last night it gave me an error saying winstart.exe was not found but I restarted and then that went away and just said Windows needs to be repaired, not sure if it has anything to do with this but I found it kinda odd.

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

USAFRet :

I resized the partitions when it did that and then it let me go ahead. Should I try some other software just for the heck of it? Last night it gave me an error saying winstart.exe was not found but I restarted and then that went away and just said Windows needs to be repaired, not sure if it has anything to do with this but I found it kinda odd.

It let you go ahead?
What is the current state of the system?

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

I should say let me go ahead as in go ahead with the cloning, not ahead into Windows. When I boot only off the ssd, I see the motherboard screen and then after that it goes to a blue Windows screen saying it needs to be repaired. I noticed something earlier, on the disk management screen do you see how it's labeled Boot on my primary hdd? Is there any way I can switch that to the solid state drive or doesn't that matter?

USAFRet · Mar 8, 2016

Aaron Pung :

If it does not boot from the new drive and only the new drive, something has gone wrong.

What happens if you let the Repair run?

Aaron Pung · Mar 8, 2016

I can't do the repair. I have no CD drive installed or Windows 10 CD since I downloaded Windows 10. I'm kinda stuck in that aspect.

Cloning OS to SSD causes "Windows needs to be repaired" error

Honorable

Titan

Splendid

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Titan

Honorable

Share this page