Questions about cloning SSD onto a larger SSD...

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littlecupcake

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Dec 8, 2011
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I want to move from a 100+ GB C: drive to a 500+ GB one. I bought a new one - same brand and model, just larger, and I want to just do a simple clone. I'm having a hard time finding a simple guide on how to do this and I feel like it should be pretty easy...

1) Can I simply use the Windows 7 "Backup and Restore" tool to clone directly onto the new drive? Is there a better way? I really don't want to have to use another flash drive or anything as an intermediary. I just want to copy everything directly onto the new drive.

2) Once I successfully do that, can I simply leave my SATA cable where it is on my motherboard and connect the new SSD to the cable the old one used to be connected to? I think I'll just hang onto the old SSD in case and I won't hook it up to my PC.

2) For some reason, the new SSD did not come with a SATA cable and I just moved and don't have any cables laying around. Can I just temporarily disconnect my media HDD and hook the new SSD up to that cable connected to my motherboard? Or should I buy another SATA cable to do this? Is there another way to connect my new SSD to the computer for cloning? If I did that, my computer will recognize the media drive when I hook it up again, right?

Thanks!
 
Solution
USAFRet
These steps, in order:
-----------------------------
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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These steps, in order:
-----------------------------
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------
 
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Solution
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littlecupcake

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Dec 8, 2011
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The free version of Macrium Reflect says something about not including folders or something - do you know if it will clone the entire drive? I was hoping to use a free tool since this is a one-time thing. I noticed the Macrium program is already on my computer (free version) so I must've used it for something, haha.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Mar 16, 2013
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Yes, it does the whole drive.
The C drive I'm using right now was cloned from a 250GB SSD to the current 500GB SSD.
 
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