Moving OS and Files to SSD from Bigger HDD

Tokage

Reputable
Jul 2, 2015
52
0
4,630
I just bought a Samsung 850 EVO 250GB, and I want to move my files over from my 500GB hard drive. I have deleted enough files for the contents of my hard drive to fit on the ssd, but I don't know what the best program to use for the move is. I have a hard drive cloner, but it won't let me clone from a larger HDD to a smaller SSD, even if I make the partition smaller.

Any Suggestions?
Thanks for any feedback!
 
Solution


Assuming your total used space on the HDD is at or below 200GB, these steps for a successful clone:
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Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung...
Your best option will be to simply install Windows on the new SSD, and after doing so, copy your files over from the hard drive- or simply keep them on the hard drive and access them from there. Since you have an SSD, it won't take you very long to install Windows on there. You can use that hard drive as a storage drive, once the SSD is up and running.
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator


Assuming your total used space on the HDD is at or below 200GB, these steps for a successful clone:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
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