First time cloning a drive, I have a few questions.

Information System · Sep 28, 2017

I have a computer at the moment with a 3.5 mechanical drive that I intend on swapping out with a Samsung Evo 850. I would like to clone my current Windows installation onto the SSD before I swap it out but I'm not sure what I need; nor am I sure about how to actually go about doing this.

From what I understand, I can use this cable to plug one end into my PC, and the other end into the SSD then use Samsung's migration tool to clone the drive but is it that easy? Is there anything I'm overlooking? Will the SSD have enough power?

Thanks

USAFRet · Sep 28, 2017

Information System :

The first consideration is the size of the drive, and the total consumed space on the current HDD.

If the data is larger than the SSD, this will not work.
So...what are these numbers?

After that, we'll go into full detail of how.

Information System · Sep 28, 2017

USAFRet :

Information System :

The first consideration is the size of the drive, and the total consumed space on the current HDD.

If the data is larger than the SSD, this will not work.
So...what are these numbers?

After that, we'll go into full detail of how.

Thanks for the reply.

The numbers should not be an issue as I'm moving from a 1TB HDD to a 1TB SSD. There's about 600GB of free space left on my current drive.

USAFRet · Sep 28, 2017

Information System :

OK then. No problem.
Cloning usually works. Usually.

This is a desktop, correct? You don't need that USB cable thing, as long as you have a spare SATA port on the motherboard, and a spare SATA data cable.

Exactly like this, no deviations:
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------

Information System · Sep 28, 2017

USAFRet :

Information System :

OK then. No problem.
Cloning usually works. Usually.

This is a desktop, correct? You don't need that USB cable thing, as long as you have a spare SATA port on the motherboard, and a spare SATA data cable.

Exactly like this, no deviations:
-----------------------------
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
-----------------------------

I appreciate the extremely thorough instructions.

Sadly I do not actually have a sata cable laying around at the moment. Would the USB cable work or do you advise using your sata method?

I don't have a preference.

Thanks
Carson

USAFRet · Sep 28, 2017

Information System :

Assuming you already own it, that USB cable thing will work.
Just be sure that the very first thing you do after the clone is done is...power off, swap drives, allow the system to try to boot from the new drive.

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First time cloning a drive, I have a few questions.

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