What are the risks involved in cloning a laptop's HDD to an SSD?

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UmarG

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Hi!

I'm looking to upgrade my laptop's HDD to an SSD.

My current HDD has 5 partitions, 4 of which are recovery and system partitions. I only really use C:\ Drive.

I've already kinda settled on getting the Samsung 850 Evo and plan to clone my existing HDD to it using the Samsung Data Migration Tool. However, I just had a few concerns around how that would work (particularly around Windows).

1) My Windows came pre-installed on my Laptop (in fact, it was Windows 8.1, but I used the free upgrade to Windows 10 - currently on the Fall Creators Update). Would the cloning process preserve my Windows license?

2) If Windows does copy over OK, then could there be any problems with it working on the SSD, given that it was originally pre-installed on the HDD? (I've read that Windows installations can be tied to the original system config, or is that just the motherboard?)

3) Any other risks that I should look out for with cloning my HDD to an SSD?

Thanks in advance!


Edit:

As requested, I should note that my existing HDD has 500 gb on it (455 gb use-able). The SSD I plan on getting also has a capacity of 500 gb.

This is a screenshot of my Disk Management Window:

HTZUZnQ.png



 
Solution
USAFRet
So, given the above numbers, a migration should be no problem.

To answer your initial questions:
1. The clone operation does NOT affect the licensing. You're just moving things to a new drive in the same system
2. No.
3. No, not really.

So, to proceed.
You'll need a USB cable such as this: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
You connect the SSD with that cable to a USB port.

Then, these steps, mostly (adjustments for laptop in RED)
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
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...
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Migrating to a new drive, in the same system, usually works. Usually.
If it doesn't, it can be a pain.

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window.

What size is the new SSD?
How much total space is consumed on your current drive?
 
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UmarG

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Hi USAFRet and thanks for the answer, I've updated the question with the screenshot of the Disk Management Window and the size of the SSD.

To answer your other question, I've used up about 71% of my existing HDD.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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So, given the above numbers, a migration should be no problem.

To answer your initial questions:
1. The clone operation does NOT affect the licensing. You're just moving things to a new drive in the same system
2. No.
3. No, not really.

So, to proceed.
You'll need a USB cable such as this: https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84
You connect the SSD with that cable to a USB port.

Then, these steps, mostly (adjustments for laptop in RED)
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
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
Remove the existing HDD and put the new SSD in its place
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD
[strike]Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive[/strike]
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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UmarG

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Thanks a lot USAFRet!

Just a few clarifications:

1) When you say "Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD", you mean all the external drives right? Cos my laptop only has one hard drive in it.

2) For "Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive" - does this mean I ignore all the recovery partitions? (i.e. all the "Disk 0" partitions in the screenshot)

3) For that last bit, "Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary." - this would be done with the SATA-to-USB cable, ya? And the basic purpose here is just to wipe that drive before I sell it or recycle it or whatever?

Thanks again!
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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1. Since you only have the one drive, ignore that line

2. No, you select ALL partitions.
I guess you could leave off the 8.27GB partition all the way to the right. That is the Factory Reset partition, used if you wanted to bring it back to out of the box condition.

3. Correct.
 
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