Transfer Windows OS from HDD to SSD

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

Hello all, i just had my first windows system crash which led to me having to reinstall windows onto a different drive.

I tried reinstalling to my SSD but it would not let me. was talking with a friend who suggested i install onto my HDD. after doing so, i tried to transfer the OS to the SSD. my problem is that when i use EaseUS Todo backup, i get an error saying the partition size is too big to transfer.

Looking at the partition on my HDD, its ~4tb for boot etc (1 partition)

what i am asking for help is, how do i make basically windows a partition on my HDD away from all other free space? that way i can use the program to transfer my OS from my HDD to SSD.

Thank you to all who can help

doolittle · Apr 30, 2018

let me guess - windows did some updates and is now having problems :/ I think the first thing you need to resolve is getting the SSD recognized by the BIOS and getting it bootable, since you could not install windows to it indicates a big problem. Not to mention, if you do get your HDD cloned over to it correctly the SSD may not boot up at all!

So I would go into your BIOS, load up optimal defaults and make sure you have AHCI or RAID enabled on all the sata ports and see if you can get the windows installer to work on the SSD.

Also a good idea to make sure your HDD is not bootable, you can use GPARTED bootable ISO on a USB to make sure the boot flag is disabled on the HDD, will prevent much confusion when you reconnect your HDD and SSD together and try to boot the system.

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

Hi Doolittle,

i was in the process of updating drivers, after that had to restart, which caused an infinite load screen when booting. I think my SSD is toast. it shows 'Healthy' in Disk Managment, and is recognized in Samsung Magician, but when i try and do a data migration, it does not show up.

On a side not i just ordered an M2 SSD, which should arrive tomorrow. so thank you for your help.

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

casualgamer60 :

I am 100% unsure of what you've actually done here.

Why wouldn't it install on the SSD?
What are you planning on doing with the new m.2 drive?

We can go into how to do a clone, but that is almost certainly not what you need to do.

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

Download and install SAMSUNG MIGRATION TOOL(Samsung Data Migration software is designed to help users quickly, easily, and safely migrate all of their data – including their current operating system, application software, and user data – from their existing storage device (e.g. HDD) to their new Samsung SSD.) install it on your HDD system and follow the steps shown>>http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/content/SW/201710/20171030115320828/Samsung_Data_Migration_Setup.exe, it will assist you migrating your windows system from your HDD to your Samsung SSD.

A work around if run into issues with disk sizes is to use a system image back up- then recover the image using software like Macrium reflect (free) (preferred) or EaseUs or Acronis
this worked for me multiple times especially if you have disk with system and data partitions.

1. Create an Back up image of your system, store it on a different Hard drive (could be a USB removable one)
2.Create a boot USB stick or CD of the software you just used (ex Macrium reflect), using the corresponding used software interface boot CD creation tool:
3. Swap your older HDD out and your new SSD into the system
4. Load system from Boot CD or USB carrying the boot tool of the imaging software you just created ( Macrium reflect Boot CD for example)
5.Point the boot CD to the system image stored on the spare HDD and start recovering your system image onto your new SSD, the software will even let you adjust the size of the new system partition.

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

R0GG :

While that would probably work, I don't believe that is the solution to what he's trying to to, and what he wants the end state to be.

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

USAFRet :

So short story: installing drivers for various items, restarted pc, and then infinite boot screen 1-2 hours same screen.

What i tried:
Wiped both my SSD and HDD, tried install windos via USB, when i tried to install on my SSD, it would hang at installing windows (Maybe at 10%, didnt have a percentage) it did this multiple times. initially had to convert to GPT, because that it what was prompted.

After numerous tries, one of my buddies said to try to install onto my HDD. tried that and it worked, but instead of creating a separate partition dedicated for windows, it installed onto my 4tb HDD as one partition. so i tried to clone the drive, but am getting message saying that the volume size does not match what i am trying to do. HDD is 4tb SSD is 250gb.

In Disk Management: my SSD currently shows 3 partitions: 499MB (Healthy) Recovery Partition, 100MB (Healthy) EFI System, 232.28GB NTFS 9Healthy) Primary Partition.

Samsung Magician- Reports that the SSD is in a GOOD state.

For reasons why i could not install windows to the SSD, i have no idea. this is the first time something like this has happened to me.

Talking with some coworkers, they said, it is possible that the SSD is faulting, it may report ok, but not function well.

as for the M.2 drive, it is mainly for Windows OS and some game clients, my HDD will be default for game storage and what not.

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

USAFRet :

So i did download the Samsing Migration tool, which it found my Source Disk (HDD), but when it says to select my SSD, it has a message to connect my SSD (which is already plugged in and installed)

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

OK...

Disconnect ALL drives except the SSD.
Try the install again.

Installing on the HDD, and then cloning to the SSD is of no use if the SSD is actually faulty.

Of course, you'll have to do this clean install again when you get the m.2 drive installed.

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

For future reference, cloning steps:

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
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the 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 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
-----------------------------

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

- try disconnecting all other drives except for your HDD and SDD
- double check your SSD power connector SDD sata connector is snug SSD side and motherboard side,
- Does your SSD show up in bios and under windows ?
- Is your SDD an M.2? if yes SATA or PCIe ?
- SSD model, motherboard model please.
- Is it windows 10 that you're installing?

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

USAFRet :

You're probably right, probably Samsung migration tool itself is most likely a cloning utility ( maybe a Samsung licensed version of Acronis) and would face same issues as other cloning software, although never tested it but I will definitely give it a try.

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

USAFRet :

I tried that, sorry i forgot to mention, during the install with only the SSD connected, it would hang. would not get past a certain spot, not sure what part, but would sit and hang for hours.

al i know i wwill have to go through this process again with the new m.2 drive.

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

R0GG :

I have not looked in the bios, but it does under windows. if not seen in bios, would it be safe to say that it is faulty?

Currently my SSD in a Samsung Evo 850 250gb

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

If it's showing under windows means it's showing in the Bios too.
- Is your SDD an M.2? if yes SATA or PCIe ?
- SSD complete model, motherboard model please.
- Is it windows 10 that you're installing?

casualgamer60 · Apr 30, 2018

R0GG :

SSD- Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E250B/AM)- Sata
Mono- Msi Z270 Gaming Pro Carbon
I am trying to install Windows 10

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

R0GG :

The current cloning tools...Macrium Reflect, Acronis, Samsung, etc...only care about the actual used space.
Not the partition sizes.

I use Macrium Reflect exclusively, and it will absolutely clone from a larger source to a smaller target, if the actual size of the data fits.

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

I just read a review about Samsung migration tool and apparently it's capable of cloning a larger drive onto a smaller drive with equivalent data space without problem, so give it a try. IT should be an easy task since your SSD is straight Sata III 2.5.

USAFRet · Apr 30, 2018

R0GG :

Yes it does. As does Macrium Reflect.

However...cloning is not really what is needed here.

Why won't it install directly to the SSD?
Trying a clone to a broken drive fails, just like a clean install on a broken drive.

R0GG · Apr 30, 2018

USAFRet :

You're absolutely right, even in case of multi-partitions disk " The Clone operation is a bit for bit copy of one disk to another. The Automatic mode of the clone tool will adjust partition size proportionally from large to small disk and vice versa provided there is sufficient space on the target disk to do so."
Last time I checked- and it was many years ago- with Acronis which I switched from to Macrium Reflect- it was not doable and I didn't pay attention with my latest cloning because using mostly 256GB boot SSDs, as source and destination. disks. Thanks for the update.

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