Help for moving windows from hdd to ssd

[pyrimad8]

Hello, I currently have an Asus rog gl702vm (without the SSD package), it has a 7200rpm 1tb HDD though. I recently bought a 960 Evo nvme and connected it, but now it is empty and I want to install Windows on it instead of my HDD. I cloned my HDD to SSD and when I went to format the HDD (so the SSD can hold the windows), it says "can't format drive because windows is installed in it) I know that but want to switch!! Please help I'm all out of options. I don't mind deleting everything from laptop because it is already backed up externally.

Will it ask me where to install Windows if I factory reset my laptop? I did that but with "keep my files" on, and it just installed it on my HDD AGAIN.

 

[wpgwpg]

Back up the HDD to an external hard drive, then do a restore to the SSD. Then run EasyBCD to make the SSD the default boot device. Now you can boot from the SSD and format the HDD if desired.

 

[why_wolf]

Did you remember to switch the boot order to the SSD? If you didn't the computer is still booting from your HDD which would be why it won't let you reformat it.

 

[USAFRet]

Hello, I currently have an Asus rog gl702vm (without the SSD package), it has a 7200rpm 1tb HDD though. I recently bought a 960 Evo nvme and connected it, but now it is empty and I want to install Windows on it instead of my HDD. I cloned my HDD to SSD and when I went to format the HDD (so the SSD can hold the windows), it says "can't format drive because windows is installed in it) I know that but want to switch!! Please help I'm all out of options. I don't mind deleting everything from laptop because it is already backed up externally.

Will it ask me where to install Windows if I factory reset my laptop? I did that but with "keep my files" on, and it just installed it on my HDD AGAIN.

You've done it all wrong.

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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 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
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