How do I clone my HDD to ssd?

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rounakr94

rounakr94

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Jul 28, 2013
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I got a new Crucial MX 500 250gb ssd and want to clone my windows installation to that drive, how do I do it? Also will windows need reactivation after that? Also suggest which sata port to plug it in. 0-3 are Ahci and rest are IDe also they are sata 2 i think
 
Solution
geofelt
Do a clean install on the ssd with NO other drives attached.
Otherwise, windows will place some hidden partitions on it, making it difficult to ever run without the HDD.
Once the install is done, you can do what you wish with the HDD. If you have data files, you can access them.
If you have nothing of value on the HDD, you might as well reformat.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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What is the total size of the data on your current HDD?
The answer to that will dictate the way ahead.
 
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rounakr94

rounakr94

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Do i need to select any drives or does the cloning software does that for me? Also I saw somewhere that after cloning the mx500 is not detected by bios. Is there any possibility that will happen, If so then I might go for clean windows install.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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Done correctly, cloning can work, no problem.
But we need details first.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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For a week old OS, maybe just do an actual install on the new SSD.

Or, if you really want to clone it...thusly:
(no deviations or skipping 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
-----------------------------
 
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geofelt

geofelt

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Do a clean install on the ssd with NO other drives attached.
Otherwise, windows will place some hidden partitions on it, making it difficult to ever run without the HDD.
Once the install is done, you can do what you wish with the HDD. If you have data files, you can access them.
If you have nothing of value on the HDD, you might as well reformat.
 
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