Windows 10: Windows 11 deactivated after Disk Clone [Fix]

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If you encountered a scenario in which Windows 11 was deactivated after a Disk Clone, this guide is for you. Users clone their hard disk, usually from HDD to SSD, for better performance, but in the process, their system fails to register the new hardware as the same device, causing activation issues. Windows 11 deactivated […]

This article Windows 11 deactivated after Disk Clone [Fix] first appeared on TheWindowsClub.com.

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Windows 11 many problems after cloning on new disk

Hello,

I have recently cloned the original hard drive of my notebook on a new disk. I removed the old hard disk, placed it in a USB adapter, physically installed the new one and then painfully failed to clone it with all the softwares. Only after (1) removing the read-only mode (2) accessing it from windows installed on a third hard disk to unlock the bitlocker protection (3) changed ownership back to me, I managed to clone it with a software, but acronis true image (the software provided by the new hard disk manufacturer), for example, would still fail in the cloning process. I make this premise because I guess this is where something might have gone wrong.

Once I managed all files and partitions were copied to the new hard disk, I only left the new hard disk. The system does run, but it has many issues:

* the start button does not work

* Microsoft's Notebook and Photo apps do not start, Outlook start but won't connect to the servers

* the store seems to not exist anymore, if I click on links that try to open it an error message appears

I have already tried fixes number 4,5,6,7,10 listed HERE, but nothing changed. I am quite reticent to reset or re-install windows because I have pretty big programs installed and it would take a lot of time to restore everything.

I really hope there is a way to bring the Microsoft machinery back to life!

 

Cloned disk unable to boot

Something is very strange. From disk manager image The drive 1 EFI partition is nº2

And from diskpart image The EFI partition is nº1

My suggestion is to clean the 1T drive and clone it again. To clean the drive, open a CMD window as administrator and type: diskpart list disk (it will list all drives. Identify the 1T drive number) select disk n (replace n by the 1T drive number obtained with list disk) clean convert GPT Exit

 

Moving to SSD. Clone or not to clone?

I kinda agree with you, but on a wholr, do not. While I have done things a bit differently than this specific situation, by installing Windows directly to the SSD, and cloning after, my testing shows that there are no issues doing this, very little that can go wrong, provided your system is stable.

There are certain features that must be disabled in this situation, like auto defrag and such, but even with a fresh install to the SSD, you need to take steps to ensure that you SSD performs properly, regardless of how the data got there.

Arming yourself with a bit of knowledge can go a long way.

Installing the latest chipset driver, and the RST Tools, will ensure optimal performance of the SSD. but rather than taking my advice, I suggest the OP takes a look here:

http://blogs.dirteam.com/blogs/sand...7-and-ssds-to-clone-windows-or-reinstall.aspx

Install A Solid State Drive In Your Notebook

Keep in mind, also, Digibucc, that many retail drives include software and such that very specifically is to be used to ttranser the OS from an existing mechanical drive to an SSD, and if there really was alot fo issues stemming from the cloning process, they would not have packages like that, simply to eliminate tech support costs. While not the optimal option, cloning is NOT a bad thing, as long as you take the nessecary steps.