Windows 10: I cloned my Windows 11 500 GB SSD C: to a new 1 TB SSD. Problem: when the PC rebooted, it...

How can I force the PC to boot from the original system drive, and not the clone target?

:)

 

Cloning low capacity SSD to a high Capacity SSD disk before Activating the Windows on a new PC/MiniPC/Laptop

I have bought a new MiniPC with 500 GB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0) preinstalled with OEM Windows 11 Pro.

I have not Activated the Windows 11 Pro yet.

Can I first clone the preinstalled 500 GB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0) to a new 2 TB SSD (M.2 NVMe PCIe 4.0) before activating the Windows?

And then Activate the Windows in the new SSD directly?

Does this use case work?

Or should I activate the New PC unchanged and then clone / fresh install the Windows 11 Pro in a new SSD?

 

Migrating Windows OS to new SSD

I do not know if you can clone the existing 1TB into the 500 GB SSD but if the 1 TB has half of it empty you may be able to make that half Unallocated and be able to do the clone.

If it works then you need to remove the C:\ from the internal 1TB HDD and insert the SSD.

I would remove the 1 TB HDD. and save it as a backup until you see if the SSD boots.

If the SSD boots and shows an activated Windows 10 then you can reformat the 1 TB and partition it as you wish.

 

Problems up grading M2 128 GB ssd to M2 1 TB ssd

All ready have Win 11 installed on a M2 128 GB ssd in computer. The computer came with Win 10 and recently upgraded to Win 11. There are a couple of program problems with the 128 GB drive so I don't want to migrate them to new drive. I downloaded a paid copy of Win 11 from Microsoft to a USB connected 1 TB ssd. I couldn't boot from (D, can only boot from 128gb when installed in computer. Boot order should have allowed me to boot from 128GB connected to USB, and 1 TB installed in computer but didn't work. With 128 GB installed, will boot up. 1 TB connected by USB and can go to it with file explorer. Ran install on 1 TB, it checked for updates, etc and ready to install. My main question will it install on (C or (D ? If (D then fine. I can connect 128GB on a USB port and recover data from it later. Most things are already backed up to a USB connected (E drive.

I do have Ease US Partition manager on (C drive. It has been to long since I have used command line.(back in DOS days)