Windows 10: Install ssd directly into open SATA slot on desktop for cloning

I have been replacing the HDD with SSD on machines with only a single HDD Drive so DATA to USB cable is required.
For a desktop with several HDD drives in addition to the Boot drive , I should be able to connect the target SSD directly to an open SATA slot in the Mobo and dispense with the SATA/USB cable ? Maybe I should disconnect the other drives for safety and leave only the boot drive and the SSD ? Any advise.

:)

 

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

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/ssd-notebook-portable,1913-3.html

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.

 

Boot Problem after SSD Clone on windows 10

I just installed a Sandisk SSD Plus to replace HDD in a budget Acer Aspire desktop. Using the cloning software download Sandisk provides, Acronis, my system would not boot.

After some research I downloaded the free version of Aomei Backupper and 'recloned' the SSD following the instructions. Shutdown the computer, connected the SSD to the SATA cable the HDD was connected to - no issue boot up.

You may want to repeat the clone process with different software.

Advice from a non-professional, semi-serious hobbyist.

 

Windows 10 download/installation onto a Samsung SSD problem.

Thank you Vanessa for your reply.

The SSD was loaded with an image cloned from the original HDD using the supplied Samsung software, and then replaced the HDD in SATA slot 0. The HDD was then placed in SATA slot 1 and reformatted for use as a back-up drive. However the Samsung software although
claiming to clone the first two volumes only cloned the Windows 8.1 C: volume from the original HDD. It did not clone the System Reserved volume D: which remains on the HDD which is now in SATA slot 1. So presumably this is why the precursor operations to
the Windows 10 download cannot find it.

I therefore wish to upgrade the Windows 8.1 which is on the Samsung SSD to Window 10.

Incidentally I have a Lenovo laptop which was using Windows 7, and which upgraded to Windows 10 with no problem.