Windows 10: Need help transferring my Windows install to an SSD

Hey guys. So here's my situation: I have like 200gb worth of files on my current harddrive and I recently bought a 500gb SSD. I'd like to basically clone my Windows install and all of my files onto the new SSD.
I researched how to do this and learned that a good thing to try is migrating everything over by using a program like Clonezilla or something similar. I tried doing this a while back with a couple different programs and both failed during the transferring process.
Both programs gave me some kind of error. I can't remember exactly what the error said but basically I don't want to try this method anymore and I have an idea but I'm not sure if it will work.
Here's my idea:

• Set my SDD up to where I have 2 partitions on it.
  
• I've read that it is possible to create a "backup image" file of my Windows install somehow, so I can learn how to make one of those.
  
• Place the backup image of Windows that I make onto the first partition of the SSD.
  
• Uninstall / deactivate my current HDD install of Windows and do a fresh install onto the 2nd partition of the SSD.
  
• Restore the backup image file I created and hopefully, voila - I have everything exactly the same again but just on the new SSD.

If anyone with experience in doing stuff like this could give me their two cents, I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!

:)

 

Upgrading a Windows 10 Laptop from HD to SSD.

Hi Ratnam,

Thank you for posting the query on Microsoft Community.

Are you using both the hard drives or do you want to completely transfer all the data and OS from HD to SSD?

If you need to transfer everything then you need to install OS on SSD and transfer the data from HD to SSD.

• You need to have a product key for Windows 7, then create an installation media using the download link.
  Download Windows 10:Download Windows 10
• Later install Windows 10 on SSD and activate it using the product key.
• Then transfer (Copy and paste) the data from HD to SSD.

Hope this helps in resolving the issue. If the issue persists, do get back to us. We will be happy to assist you.

 

Fresh install of Windows 10 on SSD without losing data?

That's very helpful! Thank you. So just to be clear: since I'm trying to do a clean install on the ssd that already has windows on it, I would just need to transfer personal files over to my hdd and then disconnect my hdd before performing the install?
Would I also have to disconnect my other ssd if I did not want to lose the files on that one?

 

what ssd did you purchase case by rights it should either come with or at least point you to their software for migrating your os. if not try............

https://www.partitionwizard.com/part...10-to-ssd.html

 

Crucial MX300 2.5" 525GB SATA III TLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

I think I threw away the packaging for it so I can't look *Sad But I really don't think there was any info with it about migrating but maybe there was...??

Hmm, well I will check out that link you posted. Hopefully I will be able to use that method. Thanks

 

good luck. if that doesn't do it for you just holler and i or someone should be able to help.

 

Hi, here's a basic sequence of how to do this: (it's been written up on a number of threads here)
1. Use e.g. Macrium Reflect (free) to image your existing Windows partition to an external disk. Create Macrium's boot medium for security.
2. Set your BIOS to use AHCI not IDE for your SSD. Remove your HDD and insert your SSD.
3. Clean install Windows to your (blank) SSD, and make sure the Windows partition is large enough.
4. Restore the image of only your previous Windows partition in place of your new Windows partition
5. Using Win 10 boot medium run Startup Repair.

At least that's near enough what I did. I think there's also a feature in Macrium some have mentioned I don't recall without looking that deals with (5).

This gives you the correct set of Windows partitions.

 

I think that the easiest way to transfer would be to use cloning software.

Crucial offers a version of Acronis True Image:

http://forum.crucial.com/t5/Crucial-...15/ta-p/171023

I haven't used this. My last cloning was with a Samsung SSD and their "Magician" software. (I may have had to run disk cleanup and chkdsk before the cloning would complete. I also disconnected the laptop from the network.)

 

This is what I would do, you will need an 8 GB USB flash drive:

1. Prepare the USB flash drive for booting:
Create a Bootable USB Flash Drive

At step 9, make sure to use FAT32 file system to make it compatible with UEFI:
To format the partition, type format fs=fat32 quick, and then click ENTER.

At step 12, mount the Windows 10 installation ISO file and copy all the files and folders over from the mounted ISO file to the USB flash drive. I prefer to download Windows 10 ISO files from here:
Windows 10 ISO

2. Convert the Windows 10 USB flash drive to boot into Kyhi's recovery drive, see my quote in the middle of the OP here:
Windows 10 Recovery Tools - Bootable Rescue Disk - Windows 10 Forums

3. Disconnect your old HDD and have only the new SSD connected to the computer, make sure your UEFI/BIOS is set for AHCI for the SATA controllers and not IDE. Boot from the USB flash drive into Kyhi's Recovery Tools. Use the partition manager program (AEOMI Partition Manager) to delete all the existing partitions on the SSD and initialize it as GPT. Run setup.exe from the USB flash drive to do a clean install of Windows 10 onto the SSD.

4. Make sure the computer boots from the SSD, then shut down the computer.

5. Reconnect your old HDD. Boot the computer again from the USB flash drive into Kyhi's Recovery Tools. Run the Macrium Reflect program. "Clone" the operating system partition only from the HDD to the OS partition on the SDD, resizing it in the process. After the copying is done, under the restore menu find the utility to fix Windows startup problems. Run that to attach the copied OS partition to the boot files on the SSD.

6. Boot the computer from the SSD.

 

Thanks for the replies guys, but I've already tried using "cloning software" like Macrium Reflect and Clonezilla. Both gave me errors during the process and it couldn't be completed. I think my hdd might have some bad sectors or something? So yea, I really need to figure out a way to do this without using cloning software, if possible :/

 

You can try fixing the files on your old hard drive by right clicking on start icon, select Command Prompt (Admin) and enter:

chkdsk C: /offlinescanandfix

Assuming you are booted into Windows from the hard drive.

 

This was covered recently. See my post 7 here https://www.tenforums.com/installatio...s-install.html

You might find the guide useful.

 

How did your attempt to create an image fail? The error message could be instructive. Certainly you can't create an image from a drive with read errors.

Check your SMART parameters - e.g. Crystal Diskinfo (free)
Try Macrorit Diskscanner (free)

These will give you a quick idea as to whether your disk is viable.

 

Hi folks

an easy way also is to get a USB2/3--->SATA connector so you can do the entire install to your SSD as an external drive and then simply install the new ssd and re-boot.

Connect the new ssd to a USB2/3 port via the connector for the CLONE operation.





on a 500GB SSD simply CLONE your old HDD (Free macrium is probably the easiest)

Now with a partition manager or similar increase the size of the partition on the new ssd to what you need.

This is one of the rare cases I'd recommend CLONE over IMAGE - with image in this case you need to image and restore - not forgetting system reserved partitions - and this is fiddly when simply using one HDD as you'll need to create a separate partition for the IMAGE.

Cheers
jimbo