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Transferring Windows to Another Drive

Bazrat
Go to solution Solved by homeap5,

It's easy if you have access to your desktop.

 

1. Boot into your OS on desktop. It may be any version of Windows - even old Vista.
2. Download and install Macrium Reflect free edition.
3. Optional - just in case - remove drive letters (start - run - diskmgmt.msc) from drive you want to image.
4. Run Macrium Reflect and select disk with system that you want to clone/image under "Disk Image" section (tab).
5. Below you'll have option "Image this disk" - use it.
5b. Optional - if you have separate data partition on your cloned drive (like "D:\" etc), you may uncheck it.
6. Select destination folder to store your image data (on your desktop drive or any drive that is not your cloned or new drive).
7. Next and uncheck all options. Next and Finish.

 

your OS is now copy into image file.

 

8. Unplug your laptop OS drive and plug your empty drive (you may do this even if computer is on - it's quite save if you plug power first, then data cable).
9. Prepare (mount) your new drive as MBR or GPT using diskmgmt.msc, depends on current method your system use (for win10 it will be in 95% GPT).
10. Start Macrium Reflect again.
11. Change section (tab) to Restore and choose "Browse for an image or backup file to restore". Or just select image from list.
12. Click "Restore Image". In Destination you'll see "Select a disk to restore to". Click and select your empty drive.
13. Click "Copy selected partitions" or drag&drop them one by one from top to bottom. If you want (and if you can) - resize your partition (only if you copy from smaller to bigger drive).
14. Next/Finish and your system image will be restored into new drive.

15. That's all.

I wasn't sure if I should but this in the Storage section or here, so excuse me if I made a mistake.

 

My younger brother recently got a new laptop, but it has a 1tb HDD in it. So I bought a 480gb SSD for his laptop but now i need to transfer windows over, I can buy an adapter for the ssd but I was wondering if it's possible to transfer windows 10 using 'EaseUS Todo Backup Free' on my desktop and plugging both drives into my desktop instead of buying an adapter.

 

Thanks in advance :)

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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I would suggest using some kind of mirroring software instead of EaseUS Todo Backup Free. I don't know if it will copy the whole disk or just most of it. To be sure that you get everything on the SSD a mirroring software.

Please mention or quote me if you want a response. :) 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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Whooopsss! I made a big mistake. Here's the correction of my previous statement: Yes you should be able to use EaseUS Todo Backup Free to clone the drive. 

Please mention or quote me if you want a response. :) 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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I only want Windows 10 copied, there's pretty much nothin on the drive anyway. I just want to know if its possible if I can put both drives into my desktop and do it?

 

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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It's easy if you have access to your desktop.

 

1. Boot into your OS on desktop. It may be any version of Windows - even old Vista.
2. Download and install Macrium Reflect free edition.
3. Optional - just in case - remove drive letters (start - run - diskmgmt.msc) from drive you want to image.
4. Run Macrium Reflect and select disk with system that you want to clone/image under "Disk Image" section (tab).
5. Below you'll have option "Image this disk" - use it.
5b. Optional - if you have separate data partition on your cloned drive (like "D:\" etc), you may uncheck it.
6. Select destination folder to store your image data (on your desktop drive or any drive that is not your cloned or new drive).
7. Next and uncheck all options. Next and Finish.

 

your OS is now copy into image file.

 

8. Unplug your laptop OS drive and plug your empty drive (you may do this even if computer is on - it's quite save if you plug power first, then data cable).
9. Prepare (mount) your new drive as MBR or GPT using diskmgmt.msc, depends on current method your system use (for win10 it will be in 95% GPT).
10. Start Macrium Reflect again.
11. Change section (tab) to Restore and choose "Browse for an image or backup file to restore". Or just select image from list.
12. Click "Restore Image". In Destination you'll see "Select a disk to restore to". Click and select your empty drive.
13. Click "Copy selected partitions" or drag&drop them one by one from top to bottom. If you want (and if you can) - resize your partition (only if you copy from smaller to bigger drive).
14. Next/Finish and your system image will be restored into new drive.

15. That's all.

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6 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

1. Boot into your OS on desktop. It may be any version of Windows - even old Vista.

By this, do you mean the OS that is already on my desktop drive, or boot into the OS on the laptop drive?

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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27 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

By this, do you mean the OS that is already on my desktop drive, or boot into the OS on the laptop drive?

OS that is already on your desktop drive.

BTW. If you have modern desktop, turn on hotplug in BIOS and connect drive while your desktop system is working - it will not mess up with bootable devices and drive letters. As I wrote - power first, data cable second. On old desktops you may do it also, because basically SATA is hotplug by design.

 

BTW. Cloning this way (image drive then restore image using second computer) is safest method.

 

It may happens that after first boot your cloned drive will be checked by chckdsk at start (if you're using different os on laptop and desktop). Don't worry about that, it's just because dirty bit settings difference between win7 and win10. Not so important, just wait for finish and that's all.

 

Small hint - image that you created by Macrium Reflect is mountable if you have Macrium Reflect installed. You may mount that image and read everything from it on your desktop whenever you want.

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The option to make the new drive MBR or GPT isn’t showin up. The drive shows up in BIOS but not in disk Managment or windows

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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Just try to restore without any additional action. Empty drive should be visible in Macrium Reflect.

(edited)

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Ok just as I sent it that i found it. But I can’t access some of it? (New drive is GPT disk 3)

image.jpg

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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2 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

Just try to restore without any additional action. Empty drive should be visible in Macrium Reflect.

Should it still be good even though it says most of it is still inaccessible?

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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5 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

Ok just as I sent it that i found it. But I can’t access some of it? (New drive is GPT disk 3)

 

Ok, so remove that unformatted primary and you'll have empty GPT drive.

Then just use restore option and move all previously prepared image partitions into empty drive using "copy selected partitions".

 

Sorry for editing my posts so much. :)

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3 minutes ago, homeap5 said:

Ok, so remove that unformatted primary and you'll have empty GPT drive.

So how would I remove it?

 

sorry if this is makin ya annoyed. I’m trying to follow as well as I can. :P

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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Step by step:

 

1. Use restore:

restore.png.b82cd1785be7d6244bf94ba4f0b20392.png

 

2. Select "Restore Image"restore2.png.4c41d1d33792ee2257650c490081ffb1.png

 

3. Select a disk to restore to... (your image will look completely different, that is not important)

data.png.bc253c8602dbd6b6d577095f27cdc509.png

 

4. On that disk you can select partition (if there any) and click:

delete.png.4401dc35cbb360cd99d1238bf66a08c1.png

5. Then just use "Copy selected partitions" and that's all (except "Copy sleected partitions when I click 'Next' and clicking Next of course).

 

(and ignore image below - I don't know how to delete it from this post)

data.png

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It keeps saying insufficient storage? It looks like there’s plenty.

image.jpg

image.jpg

image.jpg

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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Wait sorry, it seems to work, I forgot to uncheck ‘copy selected partions when I click ‘Next’’

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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So resize OS partition a little (you have enough space) and use drag&drop to copy last partition. Or just drag&drop last partition and leave that unpratitioned space at the end. Or just ignore that last Restore partition - is not needed in fact. And you can resize OS partition to the maximum then.

 

Macrium Reflect is basically drag&drop program - you can drag&drop partitions as you like and resize them as you like.

 

BTW. your old drive has 50% unpartitioned space.

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So how do I resize it?

 

 

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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Ok nvm. It wasn’t working before now it is. Sorry :P

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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1 minute ago, Bazrat said:

So how do I resize it?

 

 

Click on restored partition and you'll see option.

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Should I increase the OS portion as much as I can?

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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4 minutes ago, Bazrat said:

Should I increase the OS portion as much as I can?

Yes. If you like, why not. Someone leaves 20% (more or less - it's called over provisioning) unpartitioned space on SSD, but it's your choice.

You can also resize partition AFTER that even using laptop and some program like MiniTool Partition Wizard.

 

Do not forget to tell me a) how fast Macrium Reflect restore works in your case (time), b) is everything works. :)

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a) only took 8 and a half mins b) everythin boots up and runs fine

 

Really appreciated the help. Even if I was a bit slow to catch on. Hope I didn’t waste to much of ya time. Thanks again :)

Main System: Ryzen 7 5800x | Asus Strix B550A | 32GB DDR4 3200Mhz CL14 | GTX 1080 | Fedora 36

 

Server: Ryzen 7 2700x | Asus Strix B450-F | 32GB DDR4 2400Mhz | GTX 1060 6GB | Unraid 6.10.3

 

Laptop: Intel i5 4200u | 12GB DDR3 1333Mhz | GT 740m | Windows 10

 

Mobile: iPhone 13 Mini | 128GB // Poco X3 NFC | 128GB

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4 hours ago, Bazrat said:

a) only took 8 and a half mins b) everythin boots up and runs fine

 

Really appreciated the help. Even if I was a bit slow to catch on. Hope I didn’t waste to much of ya time. Thanks again :)

This was your first time. Next time you'll be able to help anyone with system transfer and it will be much faster than "clean install". :)

 

 

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