Migrating HDD using a system image. possible?

[tJuggernaut29]

I got a prebuilt desktop with a segate HDD that is dying (hard locks, gotta unplug to restart)

I bought a sata III WD SSD to replace it.

Can I just create a system image on an external USB based HDD, swap the drives, and then load the system image on to the new drive?

I dont really feel too good using a 3rd party hard drive migration software

Edit: it is a windows 10 machine.

 

Thanks

[Mira Yurizaki]

Yes, you can do that.

[tJuggernaut29]

1 minute ago, Mira Yurizaki said:

Yes, you can do that.

so then to do that, i have to first install windows on the new ssd so i can load the backup right?

[Mira Yurizaki]

3 minutes ago, tJuggernaut29 said:

so then to do that, i have to first install windows on the new ssd so i can load the backup right?

You can use the Windows Recovery Environment on a Windows install media to do it.

 

Also it slipped by me that you're transferring to an SSD. There may be issues if the SSD is smaller than the HDD, even if the total space used on the HDD is lower than the SSD's capacity.

[tJuggernaut29]

Just now, Mira Yurizaki said:

Also it slipped by me that you're transferring to an SSD. There may be issues if the SSD is smaller than the HDD, even if the total space used on the HDD is lower than the SSD's capacity.

The SSD is 500GB

the dying HDD is 2TB

there is only 86GB of data on the drive

[Mira Yurizaki]

6 minutes ago, tJuggernaut29 said:

The SSD is 500GB

the dying HDD is 2TB

there is only 86GB of data on the drive

The thing with a System Image is it's a complete copy of the storage drive you're doing it on. So it may not work because it's expecting a 2TB storage device to restore to, even if the entire contents of the image is less than that.

 

So it may not work, but I never tried restoring an image of a larger drive into a smaller one.

[tJuggernaut29]

I have a system image of a 2TB drive. It only has 86GB of data on the drive

I want to restore the system image to a new 500GB SSD

will this work, or will it freak out?

 

Thanks

[tJuggernaut29]

i have done some research and they suggest de-fragging the HDD first before creating the image. the thing is that the image size is the appropriate size (not 2TB)

 

I am using windows 10

the image was created using File history > Backup and restore(windows 7) > create a system image

[Blai5e]

Another option is to use cloning software. Macrium make Reflect 7 Free Edition which might fit your needs.

[tJuggernaut29]

5 minutes ago, Blai5e said:

Another option is to use cloning software. Macrium make Reflect 7 Free Edition which might fit your needs.

I dont want to use a 3rd part software. And if i absolutely have to, i will use WD's own software

[Blai5e]

1 minute ago, tJuggernaut29 said:

I dont want to use a 3rd part software. And if i absolutely have to, i will use WD's own software

That's fine, I used it yesterday to migrate a Seagate Firecuda 2TB to a Samsung 860 QVO 2TB SSD. Couldn't use the Samsung Migration Tool as the drive didn't have an operating system on it (was my storage drive). Worked without issue and I uninstalled it when I finished.

[B16CXHatch]

8 minutes ago, Blai5e said:

Another option is to use cloning software. Macrium make Reflect 7 Free Edition which might fit your needs.

I would go with this. I use Reflect as my backup software and have used it to clone drives. My dad's laptop originally had a 500GB HDD and I replaced it with a 480GB SSD. I was able to use Reflect to resize the partitions and keep the install of Windows bootable.

 

Personally in your situation, I would more likely just backup important stuff normally and do a clean install of Windows.

[TetraSky]

7 minutes ago, tJuggernaut29 said:

I dont want to use a 3rd part software. And if i absolutely have to, i will use WD's own software

WD's software is just a WD branded Acronis. 

 

Unless you're talking about a "system image" created from an application by your machine's manufacturer (HP and the likes...), it won't do as good a job compared to an actual cloning software. Windows's "backup and restore" feature is somewhat lacking.

[WkdPaul]

* threads merged and moved to the Troubleshooting section *

[Almighty_Denny]

It's a must to clone your drive as it is?
As it would be much better to do a clean install, specially as on an SSD Windows uses the space/partitions a bit different from those on an HDD when installing.

If it's indeed a must, I would also recommend a 3d party program,