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cloning to ssd help

Carter
By Carter
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Go to solution Solved by Altecice,

For the Window's 8 ISO you can get it legally downloaded with your product key here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

(Just remember after you get it all running go to into the store and download/install the Windows 8.1 update!)

 

 

As for the cloning you could give it a try I am unsure as to what cloning tool you want to use but I suggest clonezilla. You may get away with reducing the formatted size of your partitions (system/boot/recovery/your partition will all need to be copied over) and give that a shot.

 

---

 

As for moving the user folder you can locate it within windows (C:\Users\*username*\)

Then right click > properties > location tab the documents/music etc and select location and move it to your 500gb HDD once its been formatted :)

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Hi, so I am buying an ssd for my laptop and I want to clone the original HDD to my ssd, so I can just take the HDD out and the ssd in and go. I already have a USB to sata adapter and a means of powering the ssd during the process, I just need to know how to actually clone it. I am using g windows 8 on a HP laptop (see SIG) and I also want the recovery partition, so basically everything as it is now but on an ssd. Any help is appreciated.

OnePlus 6T

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you can get a sata to USB adapter and you can connect your SSD through a USB port.  Then what you do is you download cloning software,  normally SSDs come with or recommend a certain cloning software, so check the box for that.  once you've got the cloning software installed, it should be a matter of burning it to a disk and booting from the cloning software disk.  Then just follow the steps and it should clone your HDD to your SSD.  However, each cloning software is different so take my steps as a grain of salt. 

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you can get a sata to USB adapter and you can connect your SSD through a USB port. Then what you do is you download cloning software, normally SSDs come with or recommend a certain cloning software, so check the box for that. once you've got the cloning software installed, it should be a matter of burning it to a disk and booting from the cloning software disk. Then just follow the steps and it should clone your HDD to your SSD. However, each cloning software is different so take my steps as a grain of salt.

Thanks, that's a good idea but I haven't got it yet... Do you or anyone else recommend a specific cloning software? (Not trying to avoid my own research or anything) :)

OnePlus 6T

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Copy and paste your OS + files and change the boot order and it should work.

Hi, I did some reading and I think the reason why this doesn't work is because it doesn't copy the MBR (master boot record) thanks though.

OnePlus 6T

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Try to make a windows image backup from hdd and restore it to the new ssd. I'd honetly clean install instead.

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How big is the SSD and your current HDD?

If the SSD is smaller than the HDD you can rule out cloning as it wont ever work. The volume to clone to must be larger than the current one.

Well my current hdd is 500gb with a 25gb recovery partition that I may or nay not clone, and the new ssd is 480gb. I've only used around 250gb of storage though so it should work, right?

OnePlus 6T

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No the way a clone works is it copy's sector by sector meaning if the total sector count in your 500GB disk (used or unused) is greater than the 480GB SSD (and it will be) it will throw up a "not enough space" error and wont let to clone it. Hence why i suggest you install windows on the SSD. Once on the desktop and everything set up navigate to your old user folder on the 500GB HDD and drag them onto your desktop (so moving them from the HDD>SDD) formatting the HDD and moving them back.

 

You can opt to change the location of your user folders meaning the SSD wont have to hold what's on the desktop/documents/music etc etc it will be put onto the HDD by default and this is exactly what I do myself.

Quack 🦆

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No the way a clone works is it copy's sector by sector meaning if the total sector count in your 500GB disk (used or unused) is greater than the 480GB SSD (and it will be) it will throw up a "not enough space" error and wont let to clone it. Hence why i suggest you install windows on the SSD. Once on the desktop and everything set up navigate to your old user folder on the 500GB HDD and drag them onto your desktop (so moving them from the HDD>SDD) formatting the HDD and moving them back.

You can opt to change the location of your user folders meaning the SSD wont have to hold what's on the desktop/documents/music etc etc it will be put onto the HDD by default and this is exactly what I do myself.

Thanks for that, all makes sense... So do you have any idea where I can get a windows 8 iso from? I appreciate that it is legit as long as I use my product key, but honestly I wouldn't know the best place to look for one as it doesn't appear to be available from Microsoft AFAIK.

OnePlus 6T

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For the Window's 8 ISO you can get it legally downloaded with your product key here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

(Just remember after you get it all running go to into the store and download/install the Windows 8.1 update!)

 

 

As for the cloning you could give it a try I am unsure as to what cloning tool you want to use but I suggest clonezilla. You may get away with reducing the formatted size of your partitions (system/boot/recovery/your partition will all need to be copied over) and give that a shot.

 

---

 

As for moving the user folder you can locate it within windows (C:\Users\*username*\)

Then right click > properties > location tab the documents/music etc and select location and move it to your 500gb HDD once its been formatted :)

Quack 🦆

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For the Window's 8 ISO you can get it legally downloaded with your product key here:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only

(Just remember after you get it all running go to into the store and download/install the Windows 8.1 update!)

As for the cloning you could give it a try I am unsure as to what cloning tool you want to use but I suggest clonezilla. You may get away with reducing the formatted size of your partitions (system/boot/recovery/your partition will all need to be copied over) and give that a shot.

---

As for moving the user folder you can locate it within windows (C:\Users\*username*\)

Then right click > properties > location tab the documents/music etc and select location and move it to your 500gb HDD once its been formatted :)

Thanks. Yeah I was thinking clonezilla too based on what I've read, but I may just do a clean install now...

OnePlus 6T

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Thanks. Yeah I was thinking clonezilla too based on what I've read, but I may just do a clean install now...

 

Its honistly the best way.

 

If you want a guide follow this:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1240779/seans-windows-8-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds

 

It will set up your NEW OS the best way possible.

 

------

 

It even explains how to move the location of the user folder. But as suggested above nothing is stopping you moving your files you want to keep to the HDD directory and then moving the user folders then placing the files back into the correct folders :)

Quack 🦆

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Its honistly the best way.

If you want a guide follow this:

http://www.overclock.net/t/1240779/seans-windows-8-install-optimization-guide-for-ssds-hdds

It will set up your NEW OS the best way possible.

------

It even explains how to move the location of the user folder. But as suggested above nothing is stopping you moving your files you want to keep to the HDD directory and then moving the user folders then placing the files back into the correct folders :)

. On the link you sent me it seems that I need to be already running windows to get it, it says make sure you are on the PC you want to upgrade. So how do I get this to my currently empty ssd?

OnePlus 6T

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. On the link you sent me it seems that I need to be already running windows to get it, it says make sure you are on the PC you want to upgrade. So how do I get this to my currently empty ssd?

 

It just downloads an iso I believe. select the "install by creating a disk" option.

Quack 🦆

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It just downloads an iso I believe. select the "install by creating a disk" option.

Don't mean to sound dumb but where is that option, I got as far as downloading the exe it now asks for a Product key - I'm guessing I missed it.

OnePlus 6T

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Your better off re-installing.  Besides, for win 8 and OEM computers that comes with win 8, there's no need for key and activation now.  It's build into the bios.  Burn (or put on a usb stick or external HD) the win8 iso file downloaded from microsoft and boot off the disk.

 

HP installs are junk anyway, and takes up a lot of space.  The recovery is useless, since win 8 already has that built in.  All it does it add on all the extra adds and apps (in both the desktop and touch interface!)

My Rigs (past and present)

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HP installs are junk anyway, and takes up a lot of space. The recovery is useless, since win 8 already has that built in. All it does it add on all the extra adds and apps (in both the desktop and touch interface!)

. I have to agree, that and the fact that if I need to 'recover' I'll still have the old HDD anyways... (Unless I get one of those odd caddy things, seems a good idea)

I appreciate all of your help guys, especially @Altecice. Just waiting for it to be delivered on Friday now :D

OnePlus 6T

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Your better off re-installing.  Besides, for win 8 and OEM computers that comes with win 8, there's no need for key and activation now.  It's build into the bios.  Burn (or put on a usb stick or external HD) the win8 iso file downloaded from microsoft and boot off the disk.

 

HP installs are junk anyway, and takes up a lot of space.  The recovery is useless, since win 8 already has that built in.  All it does it add on all the extra adds and apps (in both the desktop and touch interface!)

 

 

After that :P

Perhaps you could help, i dont think i can get the iso without putting in my product key on the first screen i am presented with, however when i do this it says 'this product key cannot be used to activate a retail version of windows 8'. so im not sure what to do now - i appreciate that my product key is that of an oem copy that came on my laptop, as opposed to a retail, so what do i do? can i get the oem version? thanks

OnePlus 6T

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