trying to transfer windows 10 over to an ssd?

[Myla]

I'm having a lot of trouble with this, all the applications I try to do it with, the actual thing is behind a paywall. I've gotten the SSD installed and all that stuff, I just need to transfer my OS over to it. I would use something like AOMEI, but both the HDD I'm trying to copy from and the SSD I'm trying to copy to are GPT, and for AOMEI, MiniTool partition wizard, and EaseUS are behind a paywall for GPT. Does anyone have any suggestions or is there like a way to do it on windows? 

[rikitikitavi]

Unless you have a specific reason for this - it is easier just to do a clean install on the SSD. Windows license key is stored on your MOBO. You can get the key from CMD if you want a peace of mind.

[Deeya]

Did the drive you buy happen to be Sabrent?

 

They come with a copy of Acronis True Image.

[Myla]

but then will I have to pay money for the actual file, even though I have the key? 

[Myla]

1 minute ago, Deeya said:

Did the drive you buy happen to be Sabrent?

 

They come with a copy of Acronis True Image.

no it's adata

[BionicSeaSerpent]

6 minutes ago, Myla said:

I'm having a lot of trouble with this, all the applications I try to do it with, the actual thing is behind a paywall. I've gotten the SSD installed and all that stuff, I just need to transfer my OS over to it. I would use something like AOMEI, but both the HDD I'm trying to copy from and the SSD I'm trying to copy to are GPT, and for AOMEI, MiniTool partition wizard, and EaseUS are behind a paywall for GPT. Does anyone have any suggestions or is there like a way to do it on windows? 

backup Data and just fresh install from a USB. its a pain to go back and set it all up, but your hardware has a Windows Key built into it and there's no need to pay again for another install. i'm glad its that way but windows isn't legally free either, unless you want a Watermark. 

[BionicSeaSerpent]

1 minute ago, Myla said:

but then will I have to pay money for the actual file, even though I have the key? 

the Windows Media Creation Tool is Free. there's no paying for it, you pay for a License that gives you multiple installs to use.

[Myla]

Just now, BionicSeaSerpent said:

backup Data and just fresh install from a USB. its a pain to go back and set it all up, but your hardware has a Windows Key built into it and there's no need to pay again for another install. i'm glad its that way but windows isn't legally free either, unless you want a Watermark. 

is there a way to get the OS that is built into my computer onto the usb or do i have to pay for the files i already have?

 

[Middcore]

1 minute ago, Myla said:

is there a way to get the OS that is built into my computer onto the usb or do i have to pay for the files i already have?

 

 

If you purchased a PC with Windows preinstalled, that copy of Windows is tied to the motherboard, and it won't matter what drive it's installed on. 

[BionicSeaSerpent]

1 minute ago, Myla said:

is there a way to get the OS that is built into my computer onto the usb or do i have to pay for the files i already have?

 

Windows 10/11 is downloaded using the Media Creation tool, its can be downloaded from the Microsoft website for free and used to create a USB/ISO that you can use/ burn to a USB to then reinstall your Windows. to the SSD in your case. before you go and install Windows again. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE your personal files are backed up somewhere, not just when installing but in general. any important programs you need also should be backed up, your HDD shouldn't be touched in the install process. it might be best to take that drive out of the system when you install Windows to make sure nothing gets touched and plug it back in later so you can get your files and programs back onto your SSD. if you do do this make sure to not shock or Drop the Hard drive as that will cause damage and data Loss

[Myla]

thank you so much

[SupaKomputa]

use macrium reflect, it's free.

if you can clone the drive, i don't see why you ever need a reinstall. 

OS reinstallation is the last resort.

 

 

[BondiBlue]

2 minutes ago, SupaKomputa said:

if you can clone the drive, i don't see why you ever need a reinstall. 

Because it can cause issues down the road. In my opinion cloning should be a last resort. A clean installation will avoid all of those random issues that can show up later on. 

[SupaKomputa]

29 minutes ago, BondiBlue said:

Because it can cause issues down the road. In my opinion cloning should be a last resort. A clean installation will avoid all of those random issues that can show up later on. 

cloning is like 1 hour tops.

reinstalling everything including the apps, hours.

if cloning failed, you then reinstall, it's worth the try.

not everyone have a complex system need to have a complete reinstallation.

[BondiBlue]

Just now, SupaKomputa said:

cloning is like 1 hour tops.

reinstalling everything including the apps, hours.

if cloning failed, you then reinstall, it's worth the try.

not everyone have a complex system need to have a complete reinstallation.

I never said anything about having a complex Windows installation. I've seen nearly bare Windows installations get screwed up when being cloned. Go ahead and clone if you'd like, but I've seen far too many issues with cloned Windows installations for it to be worth my time. 

[rikitikitavi]

1 hour ago, SupaKomputa said:

not everyone have a complex system need to have a complete reinstallation.

In this case, it looks like OP is better off with a clean install to forgo any possible issues that might have been accumulated through out the years.

 

Cloning would make more sense either on fresh system with barebones/essential setup (and when such must be distributed - so time saving) or in specific case of software/settings preservation for whatever reason (like work-ready backup).

 

So it would be a much better approach to clone it after everything is freshly installed, for any future emergency.

[Myla]

10 hours ago, rikitikitavi said:

In this case, it looks like OP is better off with a clean install to forgo any possible issues that might have been accumulated through out the years.

 

Cloning would make more sense either on fresh system with barebones/essential setup (and when such must be distributed - so time saving) or in specific case of software/settings preservation for whatever reason (like work-ready backup).

 

So it would be a much better approach to clone it after everything is freshly installed, for any future emergency.

So in that case would cloning be better? I just bought this last week.

11 hours ago, BondiBlue said:

I never said anything about having a complex Windows installation. I've seen nearly bare Windows installations get screwed up when being cloned. Go ahead and clone if you'd like, but I've seen far too many issues with cloned Windows installations for it to be worth my time. 

 

[rikitikitavi]

5 hours ago, Myla said:

So in that case would cloning be better? I just bought this last week.

 

It’s a brand new pc with an HDD for a primary drive?

Is it full of manufacturer’s bloatware?

And you have the Windows license key sticker glued to the side of the case?

Got your MOBO drivers available?

 

Your choice. I’d get a fresh Windows

[Queen Chrysalis]

18 hours ago, BionicSeaSerpent said:

backup Data and just fresh install from a USB. its a pain to go back and set it all up, but your hardware has a Windows Key built into it and there's no need to pay again for another install. i'm glad its that way but windows isn't legally free either, unless you want a Watermark. 

17 hours ago, SupaKomputa said:

cloning is like 1 hour tops.

reinstalling everything including the apps, hours.

if cloning failed, you then reinstall, it's worth the try.

not everyone have a complex system need to have a complete reinstallation.

5 hours ago, Myla said:

So in that case would cloning be better? I just bought this last week.

 

This is why you should always create a 60GB partition for installing windows and make the rest of the drive a separate partition.  You can do full wipes without thinking about it.  It makes troubleshooting a lot easier as a windows reinstall takes 20 minutes, whereas surgically diagnosing a lot of problems can take hours. Do not clone it, just take the L, reinstall windows, and forget about all the extra software that came with the PC.  You don't need it, and you really don't want it.  This may actually be for the best, as a lot of users may never notice all the bloatware that comes preinstalled on these OEM PCs.

[Mark Kaine]

its very... easy

 

macrium reflect ,you need an usb to sata cable for 2.5" ,otherwise external enclosure,  attach drive with USB to PC, in macrium reflect select "clone", let it clone the full drive, turn off PC, swap drives, boot PC. Profit?

 

Done this a million times,  its *extremely* easy. The trick is obviously to use an external drive, clone and swap.  Windows isnt even noticing its a new drive lol.

[Myla]

On 6/2/2022 at 1:52 PM, rikitikitavi said:

It’s a brand new pc with an HDD for a primary drive?

Is it full of manufacturer’s bloatware?

And you have the Windows license key sticker glued to the side of the case?

Got your MOBO drivers available?

 

Your choice. I’d get a fresh Windows

Not full of bloatware, it's not brand new, it's used. License key is not on the side. Idk about mobo. It's a dell optiplex 3020 from 2014.