Cloning SSD?

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

Hi guys, 

So I've decided to buy an m.2 ssd and I want to avoid reinstalling windows, software etc. 

I want to clone my bootdrive (sata ssd) to the M.2. 

My current plan is to add the M.2 drive, boot into windows, clone the bootdrive onto it, then format the sata SSD (current boot drive).
But will the M.2 then switch name to C:\ as I want ? or will it still be called the weird H:\ letter or whatever it gets while cloning?

[Levent]

You can always change drive letter assignments in windows. It never is a big deal.

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

Just now, Levent said:

You can always change drive letter assignments in windows. It never is a big deal.

Even if it's the bootdrive?

[mariushm]

I've used Macrium Reflect to clone a hard drive to a SSD. It should work just the same to clone a SATA SSD to a M.2 drive.

 

Once you have it cloned, you can simply reboot and change boot order to boot from M.2 drive ... the M.2 drive will get the letter C: automatically and the old SATA drive will get another letter (D: ) or whatever you wish.

[Levent]

3 minutes ago, Edgar R. Zakarian said:

Even if it's the bootdrive?

Well that is not possible in windows but you can do it, a lot more challenging though. I glanced over that part, my bad.

[Brando212]

don't do the cloning in windows. use a bootable solution like Macrium Reflect mentioned above to do the cloning; that'll avoid any issues from the boot drive being in use during the cloning. And you should be able to wipe the old drive from the bootable media too in order to avoid issue when you then go to boot from the new drive.

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

2 minutes ago, mariushm said:

I've used Macrium Reflect to clone a hard drive to a SSD. It should work just the same to clone a SATA SSD to a M.2 drive.

 

Once you have it cloned, you can simply reboot and change boot order to boot from M.2 drive ... the M.2 drive will get the letter C: automatically and the old SATA drive will get another letter (D: ) or whatever you wish.

I'll definitely try this! 
Is Macrium Reflect free for personal use?
Would this work?
Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

1 minute ago, Brando212 said:

don't do the cloning in windows. use a bootable solution like Macrium Reflect mentioned above to do the cloning; that'll avoid any issues from the boot drive being in use during the cloning. And you should be able to wipe the old drive from the bootable media too in order to avoid issue when you then go to boot from the new drive.

Ah so I'll need a USB stick right?

[Brando212]

Just now, Edgar R. Zakarian said:

Ah so I'll need a USB stick right?

yep, just need to download an ISO for your desired cloning tool and load it on the USB with Rufus

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

1 minute ago, Brando212 said:

yep, just need to download an ISO for your desired cloning tool and load it on the USB with Rufus

Know where I can find an ISO for Macrium reflect? All i got was an exe on the link above.

[Tan3l6]

3 minutes ago, Edgar R. Zakarian said:

Know where I can find an ISO for Macrium reflect? All i got was an exe on the link above.

Macrium Reflect works just fine in Windows. Exe is the installer. I don't know why mess around with ISO

[OddOod]

I will say that cloning a drive almost never goes as smoothly as you'd like. It's almost never worth the hassle unless you have some insanely customized set up. 

[mariushm]

I did it from Windows, it worked for me  just fine. 

 

Worst case scenario if something doesn't work, you just flip back to the sata SSD and clone it again later using other software or from a bootable solution.

 

Just get the latest version from their website:  https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree#backup-and-recovery-software-for-home-pcs

 

 

[Tan3l6]

2 minutes ago, mariushm said:

Just get the latest version from their website:  https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree#backup-and-recovery-software-for-home-pcs

Thats a "free trial". If I remember the trial ends the functionality after 30 days. Might be wrong...

The majorgeeks version is totally free.

[tkitch]

I'ma say the quiet part out loud:

Cloning a windows drive is rarely worth the headache.  Don't do it.  

[Tan3l6]

8 minutes ago, tkitch said:

I'ma say the quiet part out loud:

Cloning a windows drive is rarely worth the headache.  Don't do it.  

Just wondering - what's the worst that could happen?

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

32 minutes ago, mariushm said:

I did it from Windows, it worked for me  just fine. 

 

Worst case scenario if something doesn't work, you just flip back to the sata SSD and clone it again later using other software or from a bootable solution.

 

Just get the latest version from their website:  https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree#backup-and-recovery-software-for-home-pcs

 

 

I'll try the exe then :P! 

[tkitch]

18 minutes ago, Tan3l6 said:

Just wondering - what's the worst that could happen?

you lose hours and hours trying to make it work, and eventually give up and do a reinstall anyways, cuz it's better. 

[mariushm]

The worst thing that could happen is that when you try to boot from the M.2 drive, windows may crash or freeze or maybe you get a blue screen  ... that's all.

 

You just reboot the pc and set the boot drive back to the sata drive and it will be like nothing ever happened.

 

I got Macrium Reflect when it was free for home users on the website, during setup I just had to say I'm a technician working on my home computer and they emailed me a serial for the free version that activated the free trial version. The serial still works with the latest installer from the site.

I don't know if it's truly free unlimited that version on majorgeeks , I suppose it could be, but the trial version doesn't limit you in any way and you basically need it for one day. You can always reinstall the trial version some other time if you need it again.

 

[Brando212]

yeah totally forgot macrium changed their licensing.

 

if the trial doesn't work right for you then here's a couple alternates.

 

https://www.paragon-software.com/us/free/pm-express/#

https://pendrivelinux.com/yumi-multiboot-usb-creator/ (this should give a dropdown list of OS distros and utilities)

[Tan3l6]

14 hours ago, tkitch said:

you lose hours and hours trying to make it work, and eventually give up and do a reinstall anyways, cuz it's better. 

Never happened to me. Cloning from M.2 SSD ~380GB to an external SSD takes about 26 min. And restoring from that backup has never been problematic.

So I was just wondering what would be the worst case failing a clone. So 26 minutes lost if something happens, and it's comfortable to use PC while cloning.

Cloning in an environment where you can't use the PC for anything else is a 26 minute time loss in my book.

 

But OK, if that has not happened to me does not mean it's out of possibilities what could happen.

[Agall]

1 hour ago, Edgar R. Zakarian said:

I'll definitely try this! 
Is Macrium Reflect free for personal use?
Would this work?
Download Macrium Reflect FREE Edition - MajorGeeks

I personally use Acronis True Image to clone drives, but even then, it struggles to clone 1:1 UEFI drives. I generally have to a backup+restore to get it to work. That software also boots into a separate environment to be able to clone Windows installations. I haven't used Marcium, but I've seen it more than just here as a free way to clone drives.

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

I'll try out Macrium freeware version linked from majorgeeks once I receive the M.2. SSD. today/tomorrow.

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

Cloning now haha

[Edgar R. Zakarian]

19 minutes ago, Edgar R. Zakarian said:

Cloning now haha
 

Well this is messed up... Can't seem to "extend" C drive...