Drive Cloning Failure

[Im_Only_Human]

I’m trying to upgrade my parent’s laptop from 256gb to 1TB NVMe ssd. I already tore apart the laptop and installed windows on a spare 500gb sata ssd. In the process I accidentally triggered bitlocker, but I found the key and unlocked it after installed windows. I downloaded macrium reflect and attempted a clone. I clicked fill to drive. I noticed it also said something like not able to fully extend one or more partition, but it let me clone anyways. After the end of the clone, it said error 9 - reached the end of file (38).

 

any tips??

[ItTakes2ToMango]

No idea what that error could mean, sorry. Cloning software is nice and all, but you could just create a system image through the windows settings, move it to USB, then restore it once you have the new drive in

 

No need for cloning software and is accomplished natively through Windows, less room for error. I'd get a good backup first though, as you should always do before something like this 

 

 

[Pusbucket]

I use Diskgenius;

https://www.diskgenius.com/free.php

 

Instead of cloning the drive make an image of the disk (top menu>Disk>Backup Disk to Image file, then select the source drive (disk) and select a location to store the image and run the routine.

After it creates the image connect the new SSD and then from the Disk menu select "Restore Image file to Disk" and then restore the image to the new SSD. I'm pretty certain it allows you to adjust the partition size at this point as well.

I've never had a problem using that method.

[leclod]

45 minutes ago, ItTakes2ToMango said:

but you could just create a system image through the windows settings, move it to USB, then restore it once you have the new drive in

This sounds interesting, can you give some hints ? (I did have a go with google and came back empty)

[ItTakes2ToMango]

7 minutes ago, leclod said:

This sounds interesting, can you give some hints ? (I did have a go with google and came back empty)

Been a hot minute for me but uh, you would essentially....

 

1. use the "Backup and Restore" method in the control panel

2.save the image to another disk, network storage, or USB

3. then you would swap to your new drive and install/load windows

4. Now boot into windows recovery - I do this by holding shift during a restart but there are other ways

5. Navigate through the options until you find "Restore from image" or something similar to that

6. Restore from the image you just created/saved!

 

Voila! Should be the same instance you just had but now on your fresh drives 

 

I have never done this with Windows 11, TBF. Something about this might not work these days and I wouldn't know

[Im_Only_Human]

Btw, if it changes your answer, I’ll clarify that I’m currently using a separate test bench for all of my data transfers because I thought that’d be the easiest way (I happened to have a dual m.2 board on hand). The laptop itself only has one slot and I don’t have a usb to sata cable.

[ItTakes2ToMango]

7 minutes ago, Im_Only_Human said:

 The laptop itself only has one slot and I don’t have a usb to sata cable.

Hm, can't use a flash drive? Or a blank CD if, by the grace of some god, you still have some? 

 

I still recommend just foregoing the cloning software/cloning options altogether in favor of making and restoring an image using available, built-in options 

[leclod]

43 minutes ago, ItTakes2ToMango said:

Been a hot minute for me but uh, you would essentially....

Ok, I've got a french Windows 11, I couldn't do the way you proposed (didn't find the backup and restore in the control panel (which control panel?)),

But I think I still did it, let me tell you :

- type recovery in the "white field" open something called Restore (or close)

- don't select any of those options, instead go back to the main page from there

- select backup and restore (Windows 7 ?!) (in the  control panel ?)

- from there it's obvious...

Seems similar ?

 

Found an easier way, just type Control in the "white field"

 

Edited November 24, 2025 by leclod

[Im_Only_Human]

27 minutes ago, ItTakes2ToMango said:

Hm, can't use a flash drive? Or a blank CD if, by the grace of some god, you still have some? 

 

I still recommend just foregoing the cloning software/cloning options altogether in favor of making and restoring an image using available, built-in options 

I’ve got a usb drive that I used to install windows. Can you link me a tutorial on how to create an image etc.? I’ve never actually dealt with images before. 
 

Now that I have a second to sit down I’ll clarify even further. I have 500GB sata boot drive running windows 11. I have a 250gb NVMe drive that has laptop windows 11 on it, plugged into the mobo but NOT booting into that OS (I don’t want to risk corruption or anything), and then another 1TB NVMe drive completely empty plugged into the mobo. I also have no idea whether to leave that drive formatted/partitioned/raw/unallocated etc.

[leclod]

He'll probably answer,

In the mean time, type control in the taskbar, open the control panel, select backup and restore...

Edited November 24, 2025 by leclod

[Mumintroll]

 

Here's a tutorial guide on how to use some free cloning apps, one of them is DiskGenius.

However in this video he use the OS migrate function, to directly clone the partitions to another drive without saving it to an image file first.

 

After you've done it, be it OS migrate or if you make image first and then use it to new drive, you'll have to reconfigure the system restore points if they were enabled before.

 

Do you really need Bitlocker?

Most regular home users don't need it. It's can be a real hassle if it gets triggered and if you don't find the unlock codes then that's a full bork drama.

 

[Sawa Takahashi]

2 hours ago, Im_Only_Human said:

I downloaded macrium reflect and attempted a clone. I clicked fill to drive. I noticed it also said something like not able to fully extend one or more partition, but it let me clone anyways. After the end of the clone, it said error 9 - reached the end of file (38).

I found that the best way to clone a drive with Macrium Reflect is to do a 1:1 clone of your boot drive. Then once you boot with the new cloned drive, you can enlarge partitions to occupy the additional space of the bigger drive. You can even use Windows disk manager to enlarge partitions (but not for shrinking).

Good luck !

 

[NumLock21]

256GB is the original drive and the 1TB is the new one. Which brand is the new 1TB?

[Im_Only_Human]

1 minute ago, NumLock21 said:

256GB is the original drive and the 1TB is the new one. Which brand is the new 1TB?

I don’t think it would matter but it’s a Corsair mp400

[Im_Only_Human]

2 hours ago, Pusbucket said:

I use Diskgenius;

https://www.diskgenius.com/free.php

 

Instead of cloning the drive make an image of the disk (top menu>Disk>Backup Disk to Image file, then select the source drive (disk) and select a location to store the image and run the routine.

After it creates the image connect the new SSD and then from the Disk menu select "Restore Image file to Disk" and then restore the image to the new SSD. I'm pretty certain it allows you to adjust the partition size at this point as well.

I've never had a problem using that method.

Looks like disk genius copied safely. Now I just have to assign the drive letter and reextend the partition and shove it back into my laptop I think

[Im_Only_Human]

1 minute ago, Im_Only_Human said:

Looks like disk genius copied safely. Now I just have to assign the drive letter and reextend the partition and shove it back into my laptop I think

Actually it seems like I maybe can’t extend it right now because there’s something conflicting about my cloned drive with its source now and it’s offline. I think I’m just gonna throw it back in the laptop and figure it out there.

[NumLock21]

15 minutes ago, Im_Only_Human said:

I don’t think it would matter but it’s a Corsair mp400

Corsair does have their own toolkit to let users clone their drives. Can try that out. If the program someone can't find the new 1TB, might need to

create a partition first.

 

 

[Im_Only_Human]

Alright well new problem now I’m power cycling my laptop. I can only stop the power cycling by picking a boot option or hitting a bios key. I selected my Corsair drive as a boot option and it still power cycles.

[NumLock21]

2 minutes ago, Im_Only_Human said:

Alright well new problem now I’m power cycling my laptop. I can only stop the power cycling by picking a boot option or hitting a bios key. I selected my Corsair drive as a boot option and it still power cycles.

Try doing a windows repair

[Im_Only_Human]

5 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Try doing a windows repair

I don’t even get to the windows boot, it’s just a black screen

[NumLock21]

2 minutes ago, Im_Only_Human said:

I don’t even get to the windows boot, it’s just a black screen

Use a windows setup disc or USB and then run the repair

[spunk.funk]

The Source Disk or the Target disk may have bad sectors. Make sure both drives are healthy.

https://digiworthy.com/solved-macrium-reflect-error-9/

 

It would be best if you got a USB Adapter for the target disk and run the clone again.

 

[Im_Only_Human]

3 hours ago, NumLock21 said:

Use a windows setup disc or USB and then run the repair

USB repair did not work, the troubleshooter couldn’t do it.

[Im_Only_Human]

1 hour ago, Im_Only_Human said:

USB repair did not work, the troubleshooter couldn’t do it.

The original ssd does not boot either

[Im_Only_Human]

My 1TB drive is detected in my boot manager and BIOS but not by windows PE command prompt on my recovery media usb stick. I tried to put the old 256gb back in but I think my battery died and caused the usb stick to corrupt its data, because after charging my laptop, the usb stick won’t boot. I’m not sure what to do now.