Cloning Issue

[dudeskee1325]

I got a new ssd and want to clone windows to it (duh) but when I did and tried to boot, nothing happened. It wouldn't boot. I want to disk management to see what was wrong and found that I did the thing where I let windows put the boot partition and the operating system on two drives when I first built my computer. (See attached image for explanation.) Note that disk 1 has the EFI system partition and media on it, in "MEH E" drive outlines in orange, and disk 0 has the C drive for windows. 

 

Is there any way for me to clone both partitions to the ssd without having to do a fresh windows install? Would making a system image work? I have tried creating partitions and copying windows and the boot partition to the ssd to no avail. I have used easeUS, minitool partition wizard, and Acronis to perform these things and nothing has worked. I usually have patience for this kinda thing but I've been at this for 5 days now and the frustration is starting to get to me so sorry in advance if I get snappy in replies. 

[ARikozuM]

You’ll have to reinstall Windows, unfortunately there’s no easy way around this. You’ll have to detach all drives and only keep the drive you need to install to.

[dudeskee1325]

Gah, what a bummer. Do you (or anyone) know a good way for me to quickly transfer info for my programs? My files are all backed up but I truthfully hate reinstalling and setting up programs. I've accumulated a lot since I've built this computer hahaha

[ARikozuM]

Just boot into your new disk and try uninstalling or deleting Windows off the old disks.

[SupaKomputa]

You cannot just clone the partition, for windows to run it needs the other smaller partition plus you have to build the Boot record table.

You can clone a whole disk but not just the partition.

 

But here's what you can do to minimalize the effort:

- install a fresh windows in ssd.

- create a username the same as the old windows.

- copy c:\users\yourname folder to ssd.

- install each program.

 

With this you can retain all your private data and much of the programs data and settings, for examples bookmarks, cookies and histories.

[dudeskee1325]

Ah ok, so basically install them to the folders that already exist from the old drive? 

 

Also, if I install windows on the ssd but I have my recovery image, could I use the image to essentially clone my old drive? 

[SupaKomputa]

No not all folders, just your users data.

Programs need to be installed one by one.

Because some programs installed the files in many folders.

But at least you won't loose all your app history and settings.

After you succesfully done this, don't delete the windows in old hdd for backups, make sure everythings ok.

Quote

Also, if I install windows on the ssd but I have my recovery image, could I use the image to essentially clone my old drive? 

I don't understand, please elaborate.

[dudeskee1325]

Got it for the folder stuff, thanks. 

 

Lets say I install fresh windows on the ssd, then I get it to boot into recovery mode. Once in recovery mode, I have it recover from a system image created from the old hard drive. Would recovering from the system image essentially populate the ssd (that has fresh and bare windows 10 on it) with all my files and programs from the old hard drive? 

[dudeskee1325]

Just did some more research and found out that this won't work. 

 

anyone know if it would be possible to clone the separate partitions onto the one drive at once? 

[unijab]

3 hours ago, dudeskee1325 said:

Just did some more research and found out that this won't work. 

 

anyone know if it would be possible to clone the separate partitions onto the one drive at once? 

 

Yes but not easy to explain and very easy to erase all your data.

 

[dudeskee1325]

Ok, looks promising. I'll give it a try after classes today and see how it goes! 

 

Yea, the system environment is messed up because I used the hard drive out of my laptop initially to build my pc and then did a fresh install when I got a second hard drive. The laptop drive wen from windows 7 to 8 and to 10 and then I put windows on the newer hard drive when I got it. If all goes well, I'll remove all the partitions on the mechanical drives and remember this the next time I do a build! Really appreciate the help guys, fingers crossed! 

[LulaGreen]

It's a good idea to make a backup image for C and EFI system partition, and then restore to your SSD. Just have a try. If aomei backupper can't help you, you can try other backup tools, and minitool shadowmaker is my favorite. it's easy to use. However, if this method doesn't work, you can try this way to make both partitions on the same hard disk: https://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/379669-how-move-bcd-disk0-disk1.html 

[dudeskee1325]

Unfortunately, all of these attempts have been mad in vain. Nothing has worked from all the posted suggestions.

I will be attempting yours next lula.

 

 One other thing I tried was to copy the efi partition to the SSD and then cloning windows but still nothing. I select the SSD to boot from and it says "operating system missing" or something and I have to restart. The bummer is that disk management shows that the SSD has the proper partitions but no luck. I don't know how to merge the two partitions to one so that I can do a proper system clone. Any ideas?