About cloning software "samsung magician"

[Wolf_6]

I have a nice gaming pc. That runs on a 250 gb 850 EVO 2.5 SSD Im getting another SSD. (which will be the same brand...) A larger 500Gb SSD for more storage. I have a question about the cloning software. Is it good? is it reliable? I want to make sure I get the correct answer and have more knowledge on this subject before I make a mistake; do I use the cloning software or have to save whatever files I can get off of the c drive and then install windows on the new drive? I want to know before I go ahead and do this beforehand. Iam using a windows 10 home edition 32/64 bit OS.

I have my pc on the latest drivers and everything is about as clean as it can get. I do get how some people would agree to doing the fresh install. As of course. No crap or junk on the new drive. No potential viruses or anything of the like. And well. A brand new windows 10 build instead of using the old windows 10 build and stuff like that. But I want to know for sure using a cloning software is safe and might save me the hassle of installing windows and having to configure it in the process......

 

[jankerson]

Normally it works fine.

If it does fail then you lose nothing because you can just install Windows fresh on the new hard drive and transfer your files over from the old drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Detailed steps for a successful cloning operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung SSD)
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive
Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
Swap the SATA cables around so that the new drive is connected to the same SATA port as the old drive
Power up, and verify the BIOS boot order
If good, continue the power up

It should boot from the new drive, just like the old drive.
Maybe reboot a time or two, just to make sure.

If it works, and it should, all is good.

Later, reconnect the old drive and wipe as necessary.
Delete the original boot partitions, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

 

[Wolf_6]

what do you verify boot order? you mean the one where it shows boot priority? I mean whats it called. I forgot the term for it. I know it says on my bios but there is an option to select which disk the bios will boot off of first. Is that what you mean?

 

[USAFRet]

what do you verify boot order? you mean the one where it shows boot priority? I mean whats it called. I forgot the term for it. I know it says on my bios but there is an option to select which disk the bios will boot off of first. Is that what you mean?

Yes. You don't want the original drive and its OS still in there.
Eventually you will wipe the old drive, but if it still in the boot order, when you power up after reconnecting it...it may/will boot from that drive, instead of the new one.
And both being the same performance SSD, you may not even realize.

 

[Wolf_6]

alright thanks. Much appreciated. Now I feel more prepared for this. I hope it runs smoothly and will be painless. You have solidified my confidence in this subject.