[SOLVED] Can't install a cloned SSD into a Toshiba Satellite under Windows 10

[RobJen]

My Toshiba Satellite p50-c-18k has an SSD of only 250 GB and was running out of space. I've bought a new SSD of twice the capacity and, using Acronis 2020, I've copied the first to the second (three times now), but the computer won't recognize it. The copying process is supposed to leave the SSD in GPT format (because I don't think the Toshiba can read MBR format) but right at the end of the process, a message appears referring to MBR , and then there's one which says something like "synchronising with the operating system". I've seen several suggested solutions. One was to make a Windows 10 Recovery USB but this again is not recognized by the computer. Anything on memory sticks or DVDs has to be in MBR format (or so I understand), and in the "BIOS" of my computer, UEFI is greyed and seems to be the only interface option. Can anyone suggest a solution? Many thanks.

 

[USAFRet]

What are the specific drives in question?
How did you do this clone? Yes, Acronis, but where were the drives connected when you did this?

 

[RobJen]

What are the specific drives in question?
How did you do this clone? Yes, Acronis, but where were the drives connected when you did this?

I hope I've understood your questions correctly.
The source drive was the internal Drive C:. The destination SSD was in an enclosure connected by USB. I ran the program from within Windows 10. I wasn't very happy about this because when I've done the same sort of operation in the past, I've run Acronis on a CD, loading it directly from startup (i.e. outside of Windows). So both the source drive and destination drive were outside the copying system. I don't think this kind of operation is possible now. (Also, the drives involved weren't SSDs.)

 

[USAFRet]

I hope I've understood your questions correctly.
The source drive was the internal Drive C:. The destination SSD was in an enclosure connected by USB. I ran the program from within Windows 10. I wasn't very happy about this because when I've done the same sort of operation in the past, I've run Acronis on a CD, loading it directly from startup (i.e. outside of Windows). So both the source drive and destination drive were outside the copying system. I don't think this kind of operation is possible now. (Also, the drives involved weren't SSDs.)

Specific drives. Make/model/size.

Acronis (or my preferred Macrium Reflect) can do this directly from Windows.

 

[RobJen]

Specific drives. Make/model/size.

Acronis (or my preferred Macrium Reflect) can do this directly from Windows.

Destination: Kingston (Samsung) 480GB [SUV500M8/480G]
Source:

Solid State Drive

capacity : 256 GB interface : M.2 SATA

I hope this is enough info.

 

[USAFRet]

OK.
So you cloned from the existing internal 256GB M.2 SATA drive, to the 480GB Kingston drive, which existed in an external enclosure.

When the operation completed, what did you do?

 

[RobJen]

OK.
So you cloned from the existing internal 256GB M.2 SATA drive, to the 480GB Kingston drive, which existed in an external enclosure.

When the operation completed, what did you do?

I shut down the computer, opened up the back, removed the source drive, inserted the destination drive, then I tried to boot up.

 

[USAFRet]

I shut down the computer, opened up the back, removed the source drive, inserted the destination drive, then I tried to boot up.

Then something failed with the clone operation.
Redo it.

I much prefer Macrium Reflect for this.

(Adjust for being M.2 and not SATA connected with cables. But the concept is the same.)
-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone 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

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the 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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------