Clone HDD to SSD

[iGraffiti]

Hello,
My first time asking something here, but always used this forum for problems I had.
I am about to buy a Samsung Evo 850 1TB SSD from amazon. And I have a 1TB HDD on my laptop.
I have Windows 10 pro 64bit that was upgraded from windows 8.1 on my laptop, and I want to know how can I clone my HDD to the new SSD without installing/reinstalling windows.

I've also heard that if I change some hardware while on windows 10 I will have many issues regarding that change. Is it true? Should I prepare a backup just in-case?

Thank you

 

[Ubrales]

Cloning is the ideal way to do what you are seeking. By cloning you will be making an exact copy (clone) of the HDD on to the SSD. There will be no problems doing this..

Backup before you do anything. Backup to an external drive.

For cloning (making an exact copy of the entire disk) you need to connect the hard disk to your present computer OR to a different computer and then use a cloning software. There are a few good free cloning software that you can download and run.

There is Acronis (free download from WD's website).

Clonezilla: http://clonezilla.org/ (Will copy the entire contents; not so desirable)

Apricorn (this is what I use): http://www.apricorn.com/products/software/ezgig.html
(Needs ‘Drivewire’ - $35) - http://www.apricorn.com/media/uploads/DriveWire_Manual_rev7_14.pdf

EaseUS: http://www.easeus.com/backup-software/ (I have used this) - look for the clone option.

Macrium Reflect: http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

After you clone the hard disk, use the newly cloned hard disk in place of the old hard disk.

Make a backup of the new setup.

 

[ArtPog]

Ubrales has provided you with some good general info re disk-cloning but allow me to amplify his comments.

As a general proposition we advise users to undertake a disk-cloning operation when they can answer "yes" to the following questions:
1. Does your present system function without any problems in that the system boots without incident and thereafter functions trouble-free?
2. Are you comfortable enough with your present system that you would have no qualms in having what amounts to a bit-for-bit copy of that system transferred to your new drive?
3. Is the disk-capacity of the new drive sufficient to contain the total contents of the drive that you would like to transfer?

It would appear from your post that the above criteria has been met.

Since you will be purchasing a Samsung SSD, that drive is packaged with Samsung's Data Migration program. That program is specifically designed to clone the contents of a disk to a Samsung SSD. (The "source" disk need not be a Samsung model). The SDM program is an excellent, easy-to-use disk-cloning program and I would encourage you to use it.

You will not run into any problems with Win 10 following the disk-cloning operation because you will be using a cloned copy of your previous disk.

 

[iGraffiti]

Ubrales has provided you with some good general info re disk-cloning but allow me to amplify his comments.

As a general proposition we advise users to undertake a disk-cloning operation when they can answer "yes" to the following questions:
1. Does your present system function without any problems in that the system boots without incident and thereafter functions trouble-free?
2. Are you comfortable enough with your present system that you would have no qualms in having what amounts to a bit-for-bit copy of that system transferred to your new drive?
3. Is the disk-capacity of the new drive sufficient to contain the total contents of the drive that you would like to transfer?

It would appear from your post that the above criteria has been met.

Since you will be purchasing a Samsung SSD, that drive is packaged with Samsung's Data Migration program. That program is specifically designed to clone the contents of a disk to a Samsung SSD. (The "source" disk need not be a Samsung model). The SDM program is an excellent, easy-to-use disk-cloning program and I would encourage you to use it.

You will not run into any problems with Win 10 following the disk-cloning operation because you will be using a cloned copy of your previous disk.

Thanks for your reply.
I am about to get the SSD tomorrow, and wanted to know - how do I actually make the backup of my HDD in order to use the SDM program?

Thanks,
iGraffiti

 

[ArtPog]

There is no need to make a backup of your HDD if you are going to clone that disk to your new SSD.

Since you have a laptop I presume you will install the SSD in a USB external enclosure or will be using one of those SATA-to-USB adapters and clone the contents of the HDD that's installed in the laptop to the SSD.

If you're asking about using the SDM program, read the instructions.

There is virtually no likelihood that any data on the HDD will be adversely affected as a result of the disk-cloning operation, but if for some reason you want additional protection of that data you would copy whatever files are crucial to you from the HDD to a USB external device.

 

[iGraffiti]

There is no need to make a backup of your HDD if you are going to clone that disk to your new SSD.

Since you have a laptop I presume you will install the SSD in a USB external enclosure or will be using one of those SATA-to-USB adapters and clone the contents of the HDD that's installed in the laptop to the SSD.

If you're asking about using the SDM program, read the instructions.

There is virtually no likelihood that any data on the HDD will be adversely affected as a result of the disk-cloning operation, but if for some reason you want additional protection of that data you would copy whatever files are crucial to you from the HDD to a USB external device.

I dont think that the SSD arrives with a SATA-to-USB adapter . Does the SDM program have a function where I can make a backup on an external HDD, then use the external HDD to restore the data to the SSD?

Thanks

 

[ArtPog]

The SDM program does not include any hardware other than the disk itself. It's up to the user to provide the requisite hardware to facilitate the transfer (clone) from the source disk to the destination disk. Ordinarily when a laptop/notebook is involved the data migration is accomplished through cloning the laptop's internal drive to either a USB externally-connected drive or via a SATA-to-USB connector.

 

[jamhi]

Hello,
My first time asking something here, but always used this forum for problems I had.
I am about to buy a Samsung Evo 850 1TB SSD from amazon. And I have a 1TB HDD on my laptop.
I have Windows 10 pro 64bit that was upgraded from windows 8.1 on my laptop, and I want to know how can I clone my HDD to the new SSD without installing/reinstalling windows.

I've also heard that if I change some hardware while on windows 10 I will have many issues regarding that change. Is it true? Should I prepare a backup just in-case?

Thank you

I have run into problems with the new OS when it comes to cloning. It might be from Indexing or the OS has newer implementations that cause cloning to go horribly wrong. You can try cloning but the closest I have been able to get with a free upgraded computer is Cloning, and than immediately re-installing windows 10 from the recovery options while on the new drive. You can save you personal files before doing this. Most of my cloned drives end up being very unstable without doing this.