[SOLVED] Cloning a 256GB SATA SSD to a 1TB NVME drive

[hirschbergt]

I'm considering adding a 1TB NVME drive, and I currently have my OS and other primary programs installed on a 256 Samsung SATA SSD. Ideally I would like to simply clone the 256GB drive onto the new drive so that I don't have to start over from scratch, but I have little experience doing this. What is the general recommendation? Is it better to just back up any data I have on the smaller drive, wipe it, and then install my OS and other programs on the new drive as a clean slate?

 

[CountMike]

I'm considering adding a 1TB NVME drive, and I currently have my OS and other primary programs installed on a 256 Samsung SATA SSD. Ideally I would like to simply clone the 256GB drive onto the new drive so that I don't have to start over from scratch, but I have little experience doing this. What is the general recommendation? Is it better to just back up any data I have on the smaller drive, wipe it, and then install my OS and other programs on the new drive as a clean slate?

Yes, use Macrium Reflect free, make a full system disk backup (resulting ,mring file will be about 750% of total disk data used). let MR make rescue USB, swap drives , boot from from USB and restore backup to new disk.
You will end up with all partitions from old drive but rest of disk to it's full leftover capacity will not be formatted, You will have to either format it and leave as another partition or merge with existing C:.

 

[USAFRet]

Cloning from SATA to NVMe can be problematic. Potential driver issues.
What specific NVMe drive are you considering?

 

[hirschbergt]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm considering either the Adata XPG SX8200 Pro (1TB) or the Samsung 970 EVO Plus (1TB).

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'm considering either the Adata XPG SX8200 Pro (1TB) or the Samsung 970 EVO Plus (1TB).

The Samsung is recommended over the ADATA.

For the clone operation, the Samsung Data Migration tool will almost certainly do the trick.

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Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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
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.
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[geofelt]

Buy the samsung 970 evo.
Install the samsung 970 pcie driver
and the ssd migration app.
You download them as well as the instructions here:

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com

You will have no problems moving from sata to pcie using the app.
I have done this both ways with no issue.

 

[hirschbergt]

Thank you!