Cloning HDD to SSD failing?

[pjkgames0102]

So I have a Samsung laptop that has an M.2 slot (sata). I recently bought a 500gb WD Blue ssd and have been trying to clone my existing hdd in the laptop to this new SSD. However, when using Acronis True Image WD edition, the SSD fails to fully boot into windows, instead ending up on a black screen with a loading cursor. I've cloned several time to no avail. The boot order was changed, and I even disabled the HDD entirely.

I can't reinstall windows on the ssd as I have way to much software, much of it to old to actually get again (also loads of the software is school sponsored and as such I don't have product keys)

I can't swap the drives as one is a 2.5inch and the other is m.2. I'm sort of at a loss as to what to do. Any help would be welcome.

 

[k1114]

Acronis fails a lot and I don't recommend using it. Other software can also do it within windows so it doesn't require a reboot. Use different cloning software. Macrium and clonezilla are the other popular ones I think. I use aomei.

 

[pjkgames0102]

Acronis fails a lot and I don't recommend using it. Other software can also do it within windows so it doesn't require a reboot. Use different cloning software. Macrium and clonezilla are the other popular ones I think. I use aomei.

Yeah, I thought it might be an Acronis problem so I'm trying Macrium right now. Thanks for the help. Will update once it finishes

 

[USAFRet]

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 as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
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