Cloning HDD to SSD questions

[jumbosham]

I'm rebuilding my pc and would like to switch my hdds to ssds.

1) As long as the mobo has at least 2 M.2 spots, would I be able to run two 970 evos?

2) What's the best way to clone my primary hdd to the new 970 evo?

 

[mundial]

1) Yes, as standalone OR RAID. It is recommended however that you run them as standalone as software RAID (provided by Windows) is not great.

2) HDClone is a great tool for migrating from HDD to SSD.
https://www.miray.de/products/applications/hdclone.html

 

[USAFRet]

I'm rebuilding my pc and would like to switch my hdds to ssds.

1) As long as the mobo has at least 2 M.2 spots, would I be able to run two 970 evos?

2) What's the best way to clone my primary hdd to the new 970 evo?

1. You have to verify exactly what type of drives those m.2 ports can take.
Some are NVMe only, some are SATA only, some can take either.
What motherboard is this?

2. Cloning. Just like this:
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
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

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

 

[jumbosham]

I'm rebuilding my pc and would like to switch my hdds to ssds.

1) As long as the mobo has at least 2 M.2 spots, would I be able to run two 970 evos?

2) What's the best way to clone my primary hdd to the new 970 evo?

1. You have to verify exactly what type of drives those m.2 ports can take.
Some are NVMe only, some are SATA only, some can take either.
What motherboard is this?

2. Cloning. Just like this:
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
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

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

I found a cpu/mobo combo. I'll probably choose that combo and the mobo is the gigabyte aorus master.

 

[USAFRet]

I found a cpu/mobo combo. I'll probably choose that combo and the mobo is the gigabyte aorus master.

You'll have to look at the specific specs for the motherboard, to see exactly what type drives can or cannot be used.

 

[delaro]

You have to look closely at your motherboard, 970 evo's won't work with quite a lot of boards out there that do have NVMe support and running two would mean losing two PCI-e slots since they share the same bus.

 

[jumbosham]

I found a cpu/mobo combo. I'll probably choose that combo and the mobo is the gigabyte aorus master.

You'll have to look at the specific specs for the motherboard, to see exactly what type drives can or cannot be used.

You have to look closely at your motherboard, 970 evo's won't work with quite a lot of boards out there that do have NVMe support and running two would mean losing two PCI-e slots since they share the same bus.

https://imgur.com/a/P8WnaqG

 

[jumbosham]

So if I'm reading the manual right, if I installed them both in the M2M & M2A I'd only lose sata 4/5?

 

[USAFRet]

So if I'm reading the manual right, if I installed them both in the M2M & M2A I'd only lose sata 4/5?

Correct.