[SOLVED] Cloning old HDD to smaller SSD

Feb 20, 2020
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I recently purchased a new SSD. Samsung Evo 500GB and I am intending on cloning my current HDD to it. The issue I have is that I have approx 700GB of data on the HDD. Is there a way I can decide what to clone? Or a way I can make sure it clones particular data? I.e the OS and such?

Or, given that the majority of the data is game installs, should I look at deleting a few in order to bring down the HDD size and then clone it?

Thanks for you help!
 
Solution
Into a 500GB drive, you need the actual consumed space to be below 400GB.
Once to get to that point, this:

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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...

Dooktar

Prominent
Dec 23, 2019
46
6
565
Todo Backup is what I typically use, but you have to pay for the premium version if you want to just move your windows over. I wouldn't recommend shrinking your partitions either, wouldn't do much.

Put your saves (if you don't trust the cloud) on a thumbdrive, and if it's big enough put a few of the games on it too. Uninstall the games you can, and then just use the included samsung cloning software. Then you can reinstall your games back on the hard drive.
 
Last edited:

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Into a 500GB drive, you need the actual consumed space to be below 400GB.
Once to get to that point, 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 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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Solution