[SOLVED] Cloning Question

[buzzro]

I want to upgrade to a larger M.2 NVMe. Everything I've found is only cloning from a standard ssd to a M.2. or M.2 to M.2. So here's my stupid question. I have multiple drives. Can I clone my M.2 to one of my standard ssd's, then swap out the M.2 to the larger M.2, then clone back from the standard ssd to the new M.2? All drives are Samsung

 

[jay32267]

I want to upgrade to a larger M.2 NVMe. Everything I've found is only cloning from a standard ssd to a M.2. or M.2 to M.2. So here's my stupid question. I have multiple drives. Can I clone my M.2 to one of my standard ssd's, then swap out the M.2 to the larger M.2, then clone back from the standard ssd to the new M.2? All drives are Samsung

I don't see why not.

 

[USAFRet]

I want to upgrade to a larger M.2 NVMe. Everything I've found is only cloning from a standard ssd to a M.2. or M.2 to M.2. So here's my stupid question. I have multiple drives. Can I clone my M.2 to one of my standard ssd's, then swap out the M.2 to the larger M.2, then clone back from the standard ssd to the new M.2? All drives are Samsung

How many M.2 ports does your system have?

 

[buzzro]

just 1

 

[USAFRet]

just 1

OK then...an Image is better than a full clone in both directions.

Macrium Reflect can do this easily.

1x m.2 slot with an Image

Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current m.2 drive:

1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
3. In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
4. When done, power OFF.
5. Swap the 2 drives
6. Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
7. Recover, and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2
8. Go, and wait until it finishes.
9. That's all...this should work.

 

[buzzro]

OK then...an Image is better than a full clone in both directions.

Macrium Reflect can do this easily.

1x m.2 slot with an Image

Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current m.2 drive:

1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
3. In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
4. When done, power OFF.
5. Swap the 2 drives
6. Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
7. Recover, and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2
8. Go, and wait until it finishes.
9. That's all...this should work.

thanks

 

[geofelt]

Yes, you can.
I did exactly that.
Plan A.
I did have a second m.2 slot which I tried to use, but for whatever reason, the move failed to boot.
Plan B.
Then, I thought a usb m.2 adapter cable could do the job
but research showed that the ssd migration app can not verify that it is a samsung m.2 pcie ssd as a valid target.
Plan C.
I used the app to move the old 500gb m.2 to a spare 500gb 850 pro device.
Booted from the 850 pro, installed the 1tb 970 evo + and copied again.
Plan C worked perfectly.

 

[buzzro]

Yes, you can.
I did exactly that.
Plan A.
I did have a second m.2 slot which I tried to use, but for whatever reason, the move failed to boot.
Plan B.
Then, I thought a usb m.2 adapter cable could do the job
but research showed that the ssd migration app can not verify that it is a samsung m.2 pcie ssd as a valid target.
Plan C.
I used the app to move the old 500gb m.2 to a spare 500gb 850 pro device.
Booted from the 850 pro, installed the 1tb 970 evo + and copied again.
Plan C worked perfectly.

Were you using the Samsung migration tool?

 

[geofelt]

Were you using the Samsung migration tool?

Yes, I have used it many times.
I might add that when you install the samsung m.2 also install the samsung nvme driver which is available on the same web site.