[SOLVED] Confused about cloning factory 256gb m2 ssd to new 1TB m2 ssd

[matt98svt]

Ok so I recently purchased a dell 5505 laptop and wanted to upgrade the original 256gb m2 ssd. I purchased a sk Hynix p31 1tb m2 ssd to use. My question is what is the easiest way to clone my factory ssd to the new 1TB ssd? I know the dell has a second slot to add a 2nd m2 drive but I would like windows and all my programs to be run off the faster and more efficient sk Hynix 1TB so want to clone the original drive vs just plugging it in the second slot for added storage. Can I plug the new ssd in the second slot and clone the factory drive to it or do I need some type of external enclosure with a usb cord to clone the factory ssd to the new ssd? Thanks

 

[CountMike]

Ok so I recently purchased a dell 5505 laptop and wanted to upgrade the original 256gb m2 ssd. I purchased a sk Hynix p31 1tb m2 ssd to use. My question is what is the easiest way to clone my factory ssd to the new 1TB ssd? I know the dell has a second slot to add a 2nd m2 drive but I would like windows and all my programs to be run off the faster and more efficient sk Hynix 1TB so want to clone the original drive vs just plugging it in the second slot for added storage. Can I plug the new ssd in the second slot and clone the factory drive to it or do I need some type of external enclosure with a usb cord to clone the factory ssd to the new ssd? Thanks

You can clone it without any problems considering you are going from smaller to larger drive. My favorite is Macrium Reflect free version.

 

[USAFRet]

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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)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off

Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional. You must disconnect the original drive before you power up after the clone.

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.
-----------------------------

 

[USAFRet]

Are these SATA drives or NVMe?

 

[matt98svt]

Thanks guys. They are both Nvme m.2 drives. So just to be clear, I can plug the new drive into slot 2 of the laptop and clone it?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks guys. They are both Nvme m.2 drives. So just to be clear, I can plug the new drive into slot 2 of the laptop and clone it?

Assuming BOTH ports are NVMe capable, yes.

 

[Zerk2012]

I would first uninstall or delete any bloatware that came with it.

For even cloning it if you can use both NVME drives at their correct speed I would even question the reason to not just use 2 drives they will both be so fast for the average user their would be no difference that would be noticed unless just running benchmarks.

 

[TerryLaze]

Ok so I recently purchased a dell 5505 laptop and wanted to upgrade the original 256gb m2 ssd. I purchased a sk Hynix p31 1tb m2 ssd to use.

Going to the hynix webpage you will find a link about data migration linking to this, macrium free for hynix.
https://www.macrium.com/sk-hynix

 

[matt98svt]

So I plugged the new 1tb ssd into slot 2 of the laptop and cloned the factory 256gb to it. I also made a windows recovery backup on a 32gb usb. I removed the factory ssd from the laptop and put the new 1tb cloned ssd in its place and turned on the computer. It comes up a blue screen that says “bitlocker-plug in the usb drive that has the bitlocker key”. Do I need to plug back in the original ssd to get that key?

 

[USAFRet]

So I plugged the new 1tb ssd into slot 2 of the laptop and cloned the factory 256gb to it. I also made a windows recovery backup on a 32gb usb. I removed the factory ssd from the laptop and put the new 1tb cloned ssd in its place and turned on the computer. It comes up a blue screen that says “bitlocker-plug in the usb drive that has the bitlocker key”. Do I need to plug back in the original ssd to get that key?

How did BitLocker come into this?

Is this a brand new system? Or used?


“bitlocker-plug in the usb drive that has the bitlocker key”
...would indicate a USB flash drive. Not the original SSD.

 

[matt98svt]

its a brand new computer. During the dell initial setup it just ask for your email etc and some basic preferences but it never had anything during the setup about bitlocker, so i didnt knowingly turn it on or anything. it uses my finger print to login to the computer, no password or anything

 

[USAFRet]

Is the new drive in the same M.2 port as the original?

After the clone operation completed, did you physically remove the old drive and allow the system to try to boot up with only the new drive?

 

[matt98svt]

yes, after cloning i made the a windows recovery usb as i had read it would not be carried over to the cloned drive and the removed the factory ssd and put the new cloned drive in its place. when i turn it on it goes straight to the bitlocker screen. I suppose i could simply replace the factory ssd and get key to bitlocker to use. Just wasnt expecting the cloned drive to be bitlocked

 

[USAFRet]

yes, after cloning i made the a windows recovery usb as i had read it would not be carried over to the cloned drive and the removed the factory ssd and put the new cloned drive in its place. when i turn it on it goes straight to the bitlocker screen. I suppose i could simply replace the factory ssd and get key to bitlocker to use. Just wasnt expecting the cloned drive to be bitlocked

I'm just wondering where the BL came from in the first place.

I'd consider just doing a full wipe and reinstall on this new drive.
No clone.