Disconnecting old SSD makes computer not work.

[Matthew V]

Recently I tried to move my system, OS and all, to a new solid state drive (SSD). The old 120 GB SSD would soon be too small, so I went for 500 GB. I backed everything up using a Toshiba USB hard drive, using "NTI EZ backup" program. I booted up the backup and copied what I thought was everything to the new SSD.
Basically, I was trying to clone the drive and its files.
The files are transferred, but the problem comes with disconnecting the old SSD - my computer boots up, but it gets stuck at "preparing your desktop" and goes no further. When I reconnect the drive, it runs normally; so likely my computer and OS are still using the system files from the old drive, which wasn't the point of copying EVERYTHING one-to-one over.

So right now, I'm trying to figure out which SSD I'm running off of. Shouldn't all the data have been transferred over? If not, how do I change this and make my OS and system data work on the new drive instead?

Some additional details: a new 100 MB drive has appeared (System Reserved: E); it's partitioned with C on the old SSD. D is my new drive, which also has "system reserved", but no name.

 

[RARRAF]

this will work and is very easy to use http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

 

[Boogieman_WD]

Hey there, Matthew.

It sounds a bit like a messed up situation. You've first backed up your system to an external drive which you've then transferred to the new SSD? It's seems like one step too many. The data might be incomplete, so I'd recommend that you make a clone of your old SSD directly over to the new SSD by following this tutorial: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows. Make sure that you've selected the new SSD as the first booting option from your BIOS' settings. Better yet, leave it as the only drive connected to the motherboard, to see if you'd be able to boot to Windows properly.

Of course, the fresh Windows installation is always recommended. If you decide to go with that option, remember to have all secondary drives disconnected from the motherboard during the installation process.

Hope that helps. Please let me know if you have any questions whatsoever.
Boogieman_WD

 

[USAFRet]

Put the original 120GB in, and remove the new 500GB
Does the system boot up properly?
If so, then just redo the clone thing

These steps:
-----------------------------
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
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 original boot partitions, 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
-----------------------------

 

[Matthew V]

Put the original 120GB in, and remove the new 500GB
Does the system boot up properly?
If so, then just redo the clone thing

So I tested it without the new drive, and yup, it's completely functional. So I didn't actually clone it right, but hey, everything is still here, so I can just try again.
I want like to try your suggestion, but I have a few questions first:

Do I have to erase or reformat the new drive since I used it, or does it overwrite in the cloning process automatically?

It sounds like I can run Data Migration(The SSDs are both Samsung) and copy the systems partitions while they are running - is that true, or do I need to turn the drive off for the process?

I like to keep large programs and games on a separate 1 TB HDD; since we're disconnecting this in the process, and once I clone it correctly, will I need to re-install these, or will it function as before?

 

[RARRAF]

use the samsung Data Migration tool works perfect / do not do anything too the ssd / should work fine after good clone

 

[USAFRet]

So I tested it without the new drive, and yup, it's completely functional. So I didn't actually clone it right, but hey, everything is still here, so I can just try again.
I want like to try your suggestion, but I have a few questions first:

Do I have to erase or reformat the new drive since I used it, or does it overwrite in the cloning process automatically?

It sounds like I can run Data Migration(The SSDs are both Samsung) and copy the systems partitions while they are running - is that true, or do I need to turn the drive off for the process?

I like to keep large programs and games on a separate 1 TB HDD; since we're disconnecting this in the process, and once I clone it correctly, will I need to re-install these, or will it function as before?

1. You do NOT have to erase it or anything else
2. Yes, it runs on the current C drive while it is running. Weird, but it works.
3. Your applications that currently exist on the other drive will work exactly as they do now. All you are doing is replacing one C drive with another. Assuming it works, the new one is an exact copy of the old one.

 

[Matthew V]

Thanks for the process, USAFRet. I used your answer since I had Samsung drives and it worked out almost flawlessly.

There was a hiccup in disconnecting my storage HDD (different from the Toshiba backup) - the computer wouldn't boot up without it. There's probably a few system files on it, and I believe when I put the computer together long ago, I installed the OS with both drives connected, binding them both to the full boot. Fortunately, cloning didn't affect the HDD, and I didn't have to modify it. I'll have to explore re-arranging system files and removing this handicap, however.

Other than that, the cloning process was completed step-by-step. The old SSD is disconnected, and the computer is working like it never even happened.

Thanks everyone for answering my questions.