Question Do I need software to tranfer everything from my old hard drive to my new ssd?

[celam]

I want to upgrade my old 1 tb hard drive to an ssd. Is their some software I can use to do this and what cable will i need to transfer all of the files. And is it possible to transfer windows from my old hard drove to my ssd or will I need to buy a new windows key?

 

[USAFRet]

Transferring to a new drive in the same system, you don't need a new Windows license.

Questions, before we proceed:

What OS?
How much space is consumed on your current C drive?
What other drives are in this system?
What size/make/model is the new SSD?
Please show us a screencap of your current Disk Management window.

 

[celam]

OS is windows 64 bit. 730 gigabytes used on my current hard drive. The size of the new ssd is 2.5 inch and it is a SanDisk SSD PLUS 1TB Internal SSD. No other drives.

 

[USAFRet]

OK then. This looks to be an easy transfer!

Software you'll need is Macrium Reflect. Link below.

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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)
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.
-----------------------------

 

[celam]

I have a usb to sata cable lying around can I just use this to clone the drive or do I need to go into my PC and plug the ssd into the sata port?

 

[USAFRet]

I have a usb to sata cable lying around can I just use this to clone the drive or do I need to go into my PC and plug the ssd into the sata port?

You're going to need to install the drive in the PC anyway, so just do it.

All you'd need is a second SATA data cable.

 

[popatim]

Sata otherwise it will be an eternity cloning the drive over USB... 730GB is alot.

 

[Nightwish]

Would this be the same process if cloning a ssd to m. 2?

 

[USAFRet]

Would this be the same process if cloning a ssd to m. 2?

Mostly. But read this:

Cloned to an NVMe M2 SSD and won't boot forum.macrium.com