[SOLVED] How do I move Windows 10 from SSD to new m.2 SSD?

[zTohka]

hey guys i ordered a new m.2 500gb, is it recommended to move the windows 10 from ssd to m.2 ? if so how's that ? i don't want to lose anything if possible

 

[CountMike]

hey guys i ordered a new m.2 500gb, is it recommended to move the windows from ssd to m.2 ? if so how's that ? i don't want to lose anything if possible

M.2 is probably faster so yes it would be good to have OS on it. If your M.2 is same or larger, you can just clone SSD it to new one. I suggest using Macrium Reflect free https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree
Original disk will still be intact and once you are satisfied everything is OK, you can empty, reformat and use old one for data or whatever.

 

[SkyNetRising]

hey guys i ordered a new m.2 500gb, is it recommended to move the windows from ssd to m.2 ?

Depends on actual model of the new M.2 SSD.
It might not be any faster than your old SSD (if it is sata M.2 drive).

 

[USAFRet]

hey guys i ordered a new m.2 500gb, is it recommended to move the windows 10 from ssd to m.2 ? if so how's that ? i don't want to lose anything if possible

Specific make/model of all drives.
Desktop or laptop?
What motherboard?
How full is the current C drive?
What OS?
What do you use the system for?

 

[zTohka]

Specific make/model of all drives.
Desktop or laptop?
What motherboard?
How full is the current C drive?
What OS?
What do you use the system for?

currently i have teamgroup evo l3 120gb for os and some simple games about 5-10gb is free nad i have seagate 1tb for games,recordings and anime
desktop
gigabyte b360 hd3
windows 10 pro 64-bit
gaming

 

[zTohka]

Depends on actual model of the new M.2 SSD.
It might not be any faster than your old SSD (if it is sata M.2 drive).

my old ssd is teamgroup evo l3 120gb
my new m.2 is samsung evo 970 nvme m.2 2280 500gb i'm planning to move some games to the new m.2 (cyberpunk 2077,bo3,dbd and genshin impact) and thinking of move the windows as well

 

[USAFRet]

I'd almost be inclined to leave the OS on the current 120GB drive.
Use the new 970 for games and whatnot.

Or, migrate the entirety of the 120GB to the new 970.
If this, then use the Samsung Data Migration tool.


At the end of the cloning process, when the SDM powers the system off, you must disconnect the old drive before powering up again.
Let the system power up with only the new drive connected.
This is not optional.



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

 

[zTohka]

I'd almost be inclined to leave the OS on the current 120GB drive.
Use the new 970 for games and whatnot.

Or, migrate the entirety of the 120GB to the new 970.
If this, then use the Samsung Data Migration tool.


At the end of the cloning process, when the SDM powers the system off, you must disconnect the old drive before powering up again.
Let the system power up with only the new drive connected.
This is not optional.



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

it looks complicated so i'm confused i think maybe i just should don't change anything and move my games to the new m.2

 

[USAFRet]

it looks complicated so i'm confused i think maybe i just should don't change anything and move my games to the new m.2

"move my games"

If Steam, easy.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder
---------------------------------------------------
Origin and other game launchers have a similar function, but I don't have that documented.

If standalone games, they'd need to be uninstalled and reinstalled on the desired drive.

 

[zTohka]

"move my games"

If Steam, easy.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder
---------------------------------------------------
Origin and other game launchers have a similar function, but I don't have that documented.

If standalone games, they'd need to be uninstalled and reinstalled on the desired drive.

yes yes i know how to move steam games thank you so much