How do i transfer EVERYTHING from one hard drive to another? including OS.

[nick.metzgerx]

The hard drive in my computer broke, it works enough to be used but not for long. i need to move EVERYTHING over to the new hard drive including windows 10. how can i do this for free?

 

[RARRAF]

Macrium Reflect its free and select clone and select the drive to clone to

 

[geofelt]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

 

[seagate_surfer]

nick.metzgerx, you may want to start with a good back up plan as well.

The conventional wisdom by tech experts on backups is known as the 3-2-1 method. Basically you want:

3 copies of any data you don't want to lose
2 different mediums it's stored on (so 2 different drives in your computer, for example)
1 copy kept offsite, to prevent against disaster.

 

[USAFRet]

The hard drive in my computer broke, it works enough to be used but not for long. i need to move EVERYTHING over to the new hard drive including windows 10. how can i do this for free?

"...but not for long"

How long is this?
What, exactly, is wrong with the current drive?

(this works going to an HDD as well as an SSD)
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)
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 as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
-----------------------------

 

[nick.metzgerx]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

im selling it to build my own. just need to do the cheapest fix

 

[nick.metzgerx]

The hard drive in my computer broke, it works enough to be used but not for long. i need to move EVERYTHING over to the new hard drive including windows 10. how can i do this for free?

"...but not for long"

How long is this?
What, exactly, is wrong with the current drive?

(this works going to an HDD as well as an SSD)
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)
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 as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
-----------------------------

Which one do i do? the home version or business version?

 

[USAFRet]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

im selling it to build my own. just need to do the cheapest fix

If you're selling this PC, you do not want all your stuff on that drive.
You want to give it to the new owner with a bare OS install.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

im selling it to build my own. just need to do the cheapest fix

If you're selling this PC, you do not want all your stuff on that drive.
You want to give it to the new owner with a bare OS install.

i have some programs for the graphics card but i suppose i can just reinstall them. how do i only transfer over the OS?

 

[USAFRet]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

im selling it to build my own. just need to do the cheapest fix

If you're selling this PC, you do not want all your stuff on that drive.
You want to give it to the new owner with a bare OS install.

i have some programs for the graphics card but i suppose i can just reinstall them. how do i only transfer over the OS?

You don't "transfer", you do a clean install.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

You might also consider this as a good way to justify moving to a ssd.

im selling it to build my own. just need to do the cheapest fix

If you're selling this PC, you do not want all your stuff on that drive.
You want to give it to the new owner with a bare OS install.

i have some programs for the graphics card but i suppose i can just reinstall them. how do i only transfer over the OS?

You don't "transfer", you do a clean install.

dont i need to pay to install it new?

 

[USAFRet]

dont i need to pay to install it new?

Absolutely not.

Question - Are you selling the new owner the OS license as well as the hardware?
If yes...this means that you will have to buy a new one for your new system. Can't use it on two systems.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

dont i need to pay to install it new?

Absolutely not.

Question - Are you selling the new owner the OS license as well as the hardware?
If yes...this means that you will have to buy a new one for your new system. Can't use it on two systems.

quite honestly i have no idea. i got this computer from someone else and they didnt say anything about the OS license

 

[USAFRet]

quite honestly i have no idea. i got this computer from someone else and they didnt say anything about the OS license

Windows is licensed software. It actually costs money. Generally, a Windows 10 Home license costs around $90.
Yes, it does.

1. For future reference...for any used system...your first move needs to be a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything else.

2. You have no idea of the original licensing for this OS. May be valid, may be some cracked something.
You may be able to transfer the license to some new system that you own. Maybe.
Seeing as the current system sort of still works, read and do these:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Don't be surprised if this fails completely.

If it works, this may allow you to use whatever "license" is associated with that install.
Not the actual install, just the license.

So, assuming you can link that OS license to a MS account of yours...

Then you simply do a clean install on the new hard drive.
Thusly:
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

When it asks for the license key, there will be a link to skip that.
Skip it, and proceed on.

You will be selling this system to the new owner with the OS installed, and without a license activation.
Make this abundantly clear to the new owner. He may ask for a little bit off your agreed upon price.

3. In your new system...this is where the second half of the above links come into play. That OS license, if it was ever valid, is potentially linked to your MS account. And can maybe be transferred to your new system, after you do a clean install on that.


Disclaimer - I wouldn't be surprised if your existing install wasn't simply some cracked thing you got from "someone else".
In which case all bets are off.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

quite honestly i have no idea. i got this computer from someone else and they didnt say anything about the OS license

Windows is licensed software. It actually costs money. Generally, a Windows 10 Home license costs around $90.
Yes, it does.

1. For future reference...for any used system...your first move needs to be a full wipe and reinstall of the OS and everything else.

2. You have no idea of the original licensing for this OS. May be valid, may be some cracked something.
You may be able to transfer the license to some new system that you own. Maybe.
Seeing as the current system sort of still works, read and do these:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/20530/windows-10-reactivating-after-hardware-change
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/id-3164428/windows-build-1607-activation.html

Don't be surprised if this fails completely.

If it works, this may allow you to use whatever "license" is associated with that install.
Not the actual install, just the license.

So, assuming you can link that OS license to a MS account of yours...

Then you simply do a clean install on the new hard drive.
Thusly:
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

When it asks for the license key, there will be a link to skip that.
Skip it, and proceed on.

You will be selling this system to the new owner with the OS installed, and without a license activation.
Make this abundantly clear to the new owner. He may ask for a little bit off your agreed upon price.

3. In your new system...this is where the second half of the above links come into play. That OS license, if it was ever valid, is potentially linked to your MS account. And can maybe be transferred to your new system, after you do a clean install on that.


Disclaimer - I wouldn't be surprised if your existing install wasn't simply some cracked thing you got from "someone else".
In which case all bets are off.

okay, so it seems like that all failed. Can i leave the Activated OS on this hard drive an put a second one in anyway? i dont know, what should i do?

 

[USAFRet]

okay, so it seems like that all failed. Can i leave the Activated OS on this hard drive an put a second one in anyway? i dont know, what should i do?

What failed, and exactly how did it fail?

 

[nick.metzgerx]

What failed, and exactly how did it fail?
[/quotemsg]

it wont allow me to add my account to it, even when im signed in as an administrator, both local and the normal Microsoft account.
would my best bet be to clone it then wipe all my info?
or would i still need to reactivate it somehow which i cant do

 

[USAFRet]

it wont allow me to add my account to it, even when im signed in as an administrator, both local and the normal Microsoft account.
would my best bet be to clone it then wipe all my info?

No.
You have 2 systems.

1. The one you are selling.
Replace the drive in it, and do a clean OS install. Skip entering the license key. Inform the new owner of this.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

2. Whatever you are keeping
Do a clean install on whatever drive will go in this. How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10
Skip entering the license key.
Then...
Live with the unactivated restrictions
or
Call MS, speak to a human and plead your case
or
Purchase your own valid OS.


You got this system from "some guy", with no info on the OS. I'd be surprised if it were actually a valid license.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

it wont allow me to add my account to it, even when im signed in as an administrator, both local and the normal Microsoft account.
would my best bet be to clone it then wipe all my info?

No.
You have 2 systems.

1. The one you are selling.
Replace the drive in it, and do a clean OS install. Skip entering the license key. Inform the new owner of this.
How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10

2. Whatever you are keeping
Do a clean install on whatever drive will go in this. How to do a CLEAN installation of Windows 10
Skip entering the license key.
Then...
Live with the unactivated restrictions
or
Call MS, speak to a human and plead your case
or
Purchase your own valid OS.


You got this system from "some guy", with no info on the OS. I'd be surprised if it were actually a valid license.

okay, sorry if im annoying you but would it be possible to do the clean OS install on the one im selling, and clone it to my SSD for the one im keeping?

 

[USAFRet]

okay, sorry if im annoying you but would it be possible to do the clean OS install on the one im selling, and clone it to my SSD for the one im keeping?

No.

You do a clean install on each system, on the drive that will live in that system.
No cloning back and forth.

 

[nick.metzgerx]

okay, sorry if im annoying you but would it be possible to do the clean OS install on the one im selling, and clone it to my SSD for the one im keeping?

No.

You do a clean install on each system, on the drive that will live in that system.
No cloning back and forth.

ok