[SOLVED] How to migrate windows from one SSD, to another?

[Orestas]

So I bought a new SSD, a Samsung 860 EVO, And I'm wondering, if I should move windows with all the files to the new SSD. Right now I think I've got a Integral P series SSD. And if I should migrate, how do I do it? I'm moving from a 480GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. And at what drive should I have my games installed, or it doesn't matter?

 

[USAFRet]

So I bought a new SSD, I want to migrate windows from an older SSD. How should I do that?
I'm moving from a 480GB SSD to a 512GB SSD. I want to have the older drive for photos, videos exc. and the new drive to have Windows. games, exc.

1. What is the size/make/model of both drives?
2. How much space is consumed on the current C drive?
3. You can't migrate 'only windows'

 

[Orestas]

1. What is the size/make/model of both drives?
2. How much space is consumed on the current C drive?
3. You can't migrate 'only windows'

Right now I've got Integral P series. The new one is going to be Samsung EVO 860
There is 34,5GB free space left from 480GB.

 

[USAFRet]

Right now I've got Integral P series. The new one is going to be Samsung EVO 860
There is 34,5GB free space left from 480GB.

For migration into a 500GB 860, you must get the actual consumed space to below 400GB. Won't work otherwise.
Since this is a Samsung target drive, you use the Samsung Data Migration tool.

Once there...

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

 

[Orestas]

For migration into a 500GB 860, you must get the actual consumed space to below 400GB. Won't work otherwise.
Since this is a Samsung target drive, you use the Samsung Data Migration tool.

Once there...

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

Okay, thank you! Will there be any noticeable improvements switching from the older SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

Okay, thank you! Will there be any noticeable improvements switching from the older SSD?

Not familiar with that brand.
But if it is a SATA III device, you'll see pretty much zero difference.

 

[Orestas]

Not familiar with that brand.
But if it is a SATA III device, you'll see pretty much zero difference.

So should I even go through the hassle of migrating Windows to the new SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

So should I even go through the hassle of migrating Windows to the new SSD?

I probably wouldn't, unless I saw specific benchmark tests that showed it significantly slower than the new drive.

 

[Orestas]

I probably wouldn't, unless I saw specific benchmark tests that showed it significantly slower than the new drive.

Ok, HUGE thanks for ALL the information you've given me!