how to swap c drive and e drive in Windows 10?

[Darrell999]

So I put in a new SSD m.2 drive (500GB), with the intent of making it the bootable c drive instead of my 120 GB SSD m,2 drive.
To make a long story short, I finally was able to clone it how I need it, but now I need to figure out how to make the 500GB my c drive.
When I go to Disk Manager and select "Change Drive letter and paths" and try to use a different drive letter for my old c drive, it says "parameters not correct."
Is there any easy way (or at least a way) to change my drive letters? My BIOS doesn't let me select which drive is bootable, either. Thanks.

 

[USAFRet]

So I put in a new SSD m.2 drive (500GB), with the intent of making it the bootable c drive instead of my 120 GB SSD m,2 drive.
To make a long story short, I finally was able to clone it how I need it, but now I need to figure out how to make the 500GB my c drive.
When I go to Disk Manager and select "Change Drive letter and paths" and try to use a different drive letter for my old c drive, it says "parameters not correct."
Is there any easy way (or at least a way) to change my drive letters? My BIOS doesn't let me select which drive is bootable, either. Thanks.

120BG SSD -> 500GB m.2
You did the clone thing wrong.

You can't just 'change' the OS drive letter. Bad things will happen.

Is the system still able to boot from the 120GB drive and only the 120GB drive?
Your answer will determine how we proceed.

 

[Darrell999]

Thanks for your response. Yes, it boots fine from the 120GB drive, and I have cloned the OS to the 500GB drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks for your response. Yes, it boots fine from the 120GB drive, and I have cloned the OS to the 500GB drive.

Right.
Whatever you did during the clone operation...it went wrong.

These are my tested steps for a successful clone operation.
Adjust a little bit for the SSD+m.2 thing. Here, you just disconnect the 120GB instead of swapping cables around.
But you must disconnect the original drive before you power up at the end of the clone operation.

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
-----------------------------

 

[Darrell999]

I think that was my problem. The Samsung cloning failed 3 times, but I eventually cloned with the free version of EaseUs. I didn't know that I was supposed to take out my old SSD after the cloning. I assume that after I try this, and if it successfully reboots with the 500 GB, then I can later put the old 120GB back in and reformat it so I can use it for data, right?

One quick question before I try this: Should I reformat or delete volumes from the 500 GB before I begin, or doesn't it matter? (no data on there anyway)

 

[USAFRet]

I think that was my problem. The Samsung cloning failed 3 times, but I eventually cloned with the free version of EaseUs. I didn't know that I was supposed to take out my old SSD after the cloning. I assume that after I try this, and if it successfully reboots with the 500 GB, then I can later put the old 120GB back in and reformat it so I can use it for data, right?

One quick question before I try this: Should I reformat or delete volumes from the 500 GB before I begin, or doesn't it matter? (no data on there anyway)

Right.
You must allow the system to boot from the new drive, without the old drive connected.
No, you don't need to wipe the 500GB again. The clone operation should take care of it.

 

[Darrell999]

I'll try it. Thanks for your help!

 

[Darrell999]

Well, I cloned it with EaseUs ToDo Ackup free edition, then powered off, took out the 120 GB, and rebooted, and...it does boot up, but now the problem is that it shows up as the same size as the old drive. Very frustrating. When I go to disk manager, I see the remaining size as "unallocated." Is there a way to merge this into the OS partition?

 

[USAFRet]

Well, I cloned it with EaseUs ToDo Ackup free edition, then powered off, took out the 120 GB, and rebooted, and...it does boot up, but now the problem is that it shows up as the same size as the old drive. Very frustrating. When I go to disk manager, I see the remaining size as "unallocated." Is there a way to merge this into the OS partition?

Probably.
(and this was kind of expected)

Please show us a screencap of your Disk Management window, so that we may see how to proceed.

 

[Darrell999]

I decided to try to merge the the volume together with AOMEI, rebooted, and it looks successful! Looks just how I wanted it. Now I just need to put the old SSD back in, and if all looks good after rebooting a few times, then I plan to reformat the old SSD. Thanks again for your help, USAFRet!

 

[USAFRet]

I decided to try to merge the the volume together with AOMEI, rebooted, and it looks successful! Looks just how I wanted it. Now I just need to put the old SSD back in, and if all looks good after rebooting a few times, then I plan to reformat the old SSD. Thanks again for your help, USAFRet!

OK, that's where I was leading to.

 

[Darrell999]

Confirmed success! Thanks again!