Question how to upgrade nvme C drive to larger capacity

[vwcrusher]

I am sure this question has been asked before, but I could not find it for my specific conditions. The question is: how to upgrade C drive from 500gb nvme to 1 tb nvme, I currently have both C and D drives on the MB. I need to add more space for applications on the boot C drive. I am hoping there is a relatively simple way to accomplish this.

thanks

 

[vwcrusher]

Well yes, you could do that.

But I see little issue with the system as it is.
The C drive is not even 1/2 full.

If it were me, I'd probably just add another drive, probably a SATA III SSD, for additional space.
Leave the current C and D as is.

I hear what you are suggesting, but if I add two applications each being 100GB, that will provide very little head room on the 4 year old C drive, no?

 

[USAFRet]

I hear what you are suggesting, but if I add two applications each being 100GB, that will provide very little head room on the 4 year old C drive, no?

Correct, but "100GB" applications are few and far between.

The entirety of Visual Studio, perhaps.
Other than that, I can't think of any.

 

[vwcrusher]

So, if you really wish to clone the 500GB C to a larger 1TB, thusly....

-----------------------------
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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to 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

Verify the system boots with ONLY the current "C drive" connected.
If not, we have to fix that first.

Run the Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration)
Select ALL the partitions on the existing C drive

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
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 specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
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.
-----------------------------

Thanks...I will give this a try.

Is there a current replacement NVME drive from Samsung that I should purchase?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks...I will give this a try.

Is there a current replacement NVME drive from Samsung that I should purchase?

Another 970 EVO Plus.
1 or 2TB, as budget allows.

 

[vwcrusher]

Thanks again. I think for $55, its worth it.

Amazon.com

I am assuming this is the part?

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks again. I think for $55, its worth it.

Amazon.com

I am assuming this is the part?

Yes, thats the one.

 

[vwcrusher]

Yes, thats the one.

Got the new drive today; installed and cloned it according to your instructions. All worked flawlessly!

Thank you again; this forum is the best. : )