[SOLVED] Is it possible to move windows to a new drive?

[UrBoiCrusty]

If i already have windows installed on an ssd but buy a new larger one is it possible to boot from the new one without losing everything on the current c drive?

 

[Ralston18]

Yes it is possible by cloning the smaller drive to the larger drive.

Start with the following link from within this Forum:

https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/best-free-cloning-program.3301807/

Also moving your post to Storage category. There may be additional comment and suggestions.

 

[USAFRet]

If i already have windows installed on an ssd but buy a new larger one is it possible to boot from the new one without losing everything on the current c drive?

You can move the entirety of your current C drive or partition to anew drive.

Details, please.
Drive make/model/sizes
What OS?
How much space is consumed on your current drive?


Detailed 'how to' will follow.

 

[UrBoiCrusty]

You can move the entirety of your current C drive or partition to anew drive.

Details, please.
Drive make/model/sizes
What OS?
How much space is consumed on your current drive?


Detailed 'how to' will follow.

Currently have a sand disk 120 gb. Windows 10. Haven’t bought the new one yet. On the current one I have about 5 gb free.

 

[RolandJS]

Before cloning, maybe clean away all temporary files, Macrium Reflect, along with several other similar cloning / backup / restore utiilities, can do an Intelligent CLone from old to new, meaning the cloning only happens to occupied sectors.

 

[USAFRet]

Currently have a sand disk 120 gb. Windows 10. Haven’t bought the new one yet. On the current one I have about 5 gb free.

5GB free space is far too little. But you know that already.

So, get a new drive. 250GB or larger.
Is this a desktop or laptop?

-----------------------------
Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
-----------------------------
Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new drive.
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 drive
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the drive
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.
-----------------------------