[SOLVED] Is it possible to transfer C: to new SSD drive without logging out of Windows 10?

[Wonderclam]

I have a 4TB Samsung 860 EVO drive coming in today. I want to clone my old C: drive to my new SSD. Is there an easy way to do this without rebooting pre-Windows and doing it that way? Im not sure if it can copy EFI and all the other file systems while I'm watching Youtube, then I just turn off the computer, unplug the old HDD and plugging in my new SSD and have it work that way.

 

[USAFRet]

"without rebooting pre-Windows "

Well, during this process, there will be a couple of power off/on cycles. Yes, this WILL be required.
Why the reluctance for rebooting?

We can walk through the clone process if you want.

 

[USAFRet]

Im not sure if it can copy EFI and all the other file systems while I'm watching Youtube, then I just turn off the computer, unplug the old HDD and plugging in my new SSD and have it work that way.

No, it does not work like that.

 

[Wonderclam]

Guess I have no choice.

What program do I need? And hopefully free. I"m assuming, I can just make a bootable USB drive and have the PC boot to that instead of C?

 

[USAFRet]

What OS is this?
Desktop or laptop?
How full is the current drive?

 

[Wonderclam]

It's Windows 10, this is a desktop. Drive is currently at 1.25TB full and around 700GB free space

 

[USAFRet]

Exactly like this


-----------------------------
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 all partitions on it.
This will probably require the commandline diskpart function, and the clean command.

Ask questions if anything is unclear.
-----------------------------

 

[Wonderclam]

Thanks, I'll do this before I go to bed, so it's ready by the time I wake up

 

[USAFRet]

Thanks, I'll do this before I go to bed, so it's ready by the time I wake up

Should only take an hour or so.
I wouldn't just let it run without monitoring.

 

[Wonderclam]

All done! Thanks.

Now I just gotta uninstall all the drivers while on my new C drive, then move the SSD to my new gaming rig that should be done today once my RAM gets delivered.

 

[USAFRet]

All done! Thanks.

Now I just gotta uninstall all the drivers while on my new C drive, then move the SSD to my new gaming rig that should be done today once my RAM gets delivered.

Wait...

What drive are you moving to the new PC?

 

[Wonderclam]

The new SSD

Also, on the current PC, the new SSD only shows half of capcity. I used diskmgmt.msc to extend, but I only got around 300 more GB out of it. I still got around 2TB that it shows "unallocated."

Also, when I go to file explorer, right clicking on not just the new SSD, but on any hard drive crashes file explorer

 

[USAFRet]

The new SSD

Also, on the current PC, the new SSD only shows half of capcity. I used diskmgmt.msc to extend, but I only got around 300 more GB out of it. I still got around 2TB that it shows "unallocated."

Also, when I go to file explorer, right clicking on not just the new SSD, but on any hard drive crashes file explorer

The new SSD...the one you just cloned?
This will not work.

Cloning is for moving data from one drive to another, within the same system.
Not between 2 systems.

If you had said that at the start, I would have pointed you down a whole different path.

Windows is NOT modular. You can't just take an OS from one system and expect it to work in another.
Cloning does not change that.

Your new system needs its own fresh OS install.

 

[Wonderclam]

that sucks. I really would hate to do everything, all my settings, programs, etc... all over

 

[USAFRet]

that sucks. I really would hate to do everything, all my settings, programs, etc... all over

It's a whole new PC.
A full clean install is what is needed.

How To - Windows 10 clean install tutorial

If you are looking for the Windows 11 Clean install tutorial, you can find that here: Windows 11 Clean install tutorial (Click here) Otherwise, welcome to the Windows 10 Clean install tutorial This tutorial is intended to help you, step by step, to perform a clean install of Windows...

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And of course the OS license does not automagically transfer itself.