M.2 128GB migration to 1TB

[oudmaster]

Hi,

I purchased dell G7 laptop and it is in shipping status,

the laptop come with M.2 128GB, and HDD Sata 1TB

The OS is supposed to be installed on M.2 SSD, I guess it will be the C Drive, while the HDD has D Drive,

I want to prepare to migrate the M.2 SSD 128GB to 1TB,

What is the best practice to do that ?

 

[USAFRet]

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 as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, 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
-----------------------------


You may need to manipulate the resulting partition size on the 1TB.

 

[USAFRet]

While the 128GB is rather small, migrating it to the 1TB HDD will be a major step backwards in performance.

 

[oudmaster]

While the 128GB is rather small, migrating it to the 1TB HDD will be a major step backwards in performance.

you did not get my point,

I mean I will purchase a new M.2 SSD 1TB, then migrate the 128GB to this 1TB,
so the HDD will not host the OS.

The challenge I am having will be, how to migrate the OS to the new M.2 1TB,
I might be able to make the backup to external drive or the internal HDD disk, but how can I restore this image after I remove the M.2 128GB storage??

 

[USAFRet]

While the 128GB is rather small, migrating it to the 1TB HDD will be a major step backwards in performance.

you did not get my point,

I mean I will purchase a new M.2 SSD 1TB, then migrate the 128GB to this 1TB,
so the HDD will not host the OS.

The challenge I am having will be, how to migrate the OS to the new M.2 1TB,
I might be able to make the backup to external drive or the internal HDD disk, but how can I restore this image after I remove the M.2 128GB storage??

OK, no problem.
The steps above, modified thusly:

With Macrium, create an Image of the original 128GB drive to a folder on the 1TB HDD
Create a Macrium Rescue CD or USB
Swap the m.2 drives
Boot from the Macrium Rescue USB
Tell it which Image to use, and which drive (1TB m.2) to apply it to.

This should work.

 

[techusionist]

While the 128GB is rather small, migrating it to the 1TB HDD will be a major step backwards in performance.

you did not get my point,

I mean I will purchase a new M.2 SSD 1TB, then migrate the 128GB to this 1TB,
so the HDD will not host the OS.

The challenge I am having will be, how to migrate the OS to the new M.2 1TB,
I might be able to make the backup to external drive or the internal HDD disk, but how can I restore this image after I remove the M.2 128GB storage??

 

[techusionist]

u better do a clean installation of windows into the 1tb hdd and later on erase the m.2 drive

 

[USAFRet]

Or, since it is a new machine, do a clean install of the OS (and everything else) on the new 1TB m.2 drive.

Get the system.
Run it and let it get activated, etc.
Swap drives and do a clean OS install on the new drive.

 

[oudmaster]

thanks for your replies,


Can I use the same Windows 10 Pro Key if I do fresh installation on the new M.2 1TB ?

 

[USAFRet]

thanks for your replies,


Can I use the same Windows 10 Pro Key if I do fresh installation on the new M.2 1TB ?

Yes.
The system is coming with the OS already installed? If so, you don't even need the license key.
A simple install on the new drive will activate.
Windows doesn't care which drive it's installed on, as long as it is in the same system.

Clean install on that new drive, and it will activate itself.

 

[oudmaster]

great,

I believe fresh installation will solve my problem then, I will only loss the dell built-in utilities, which is fine.


I will keep both options in my note,

 

[USAFRet]

great,

I believe fresh installation will solve my problem then, I will only loss the dell built-in utilities, which is fine.


I will keep both options in my note,

For a brand new system with nothing of yours on it yet, a clean install on the new drive is highly recommended.