Moving cloned image into new SSD from external drive using CloneZilla did not work. Help?

[edddddddddddddddddd]

These are the steps that I followed to replace my laptop's hard drive.

1. Create CloneZilla USB iso
2. Boot with original drive installed, clonezilla USB, and external drive plugged in.
3. Save entire drive to image.
4. When done, shut down and swap drives.
5. Boot into clonezilla again.
6. Restore image.

I also used a youtube tutorial for help using CloneZilla. Although the restoring process (step 6) doesn't even happen; CloneZilla just goes into a screen to ask if I want to poweroff, reboot, cmd, rerun1, rerun2. It did not take the image file from my external drive and restore it into my new SSD. During the saving of the image file process (step 3), it took a good 45 minutes. And from the tutorial, it should take about the same time to restore the image file into the new SSD.
My external drive has other files saved in it, but I didn't know if this would be a problem. I saved the image file into the "top directory in the local device", and tried restoring the image from here as well.

Someone please help!

If all else does not work, can I simply boot up my laptop normally with the new SSD installed? Will it automatically run Windows from the mSATA SSD?

 

[USAFRet]

CloneZilla, or any of the other current cloning applications, will do a direct clone from one drive to another (assuming drive sizing is correct).
No image or backup step needed.

 

[edddddddddddddddddd]

Sorry I accidentally selected your answer as the best one. But I am not using an adapter to move the image files.

 

[USAFRet]

Sorry I accidentally selected your answer as the best one. But I am not using an adapter to move the image files.

(unselected)

OK...you saved an 'image' of the original drive.
Where did you save it?

 

[edddddddddddddddddd]

Sorry I accidentally selected your answer as the best one. But I am not using an adapter to move the image files.

(unselected)

OK...you saved an 'image' of the original drive.
Where did you save it?

I saved it into an external drive.

 

[USAFRet]

Sorry I accidentally selected your answer as the best one. But I am not using an adapter to move the image files.

(unselected)

OK...you saved an 'image' of the original drive.
Where did you save it?

I saved it into an external drive.

And booting from the CloneZilla boot CD does not give the option to select that saved image?

 

[edddddddddddddddddd]

And booting from the CloneZilla boot CD does not give the option to select that saved image?

I booted CZ from my USB and it does give the option. I chose the "top directory in local device" option from my external drive to restore the image, which is the same location where I chose to save the image file. Although when I do this, it does not have a loading screen and takes me right to the screen that asks me if I would like to poweroff or reboot my laptop. This screen should have came after restoring the image (which should have taken about 45 minutes).

 

[USAFRet]

I chose the "top directory in local device" option from my external drive to restore the image,

You need to 'restore' to your new SSD.

 

[edddddddddddddddddd]

I chose the "top directory in local device" option from my external drive to restore the image,

You need to 'restore' to your new SSD.

Yes. That is the option that I chose. It did not work.

 

[USAFRet]

Do you still have the original drive with the original OS?
If so, I'd move on and use a different tool.

Easus Todo, Macrium Reflect, Casper (30 day trial)

 

[edddddddddddddddddd]

Do you still have the original drive with the original OS?
If so, I'd move on and use a different tool.

Easus Todo, Macrium Reflect, Casper (30 day trial)

Now I should just get an adapter as well, right?

 

[USAFRet]

Do you still have the original drive with the original OS?
If so, I'd move on and use a different tool.

Easus Todo, Macrium Reflect, Casper (30 day trial)

Now I should just get an adapter as well, right?

I think those will do it the way you already did.
But this time, create a folder, and save the image to that folder, instead of just at the root folder of the drive.

But doing it via a USB adapter is easier and faster. Direct drive cloning.