Moving SSD from old laptop to new laptop?

[ShikonDragon]

I bought a new laptop and looking to replace the HDD with my old laptop's SSD. My old laptop still has its uses so what I was thinking is cloning (is that the right term?) the SSD onto an unused HDD, then cloning the new laptop's HDD to the SSD.

So:
Old laptop SSD ---clone---> unused HDD [to be used with old laptop]
New laptop HDD ---clone---> old laptop SSD [to be used with new laptop]

Will that work okay or is there a better way to go about it?

Thanks!

 

[Suzuki@1473780084@1473780163]

No, this will not work. And yes, that is the right term.

Cloning your OS, means that you're cloning the OS from your hard drive, onto your SSD, leaving your hard drive with no OS, but your SSD now holds the OS (or any other files you chose to clone).

If you want to install two legit copies of Windows, you're going to need 2 licenses. If your current Windows is OEM, you can only activate it on 1 PC.

This means that if you try to transfer your OS from it's current hardware, to new hardware, it's going to prompt you to enter the license again, however, it's already activated, and can't be activated again.



All the best!

 

[USAFRet]

For multiple reasons, that will not work.

 

[ArtPog]

Let's review your situation just so we're all clear on what's involved here...

1. You have two laptops, obviously OEM machines, right?
2. Can we assume that each laptop has been validly activated by each manufacturer? So that there are no licensing problems present that affect these laptops, right?
3. If that be so, then your proposal makes sense, unless I'm missing something here.
4. And just that I clearly understand your present situation...
A. Your older laptop (we'll call it #1) is currently equipped with a SSD, i.e., the laptop's boot drive.
B. Your new laptop (we'll call it #2) is currently equipped with a HDD, that laptop's boot drive.
5. You would clone the contents of the SSD installed in laptop #1 to an "unused HDD" (as you call it). I assume you're referring to some other HDD you have available, and NOT the HDD currently installed in laptop #2. Is this correct? And then use that HDD clone as the new boot drive in laptop #1.
6. You would then plan to remove the SSD from laptop #1 and use that disk as the recipient of the cloned contents of the HDD installed to laptop #2, so that your new laptop #2 would be equipped with an SSD as its boot drive.
Do I have this right so far?
7. So following these operations you would have a HDD that you could use for other purposes.

Do I correctly understand your "plan of action"? If so, it sounds to me perfectly doable.

 

[USAFRet]

OK...after what seems to be edits....this will actually work.

 

[ShikonDragon]

No, this will not work. And yes, that is the right term.

Cloning your OS, means that you're cloning the OS from your hard drive, onto your SSD, leaving your hard drive with no OS, but your SSD now holds the OS (or any other files you chose to clone).

If you want to install two legit copies of Windows, you're going to need 2 licenses. If your current Windows is OEM, you can only activate it on 1 PC.

This means that if you try to transfer your OS from it's current hardware, to new hardware, it's going to prompt you to enter the license again, however, it's already activated, and can't be activated again.



All the best!

Even if the only hardware change is the drives? I'm planning on keeping the OS/files on the same laptop, just swapping around the drives.

Let's review your situation just so we're all clear on what's involved here...

1. You have two laptops, obviously OEM machines, right?
2. Can we assume that each laptop has been validly activated by each manufacturer? So that there are no licensing problems present that affect these laptops, right?
3. If that be so, then your proposal makes sense, unless I'm missing something here.
4. And just that I clearly understand your present situation...
A. Your older laptop (we'll call it #1) is currently equipped with a SSD, i.e., the laptop's boot drive.
B. Your new laptop (we'll call it #2) is currently equipped with a HDD, that laptop's boot drive.
5. You would clone the contents of the SSD installed in laptop #1 to an "unused HDD" (as you call it). I assume you're referring to some other HDD you have available, and NOT the HDD currently installed in laptop #2. Is this correct? And then use that HDD clone as the new boot drive in laptop #1.
6. You would then plan to remove the SSD from laptop #1 and use that disk as the recipient of the cloned contents of the HDD installed to laptop #2, so that your new laptop #2 would be equipped with an SSD as its boot drive.
Do I have this right so far?
7. So following these operations you would have a HDD that you could use for other purposes.

Do I correctly understand your "plan of action"? If so, it sounds to me perfectly doable.

All assumptions are correct! My "unused HHD" is my old laptop's original drive that I swapped out for a SSD. Seeing as how its "health status" is still 99%, it seems like a waste to buy a new SSD than reusing my existing one. Thanks!

Also, in your experience, is there a particular program you'd recommend for this?

OK...after what seems to be edits....this will actually work.

Awesome! Thanks for the confirmation!

 

[Suzuki@1473780084@1473780163]

This can't be done. From what I understand, OP only has 2 drives, each are locked to each PC's motherboard. When did OP say he's got 3 drives?

 

[ShikonDragon]

This can't be done. From what I understand, OP only has 2 drives, each are locked to each PC's motherboard. When did OP say he's got 3 drives?

I have the following:
- Old laptop SSD
- Unused HDD
- New laptop HDD

 

[Suzuki@1473780084@1473780163]

Okay

 

[ArtPog]

As to the disk-cloning program I would recommend...
I'm assuming, like nearly all the posters to this Forum who are interested in that type of program, that you're interested in a "freebie". Should that be the case there are two programs which are very popular...
EaseUS Todo Backup Free program
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm

Macrium Reflect
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Either one of them will do the job for a "one-shot" disk-cloning operation.

The disk-cloning program I use nearly exclusively is a commercial product that costs $49.99. It's called Casper (http://www.fssdev.com). My primary use for this program is as a comprehensive backup program that I employ on a routine & frequent basis - often backing my system(s) on a daily basis - rarely less than once a week. Its speed of operation is its great advantage as compared with other d-c programs. Its straightforward design & easy-to-use interface is far superior than any other d-c program I've ever used. But, as indicated, it costs $49.99 and most users will balk at purchasing a type of product they can get freely and unfortunately (IMO) are uninterested in using the program for routine comprehensive backup purposes.
In any event if you have any interest or are curious about the Casper program there is a 30-day trial edition available at https://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/. The trial edition is somewhat crippled as compared with the commercial version but it should give you a good idea as to the program's capabilities.

BTW, nearly all d-c programs have methods to automatically schedule d-c operations.

 

[ShikonDragon]

As to the disk-cloning program I would recommend...
I'm assuming, like nearly all the posters to this Forum who are interested in that type of program, that you're interested in a "freebie". Should that be the case there are two programs which are very popular...
EaseUS Todo Backup Free program
http://www.todo-backup.com/products/home/free-backup-software.htm

Macrium Reflect
http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.aspx

Either one of them will do the job for a "one-shot" disk-cloning operation.

The disk-cloning program I use nearly exclusively is a commercial product that costs $49.99. It's called Casper (http://www.fssdev.com). My primary use for this program is as a comprehensive backup program that I employ on a routine & frequent basis - often backing my system(s) on a daily basis - rarely less than once a week. Its speed of operation is its great advantage as compared with other d-c programs. Its straightforward design & easy-to-use interface is far superior than any other d-c program I've ever used. But, as indicated, it costs $49.99 and most users will balk at purchasing a type of product they can get freely and unfortunately (IMO) are uninterested in using the program for routine comprehensive backup purposes.
In any event if you have any interest or are curious about the Casper program there is a 30-day trial edition available at https://www.fssdev.com/products/casper/trial/. The trial edition is somewhat crippled as compared with the commercial version but it should give you a good idea as to the program's capabilities.

BTW, nearly all d-c programs have methods to automatically schedule d-c operations.

Many thanks for your complete responses! I admit I'll likely go with your free options as I'm unlikely to use a paid one much, but it's definitely nice to know about them!