Question Moving windows 10 os install

[Lanereed01]

I was just wondering if there's a way to move my windows 10 installatiin to another drive as a fresh install?

 

[Lanereed01]

That will work, thank you!

 

[USAFRet]

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Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

If you are going from a smaller drive to a larger, by default, the target partition size will be the same as the Source. You probably don't want that
You can manipulate the size of the partitions on the target (larger)drive
Click on "Cloned Partition Properties", and you can specifiy the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
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.
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[Lanereed01]

When I install the drive back would using a format work?

 

[USAFRet]

When I install the drive back would using a format work?

The existing 120GB?

Not quite.
Disk Management, and you must delete all existing partitions.
Or the commandline diskpart function and the clean command.

"Format" in File Explorer leaves behind the old boot partitions. You don't want those in there.

 

[Lanereed01]

Okay, thanks for your help!

 

[USAFRet]

Good luck!

 

[geofelt]

The value pf a pcie ssd is in sequential processing.
Like loading games or windows.
Here is a video of HDD vs. sata vs pcie m.2.
View:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3AMz-xZ2VM


The reality is that m.2 pcie is minimally different, the big gain comes from a HDD to a ssd of any type.
If budget is an issue, go with the cheaper sata ssd.
Most windows work is random, perhaps 90%
For that, there is negligible difference between sata and pcie gen 3 or 4.

If budget is not an issue, and you want the best, a fast m.2 pcie ssd will save you half a second on a 30 second load.
Why so little difference?
One reason is that a ssd is so fast that the cpu processing time becomes relevant.

Here is an amusing video of users trying to tell which pc has the sata, nvme gen3 or nvme gen 4 ssd installed:

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DKLA7w9eeA


I am a fan of the samsung ssd migration app; it has never failed me.
Buy a 500gb samsung 860 or 870 EVO 2.5" sata drive for <$60.
Download and run the ssd migration app.
Instructions and app:

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com

When done, just change your boot order.
You can do what you wish with the old m.2