[SOLVED] Moving Windows 10

[tybarreto34]

Hello! I recently found myself with an extra SSD and decided to slap it in the gf's computer as she doesn't have an SSD. I am hoping to get some help on moving a copy of Windows 10 from her old HDD to the SSD. The SSD has been used in another computer but has been cleared off. I don't know if that will make a difference at all. All of her hardware is staying the same just adding in the SSD. I have heard of issues moving windows on the same motherboard due to legacy boot issues. I am assuming all I need to do is wipe her current drive and do a fresh install with the SSD. I just wanted to double check to make sure I have the right steps as I'd rather not have to buy another copy of win10 or wipe her drive for no reason. Not sure it matters but the following is her relevant parts.
CPU: Ryzen 2700x
Mobo: MSI B450 Tomahawk Max
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 2tb
SSD: Crucial MX500

 

[USAFRet]

Possible cloning:
What size/make/model is the SSD?
How much actual space is consumed on the current HDD?

Clean install on the SSD:

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...

forums.tomshardware.com

 

[tybarreto34]

Possible cloning:
What size/make/model is the SSD?
How much actual space is consumed on the current HDD?

Clean install on the SSD:

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...

forums.tomshardware.com

Oops forgot the size. The SSD is a 1tb Crucial MX500 and her current HDD is filled around 1.3Tb
*spelling

 

[USAFRet]

Oops forgot the size. The SSD is a 1tb Crucial MX500 and her current HDD is fill around 1.3Tb

To clone into a 1TB drive, that actual consumed space must be below 800GB.

Get to that point, and we can consider a straight clone from HDD to MX500.
Specific steps to follow, once you get to that number.

 

[tybarreto34]

To clone into a 1TB drive, that actual consumed space must be below 800GB.

Get to that point, and we can consider a straight clone from HDD to MX500.
Specific steps to follow, once you get to that number.

Awesome I think we should be able to get under 800GB once we delete all the old games she doesn't play. Give me awhile while she decides what she wants to get rid of.

 

[tybarreto34]

To clone into a 1TB drive, that actual consumed space must be below 800GB.

Get to that point, and we can consider a straight clone from HDD to MX500.
Specific steps to follow, once you get to that number.

Looks like we are sitting around 720GB now.

 

[USAFRet]

Looks like we are sitting around 720GB now.

-----------------------------
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

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 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.
-----------------------------