moving windows 8 to a larger SSD

[pvsmith2]

hey guys, i just bought a Dell XPS 12 ultrabook that comes with windows 8 on a 128gb ssd. i happen to also have a crucial m4 msata 256gb SSD. i want to replace the 128gb but im not quite sure how to install/move windows 8 to the new drive. the ultrabook didnt come with a windows dvd, but i do have the product code. right now i have the 256gb hooked up in a external usb enclosure.
thanks for any ideas

 

[mi1ez]

You want to take an image of the drive using another PC, then image it onto the bigger drive and expand the partition.

 

[mi1ez]

Afraid I don't know what free software is best. We used to use Acronis and now use EaseUS Todo.

 

[pvsmith2]

Afraid I don't know what free software is best. We used to use Acronis and now use EaseUS Todo.

thanks, ill give that a try today.

 

[ubercake]

You can get a data transfer kit from Apricorn which includes a USB to SATA connector and a EZ gig cloning software that will allow you to transfer everything to the crucial m4. The USB 2.0 edition is only $10:

http://www.amazon.com/Apricorn-Notebook-Upgrade-Connection-ASW-USB-25/dp/B002EUCU3O/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1363874374&sr=1-2&keywords=apricorn+data+transfer+kit

It works like a charm. This kit is actually bundled with some of the M4 drives (or it used to be when I got mine). I've since used it to upgrade other PCs HDDs/SSDs.

 

[RetiredChief]

Simple,
1) Use windows built in image program and create a image of you System drive. Select external HDD (or large USB stick) to put image on.
2) When image is completed you will be prompted to create a "repair" disk.
3) swap drives, boot to repair disk. Select repair, repair using image.

Or as ubrcake state. Alternative for Ez gig (Which is great) is EASYUS a free program. EZ gig reqires a special SATA->USB cable (which is what you ae paing for). EasyUS (google it), just requires connectin the New SSD to USB.

With iether solution, after completed you can simply go to disk manager (Rt click My computer, slect Manage, then Disk management.
Rt click on drive and select expand.

 

[ubercake]

Simple,
1) Use windows built in image program and create a image of you System drive. Select external HDD (or large USB stick) to put image on.
2) When image is completed you will be prompted to create a "repair" disk.
3) swap drives, boot to repair disk. Select repair, repair using image.

Or as ubrcake state. Alternative for Ez gig (Which is great) is EASYUS a free program. EZ gig reqires a special SATA->USB cable (which is what you ae paing for). EasyUS (google it), just requires connectin the New SSD to USB.

With iether solution, after completed you can simply go to disk manager (Rt click My computer, slect Manage, then Disk management.
Rt click on drive and select expand.

I've never tried the Windows option. Does it extend the partition on the new drive as well?

 

[RetiredChief]

^ No, But simple to do thru windows disk manager.
Used the restore from image, image was from 128 gig SSD -> 256 gig SSD. Then just expanded volume to fill all available space. Twice, once for laptop and once for desktop.

 

[ubercake]

^ No, But simple to do thru windows disk manager.
Used the restore from image, image was from 128 gig SSD -> 256 gig SSD. Then just expanded volume to fill all available space. Twice, once for laptop and once for desktop.

Good tip. There was a time when you couldn't simply expand the boot partition in Windows disk management (though if I remember correctly, you could always make it smaller). Does this work in Windows 7 too?

 

[RetiredChief]

Works in windows 7 and 8. Did not check XP.
The only problem I've had with windows 7 (probably true for 8) is in shrinking The OS volume (C-drive). If you have hbernation enabled windows 7 sticks this file close to the end of the partition and You can only shrink a volume upto where it encounters a file ( this is a system/hidden file). Solution is simple, disable hiberanation and reboot - the reboot deletes the dot SYS file, if not then just run disk cleanup.
PS For SSDs I always disable hibernation anyway.

 

[ubercake]

Works in windows 7 and 8. Did not check XP.
The only problem I've had with windows 7 (probably true for 8) is in shrinking The OS volume (C-drive). If you have hbernation enabled windows 7 sticks this file close to the end of the partition and You can only shrink a volume upto where it encounters a file ( this is a system/hidden file). Solution is simple, disable hiberanation and reboot - the reboot deletes the dot SYS file, if not then just run disk cleanup.
PS For SSDs I always disable hibernation anyway.

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[mahidoes]

Simple,
1) Use windows built in image program and create a image of you System drive. Select external HDD (or large USB stick) to put image on.
2) When image is completed you will be prompted to create a "repair" disk.
3) swap drives, boot to repair disk. Select repair, repair using image.

Or as ubrcake state. Alternative for Ez gig (Which is great) is EASYUS a free program. EZ gig reqires a special SATA->USB cable (which is what you ae paing for). EasyUS (google it), just requires connectin the New SSD to USB.

With iether solution, after completed you can simply go to disk manager (Rt click My computer, slect Manage, then Disk management.
Rt click on drive and select expand.

Do you have to reactivate if you use the windows image option?

 

[RetiredChief]

NO - assuming you didn't change out the motherboard, but then that would/such require a clean re-install