Question New SSD - How do I migrate data?

supermanfan51

Commendable
Dec 29, 2017
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Hello,
I recently bought a Samsung 860 evo 1 tb ssd. Would I be able to transfer specific files on my hard drive to my SSD? (including windows, a few games, steam). Is there a software to help me with this, or will I have to do it manually? I currently have a 1tb HDD with 200 gigs left, and I want to leave some of the things I access less on there.
Thanks in advance.
 
"Would I be able to transfer specific files on my hard drive to my SSD?"

Generally, no.
You mostly can't pick and choose. We can go into specific details and procedures later.

How much space is consumed on your current HDD?
What OS is this?
Details abut the rest of the storage situation.
 
"Would I be able to transfer specific files on my hard drive to my SSD?"

Generally, no.
You mostly can't pick and choose. We can go into specific details and procedures later.

How much space is consumed on your current HDD?
What OS is this?
Details abut the rest of the storage situation.
Hi,
I have used about 800 GB on my current HDD. I am using windows. This HDD is the only storage I have currently. I use this computer mainly for gaming, so much of my storage is probably games. I also have some videos files and other editing stuff I would like to keep on my hard drive, because I do not use it much. Essentially I want to turn my HDD into a second or backup drive. To rephrase my question: Could I put the files that will go on the HDD into a cloud backup service, then transfer everything else to my SSD?
Thank you.
 
So...

A 1TB HDD, approx 800GB consumed.
A 1TB SSD

Mostly no problem.
It can be done, but not the way you're thinking.

Reduce the size of the data on the HDD just a little bit. Down to around 750GB.
Then, migrate the entirety over to the 1TB SSD. (details later)
Then, wipe the HDD completely.
Then, move some stuff off the SSD to the now blank HDD.

What can you move?
Your personal data, and Steam games.
You can't move other applications.
 
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-----------------------------
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
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.
-----------------------------
 
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When everything is fully running on the SSD by itself, to wipe the old HDD, the commandline function diskpart and the clean command.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-clean-and-format-storage-drive-using-diskpart-windows-10
 
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For Steam games on a different drive:

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder
q24sFfe.png


To move an already installed game
Games library
Right click the game
Properties
Local Files
Move Install Folder
 
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-----------------------------
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
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.
-----------------------------
Hi,
Thank you for all of this. I will probably do it later today. My only question is how to check the boot order in the BIOS (I have an ASUS Prime B250m-a motherboard if that helps). I also think I can just drag and drop any videos or images to my SSD, correct?
 
Samsung has a free ssd migration app.
Download the app and user manual here:

It will move your windows C drive and all apps and data to the new ssd.
When done, you boot from the ssd.
After, you can erase or repurpose your HDD for whatever.

The app will determine if you have sufficient capacity for the move.
Likely you are good.
In the event you have too much to move, you can exclude large data folders from the move.
They will still be available on the old HDD.
Something like large video folders are probably best left on the HDD anyway.
The user manual explains all of this.
 
During the power on, get into the BIOS.
Look around until you find it.

You just want to verify that the new drive is first in the boot order. Anything after than does not matter.
Hey,
I installed the SSD and ran the Samsung data transfer, and the app said that the cloning failed. Do I need to initialize the disk first? If so, which partition style do I use (MBR or GPT)?
 
Connect your new Samsung SSD to your PC. There are a few ways to do this.
  1. If you purchased a PCIe or mSATA drive, simply install the drive into your system and you should be good to go.
  2. If you purchased a 2.5-inch SATA drive, you can either plug it into a second SATA port on your PC or connect it to your PC via a USB drive dock. An excellent USB drive dock is the Plugable USB 3.1 Gen 2 SATA Drive Dock however, any USB drive dock can be used for this purpose.
From here:
If the SSD is a 2.5" drive it might need to be in a USB enclosure to clone the OS drive when using that Samsung software.

You might want to try following this guide using the freeware software:
https://www.partitionwizard.com/par...-migration-tool-failed-to-migrate-system.html
 
Last edited:
Hello everyone.
I recently installed a 1 tb Samsung 860 evo ssd, and tried cloning my original 1 tb HDD to this new drive. When using the Samsung Migration Software, it failed multiple times. I have already de-fragmented my hard drive, ran chkdsk, and disabled my antivirus, but still the same error. The error code is 00001[ffffffff]. I only have 500 gb on my original HDD, so space isn't an issue. Any ideas?
 
Hello everyone.
I recently installed a 1 tb Samsung 860 evo ssd, and tried cloning my original 1 tb HDD to this new drive. When using the Samsung Migration Software, it failed multiple times. I have already de-fragmented my hard drive, ran chkdsk, and disabled my antivirus, but still the same error. The error code is 00001[ffffffff]. I only have 500 gb on my original HDD, so space isn't an issue. Any ideas?
Try a different tool, thusly.

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