[SOLVED] NVMe M.2 SSD replacing SATA SSD

[Kasper_C]

Good day!

As I’m still new to changing out hardware in PCs, I thought it’d be good to ask here before I venture out and do something silly.
I’ve just purchased a new SSD, this time one that uses the M.2 slot.

Today, I just use an ordinary, quite old SSD that utilizes a SATA cable to connect to the motherboard as my C: drive / boot drive.
Question is, can I somehow “clone” my old SSD files and booting configuration over to my new m.2 ssd, so that I don’t have to download windows again / download all my files that were placed on my C: drive?

From what I’ve read online, this isn’t possible going from sata to m.2, but just wanted to ask to be sure.

Thank you for your time,
Regards,
Kasper Christensen

 

[USAFRet]

What specific drive?
What motherboard?
How much space is consumed on your current C drive?

 

[Kasper_C]

What specific drive?
What motherboard?
How much space is consumed on your current C drive?

Hello, and thank you for the quick reply.

My current boot drive is a Samsung 850 EVO 125 GB SSD
Newly purchased the Kingston A2000 1TB M.2 SSD

Motherboard: ASUS strix b450-f

Space shouldn’t really be an issue as I’m upgrading from 125 GB to 1 TB

 

[USAFRet]

First, install the NVMe driver for your new drie.

Then:

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

 

[Kasper_C]

First, install the NVMe driver for your new drie.

Then:

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

Thank you so much, saw this in another post, but someone commented that it would not work when going over to a M.2 SSD, as you couldn’t switch the SATA cables around.

Will give this a try once it arrives

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you so much, saw this in another post, but someone commented that it would not work when going over to a M.2 SSD, as you couldn’t switch the SATA cables around.

Will give this a try once it arrives

In those steps above, disregard the swapping of cables.
But DO disconnect the old drive before you power up the first time. This is critical.

 

[Kasper_C]

Just so I’ve understood correctly.

Download dedicated driver.
Download Macrium Reflect

Turn off

Connect new M.2 SSD, disconnect old HHD. Let the current boot SSD / C: drive stay plugged in.

Turn on

Complete cloning steps

Turn off

Disconnect old boot SSD

Turn on

Check for correct booting properties in BIOS

If booted properly, repeat a couple of times.

Turn off

Connect HDD and old SDD

Turn on

Empty old SDD

Profit?

 

[thepersonwithaface45]

I would install windows from a USB installer on the M.2 and then reformat the other SSD after you get what you need off of it.
I never really have anything saved that I can't get back so. I'm a fiend for fresh windows installs.

 

[USAFRet]

Hopefully, yes.