OS Migration software do they work well?

[sochimadn]

I don't need to be told to reinstall the OS or all of that I just want to know if OS Migration software works

 

[RARRAF]

macrium reflect is pretty good and has a free version: and yes it works
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

 

[sochimadn]

macrium reflect is pretty good and has a free version: and yes it works
https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree

Thanks RARRAF I've been dealing with people all day telling me reinstall windows when I asked one * question so it's nice to see someone actually answering my question

<language, please>

 

[USAFRet]

I don't need to be told to reinstall the OS or all of that I just want to know if OS Migration software works

Given the proper conditions, yes.

Proper conditions:
A properly working source drive and OS
Relevant size of source data and target drive
Going from one drive to another, in the same system


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 as necessary.
Delete the 450MB Recovery Partition, here:
https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/windows/en-US/4f1b84ac-b193-40e3-943a-f45d52e23685/cant-delete-extra-healthy-recovery-partitions-and-healthy-efi-system-partition?forum=w8itproinstall
-----------------------------

 

[sizzling]

Just keep in mind you are not transferring just Windows. You clone the whole Windows partition so will bring everything on that partition. It might be how you worded this which is why people told you to reinstall Windows, you can’t transfer just Windows but you can transfer it’s partition.

 

[USAFRet]

So what are we working with here?

Drives, OS....what are you actually wanting to do?

 

[sochimadn]

So what are we working with here?

Drives, OS....what are you actually wanting to do?

Wanted to move Windows 10 to my new SSD as quickly as possible with as little effort as possible

 

[USAFRet]

So what are we working with here?

Drives, OS....what are you actually wanting to do?

Wanted to move Windows 10 to my new SSD as quickly as possible with as little effort as possible

As above, you can't move "only windows"
Mostly, everything on that drive and/or partition goes.

How large is your new SSD?
How much consumed space is on the current C drive or partition (actual consumed space)

 

[sochimadn]

about 1.3TB is being used on my main HDD and the SSD is 240GB. I figured windows 10 made a partition just for the OS these days

 

[USAFRet]

about 1.3TB is being used on my main HDD and the SSD is 240GB. I figured windows 10 made a partition just for the OS these days

Unless you made that partition during the install, no.

So, 1.3TB obviously won't fit into a 240GB drive.
You can't split off only Windows.

Hence whatever previous suggestions you got for a "clean install" were in the right ballpark.