Replacing the c-drive

[davehep101]

I need to change my c drive before it fails. Can I just copy the current drive to a new drive?

 

[USAFRet]

I need to change my c drive before it fails. Can I just copy the current drive to a new drive?

Well, you don't just "copy" it. There are specific procedures. We can go into specifics later.

However...what leads you to think your current drive is dying?
You may just end up moving corrupted data to the new drive.

 

[davehep101]

I need to change my c drive before it fails. Can I just copy the current drive to a new drive?

Well, you don't just "copy" it. There are specific procedures. We can go into specifics later.

However...what leads you to think your current drive is dying?
You may just end up moving corrupted data to the new drive.

When I do a hard boot the Bios stops with a message that says the S.M.A.R.T. has an issue. Don't remember the exact words but it says I should replace the drive.

 

[davehep101]

When I do a hard boot the Bios stops with a message that says that S.M.A.R.T. has an issue. Don't remember the exact words but it says I should replace the drive. I will look at the other drives. I did a check disk but it didn't find any issues.

 

[USAFRet]

When I do a hard boot the Bios stops with a message that says that S.M.A.R.T. has an issue. Don't remember the exact words but it says I should replace the drive. I will look at the other drives. I did a check disk but it didn't find any issues.

Well, you could try a clone operation. Thusly:

Specific steps for a successful clone operation:
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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
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