Seagate Barracuda HDD to Samung EVO 860 SSD Cloning Failed (used multiple cloning programs)

[scottycw]

I'm on day two of trying to clone my six-year-old 1 TB HDD to a recently purchased 250 GB SSD.

I'm using a UGREEN External Hard Drive Enclosure Adapter to connect to my PC.

I defragmented the source C drive where the OS is located. Cleaned what I read to clean from various articles and forum posts.

I disabled Page File and System Restore and Windows Defender and Firewall.

Here are the results when I intially tried to clone my HDD to my new SSD:


samsung data migration: an error occurred during defragmentation 303250[04a092] cloning failed [301100 ~ 309000] An error occurred during defragmentation.

(Samsung failed as it was initializing.. so it was like barely 30 seconds into the process?)

EaseUS: Failed to write sector 0X1760E077?

(this one took a while before eventually failing with the above code)

Macrium Reflect error: macrium reflect - clone failed - error 0 - read failed - 23 - data error (cyclic redunancy check). - m_pSegmentToRestore->m_FileSystem.ReadFile failed-WriteFilemSystemData failed- pDataRun == NULL-RemapMFTRecord failed

(Macrium took the longest... about 3 hours before failing)

AOMEI Partition Assistant was weird. It restarted and went into its own version of DOS (like SeaTools for DOS) but after 30 min to an hour it failed to clone, too.

And I even closed my internet connection after a few failed attempts to see if that would change things, but nope, it didn't do a damn thing.

By this point, I'm really fed up.

I google like crazy for HOURS and I'm reading every related article I can find.

I then download and open CrystalDiskInfo thinking it has to be an issue with my HDD. So I see that it's showing that my OS C Drive is at CAUTION. it's at 31c so, temp wise, it's fine but caution obviously isn't.

There are two columns with yellow markings next to them:

[C5] Current Pending Sector Count: 330
[C6] Uncorrectable Sector Count: 330

(They both have 92 current and 89 worst in their columns and both share the same Raw Values: 00000000014A)

I then download SealTools for Windows. I try the short test and it fails very quickly. Then I try the long test (this takes a few hours) and eventually fail outright. It says that I should try SeaTools for DOS in an attempt to repair the failing sectors.

I found a YouTube video: [video="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq_3tW1sK0Y"][/video]

And, luckily, I have a USB in my possession, so I delete all the files on it, and follow the video and... It works!

I get into SeaTools for DOS. Short test fails quickly. Long test takes around 2 hours before failing at around 80-90%. I'm able to get to the window shown on the THUMBNAIL of the YouTube video where I can manually repair the drives. I do this. Great!

I unplug the USB and restart my PC. Everything seems fine.

I only have my OS C Drive connected to my PC (and this has been the case all this time. Only the OS drive and SSD drive I'm trying to clone to have been connected to my PC.)

So I plug in my SSD. I goto Manage>Disk Management to make sure the SSD is online, initialized, and not RAW or anything.

Keep in mind that after every failed to clone attempt I had to go through the process of formatting the SSD using the above methods. Turn online, initialize, new volume and format, etc.

I check CrystalDiskInfo again after rebooting... and it's still CAUTION. Hmmm...

I right click the C Drive in Windows Explorer and tools and check and find no errors.

With my SSD online, I goto Samung Data Migration again.... and it fails with the exact same error as quickly as before. Barely 30 seconds. Unbelievable.

Yeah.

I don't know what else to do.

This is a Windows 7 Home SP1 OEM so I can't reinstall. I would have to buy another key, etc. (I don't have the original disk. This is a six-year-old system.)

Is it simple enough to say that my HDD is too far gone that I can't even clone it?

It runs fine. It's a 1TB drive but I deleted most of the large files off it so there's only 72 GB on the actual drive with 858 GB of free space.

As ridiculous as it might seem, I've only learned about SSD's a couple of months ago. I noticed that it took a little too long to boot, load programs like Evernote and the internet. Obviously, after deleting most of the GB off the drive, it's faster now for sure. But I guess I just wanted that SSD experience people have been raving about.

It seems like if I want my OS to boot from an SSD then I'll have to bite the bullet and perform a clean install.

I'm here to ask if there's still another way to clone my HDD, I guess. Something I haven't thought of yet. I really don't want to install everything again.

I don't know if this is even important but here's what CPU I have and the motherboard I'm still using:

i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10 GHz (Sandy Bridge)

ASUS P8H61-M LE/CSM (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel H61 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Windows 10 Home (64-bit)


Any type of advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[ameyer75]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

 

[seagate_surfer]

scottycw, if the drive failed the long and short test it is time for a change. Just make sure you have your files backed up. This could be the reason why you are not able to clone the drive. See if others here have any ideas.

 

[scottycw]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

I tried the notepad attempt from fossbytes.com and it worked. It showed me my Product Key.

Since it's an OEM, will Windows even allow me to use it again? It is the same computer system so I should be fine, right?

The OEM is from a Windows 7.. will the product key even work when trying to install Windows 10 using a USB?

If this is true, then I guess I just need to use this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

then shut down, switch the HDD with the SSD, and go through with the clean install.

...and I'm good to go?

Just looking for confirmation before I do this.

Thanks again.

 

[ameyer75]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

I tried the notepad attempt from fossbytes.com and it worked. It showed me my Product Key.

Since it's an OEM, will Windows even allow me to use it again? It is the same computer system so I should be fine, right?

The OEM is from a Windows 7.. will the product key even work when trying to install Windows 10 using a USB?

If this is true, then I guess I just need to use this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

then shut down, switch the HDD with the SSD, and go through with the clean install.

...and I'm good to go?

Just looking for confirmation before I do this.

Thanks again.

Your OEM product key is fine to use again. However, you'll need to install Windows 7 since you missed out on the free Windows 10 upgrade. You can find all of the necessary software on Microsoft's website. I would suggest using the method in your link.

Remember, the software is free from Microsoft. DO NOT PAY FOR THE WINDOWS TOOL. Also, If you find that the key isn't working, give Microsoft a call and explain what happened. They have tools on their end to push the product activation through. I had to move a Windows key from one computer to another and they helped me through it. Let us know how it goes!

 

[scottycw]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

I tried the notepad attempt from fossbytes.com and it worked. It showed me my Product Key.

Since it's an OEM, will Windows even allow me to use it again? It is the same computer system so I should be fine, right?

The OEM is from a Windows 7.. will the product key even work when trying to install Windows 10 using a USB?

If this is true, then I guess I just need to use this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

then shut down, switch the HDD with the SSD, and go through with the clean install.

...and I'm good to go?

Just looking for confirmation before I do this.

Thanks again.

Your OEM product key is fine to use again. However, you'll need to install Windows 7 since you missed out on the free Windows 10 upgrade. You can find all of the necessary software on Microsoft's website. I would suggest using the method in your link.

Remember, the software is free from Microsoft. DO NOT PAY FOR THE WINDOWS TOOL. Also, If you find that the key isn't working, give Microsoft a call and explain what happened. They have tools on their end to push the product activation through. I had to move a Windows key from one computer to another and they helped me through it. Let us know how it goes!

So I found the link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

And it says to enter the product key, which i do, but of course it doesn't work.

It gives me a Message Code and Transaction ID and tells me to contact Microsoft.

I call Microsoft and tell them what happened. They ask me for my product key and say that it's invalid. It's not an actual product key.

I try another method suggested by fossbytes and go through CMD... the product key doesn't show up at all. It gives me a blank space. Same with powershell. Ran both as admin, too.

So I did some more searching and found a program called Magic Jelly Bean. https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder

I downloaded it, and it found my Windows 10 Home product key? It also had the product ID, so I went to settings>about and it matches the product ID on my current system.

So, my next questions is, can I just use this CD Key (which is what Magic Bean calls it in their program) to install Windows 10 using their media creation tool now? Will that actually work?

Looking for clarification.

Thanks again!

Update: I went to regedit (as suggested in a random comments section) and it also gave me the same product key that Magic Bean found. In regedit it says BackupProductKeyDefault and on the right column under Data shows the same product key.

Update 2: Also, I tried the product key on the Windows 7 software download page and it didn't work. I'm thinking this is a way to download Win10 using Media Creation Tool but I don't know. OK, this is the last update. Heh.

 

[ameyer75]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

I tried the notepad attempt from fossbytes.com and it worked. It showed me my Product Key.

Since it's an OEM, will Windows even allow me to use it again? It is the same computer system so I should be fine, right?

The OEM is from a Windows 7.. will the product key even work when trying to install Windows 10 using a USB?

If this is true, then I guess I just need to use this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

then shut down, switch the HDD with the SSD, and go through with the clean install.

...and I'm good to go?

Just looking for confirmation before I do this.

Thanks again.

Your OEM product key is fine to use again. However, you'll need to install Windows 7 since you missed out on the free Windows 10 upgrade. You can find all of the necessary software on Microsoft's website. I would suggest using the method in your link.

Remember, the software is free from Microsoft. DO NOT PAY FOR THE WINDOWS TOOL. Also, If you find that the key isn't working, give Microsoft a call and explain what happened. They have tools on their end to push the product activation through. I had to move a Windows key from one computer to another and they helped me through it. Let us know how it goes!

So I found the link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

And it says to enter the product key, which i do, but of course it doesn't work.

It gives me a Message Code and Transaction ID and tells me to contact Microsoft.

I call Microsoft and tell them what happened. They ask me for my product key and say that it's invalid. It's not an actual product key.

I try another method suggested by fossbytes and go through CMD... the product key doesn't show up at all. It gives me a blank space. Same with powershell. Ran both as admin, too.

So I did some more searching and found a program called Magic Jelly Bean. https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder

I downloaded it, and it found my Windows 10 Home product key? It also had the product ID, so I went to settings>about and it matches the product ID on my current system.

So, my next questions is, can I just use this CD Key (which is what Magic Bean calls it in their program) to install Windows 10 using their media creation tool now? Will that actually work?

Looking for clarification.

Thanks again!

Update: I went to regedit (as suggested in a random comments section) and it also gave me the same product key that Magic Bean found. In regedit it says BackupProductKeyDefault and on the right column under Data shows the same product key.

Update 2: Also, I tried the product key on the Windows 7 software download page and it didn't work. I'm thinking this is a way to download Win10 using Media Creation Tool but I don't know. OK, this is the last update. Heh.

So.. You can definitely try to use the new code. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you'll need to contact Microsoft again. I'm surprised that the CMD/Powershell didn't work, as i've used it before. I didn't want to suggest Magic Jellybean because I hadn't used it, so I couldn't vouch for it. I'm glad it was able to pull *something*!
So if inputting that code doesn't work, give Microsoft a call again. Since you have a different string, I would be surprised if this isn't correct. Let me know what happens!

 

[scottycw]

Have you attempted to make a Windows Recovery disk? Have you tried doing a system backup? An external 1tb drive is around $50. You could use it once and return it.

There's a way to get your Window's Product Key using CMD/Powershell, but I'm on a Mac right now, so I can't verify which one works. Try one of these methods and see if that does it.

https://fossbytes.com/how-to-find-windows-product-key-lost-cmd-powershell-registry/
or
https://www.thewindowsclub.com/find-windows-product-key

Let me know how it goes.

I tried the notepad attempt from fossbytes.com and it worked. It showed me my Product Key.

Since it's an OEM, will Windows even allow me to use it again? It is the same computer system so I should be fine, right?

The OEM is from a Windows 7.. will the product key even work when trying to install Windows 10 using a USB?

If this is true, then I guess I just need to use this tutorial: http://www.tomshardware.com/faq/id-3567655/clean-installation-windows.html

then shut down, switch the HDD with the SSD, and go through with the clean install.

...and I'm good to go?

Just looking for confirmation before I do this.

Thanks again.

Your OEM product key is fine to use again. However, you'll need to install Windows 7 since you missed out on the free Windows 10 upgrade. You can find all of the necessary software on Microsoft's website. I would suggest using the method in your link.

Remember, the software is free from Microsoft. DO NOT PAY FOR THE WINDOWS TOOL. Also, If you find that the key isn't working, give Microsoft a call and explain what happened. They have tools on their end to push the product activation through. I had to move a Windows key from one computer to another and they helped me through it. Let us know how it goes!

So I found the link: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7

And it says to enter the product key, which i do, but of course it doesn't work.

It gives me a Message Code and Transaction ID and tells me to contact Microsoft.

I call Microsoft and tell them what happened. They ask me for my product key and say that it's invalid. It's not an actual product key.

I try another method suggested by fossbytes and go through CMD... the product key doesn't show up at all. It gives me a blank space. Same with powershell. Ran both as admin, too.

So I did some more searching and found a program called Magic Jelly Bean. https://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder

I downloaded it, and it found my Windows 10 Home product key? It also had the product ID, so I went to settings>about and it matches the product ID on my current system.

So, my next questions is, can I just use this CD Key (which is what Magic Bean calls it in their program) to install Windows 10 using their media creation tool now? Will that actually work?

Looking for clarification.

Thanks again!

Update: I went to regedit (as suggested in a random comments section) and it also gave me the same product key that Magic Bean found. In regedit it says BackupProductKeyDefault and on the right column under Data shows the same product key.

Update 2: Also, I tried the product key on the Windows 7 software download page and it didn't work. I'm thinking this is a way to download Win10 using Media Creation Tool but I don't know. OK, this is the last update. Heh.

So.. You can definitely try to use the new code. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and you'll need to contact Microsoft again. I'm surprised that the CMD/Powershell didn't work, as i've used it before. I didn't want to suggest Magic Jellybean because I hadn't used it, so I couldn't vouch for it. I'm glad it was able to pull *something*!
So if inputting that code doesn't work, give Microsoft a call again. Since you have a different string, I would be surprised if this isn't correct. Let me know what happens!

It worked! the cd product key worked for windows 10. i'm on it right now with my ssd.

thank you so much for replying and giving me the proper advice.

take care.

 

[ameyer75]

Oh awesome! Glad I could help! Please mark this as solved and have an awesome weekend!