Question SSD Cloning Using Startech Duplicator

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works_arc

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Apr 7, 2021
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Howdy - I was curious to know if anyone here had ever tried cloning a disc using the Startech Duplicator. I need to upgrade SSD storage and I wondered if this would be a suitable way to do so quickly.
I have gone through the clonezilla process in the past, so I am familiar with that whole endeavor but I am also pressed for time and I am interested in identifying a quality short cut.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00G6TG5YE?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
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then why wouldn't you just leave the existing OS & apps on the existing drive and add another for additional storage?

why do you want to clone everything onto a larger drive?
or are you just attempting to switch everything over to a faster drive?

include complete system specs with make & model of all components including drives.

Hi - I am just trying to switch things over to a larger / faster drive. The current SSD C drive is only 256 and I am having problems with Revit and all adobe products as a result.
The D drive is a HDD that I have no use for and would like to remove.


Windows Pro 64
INTEL I7 8700K
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
32GB RAM


Drive C:
Description Local Fixed Disk
Compressed No
File System NTFS
Size 232.32 GB (249,453,027,328 bytes)
Free Space 20.65 GB (22,170,820,608 bytes)
Volume Name
Volume Serial Number E0D03DB5

Drive D:
Description Local Fixed Disk
Compressed No
File System NTFS
Size 1.82 TB (1,999,805,345,792 bytes)
Free Space 1.68 TB (1,848,810,045,440 bytes)
Volume Name
Volume Serial Number FE7F2AF3
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
What will be the new drive?
What is the make/model of the current C drive?

This can be done without buying that dock, and free software.


The old drive is
Crucial MX500 CT250 SSD1

The new drive is
Samsung 970 EVo Plus NVME M.2 SSD


The Startech Duplicator was gifted to our office by a tenant on a different floor so I have no sunk costs in this item
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
My mistake - I looked at the wrong manual. I also have a EZ Clone USI 2535

I am using a Z370-A PRO
This?

Still not applicable for that 970 EVO.

And you do NOT need one.
At all.

You can clone directly from the existing MX500 to the new 970 EVO.

-----------------------------
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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
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 specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
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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works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
This?

Still not applicable for that 970 EVO.

And you do NOT need one.
At all.

You can clone directly from the existing MX500 to the new 970 EVO.

-----------------------------
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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
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 specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
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.
-----------------------------


You got it - thanks for the detailed instructions!
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
This?

Still not applicable for that 970 EVO.

And you do NOT need one.
At all.

You can clone directly from the existing MX500 to the new 970 EVO.

-----------------------------
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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
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 specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
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.
-----------------------------


I do have one question - I am assuming that I need to create a back up of my current C on the off-chance that my information is erased during the cloning process, correct?
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
This?

Still not applicable for that 970 EVO.

And you do NOT need one.
At all.

You can clone directly from the existing MX500 to the new 970 EVO.

-----------------------------
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
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
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

[Ignore this section if using the SDM. It does this automatically]
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 specify the resulting partition size, to even include the whole thing
[/end ignore]

Click the 'Clone' button
Wait until it is done
When it finishes, power off
Disconnect ALL drives except for the new SSD. This is not optional.
This is to allow the system to try to boot from ONLY the SSD

(swapping cables is irrelevant with NVMe drives, but DO disconnect the old drive for this next part)
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.
-----------------------------


Problem - I followed the steps below and the drive won't boot. I get a 'reboot and select proper boot drive or insert boot media in selected device and press a key

I've done all of these things:

Verify the actual used space on the current drive is significantly below the size of the new SSD
Both drives must be the same partitioning scheme, either MBR or GPT
Download and install Macrium Reflect (or Samsung Data Migration, if a Samsung target SSD)
If you are cloning from a SATA drive to PCIe/NVMe, you may need to install the relevant driver for this new NVMe/PCIe drive.
Power off
Disconnect ALL drives except the current C and the new SSD
Power up
 

USAFRet

Titan
Moderator
Right.
So your boot partition actually resides on the 2TB HDD, Disk 0
Windows resides on the 250GB Disk 1.

The preferable way to resolve this is to create a boot partition n the 250GB SSD, so that the system boots up with ONLY that drive.
Then, clone as desired.

@SkyNetRising can probably assist with the boot partition thing.

After that, the above clone steps will work.
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
Right.
So your boot partition actually resides on the 2TB HDD, Disk 0
Windows resides on the 250GB Disk 1.

The preferable way to resolve this is to create a boot partition n the 250GB SSD, so that the system boots up with ONLY that drive.
Then, clone as desired.

@SkyNetRising can probably assist with the boot partition thing.

After that, the above clone steps will work.


very good news that this can be resolved, hopefully.
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
Right.
So your boot partition actually resides on the 2TB HDD, Disk 0
Windows resides on the 250GB Disk 1.

The preferable way to resolve this is to create a boot partition n the 250GB SSD, so that the system boots up with ONLY that drive.
Then, clone as desired.

@SkyNetRising can probably assist with the boot partition thing.

After that, the above clone steps will work.

Will @SkyNetRising see this or should I begin a breakout conversation with them?
 
Ok.
Here are instructions to move bootloader to 250GB disk.

Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately.
Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
(select 232GB disk)​
list partition
select partition 3
(select 560MB partition, we're going to delete it, to make space for new bootloader)​
delete partition override
create partition efi
format fs=fat32 quick
assign letter=H
exit
bcdboot C:\windows /s H:

Shutdown, physically disconnect HDD and
try to boot into windows.

If everything goes well, then proceed with cloning to nvme.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/elevated.htm
 
Last edited:

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
Ok.
Here are instructions to move bootloader to 250GB disk.

Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately.
Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
(select 232GB disk)
list partition
select partition 3
(select 560MB partition, we're going to delete it, to make space for new bootloader)​
delete partition override
create partition efi
format fs=fat32 quick
assign letter=H
exit
bcdboot C:\windows /s H:

Shutdown, physically disconnect HDD and
try to boot into windows.

If everything goes well, then proceed with cloning to nvme.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/elevated.htm

This did not work. I reattach the HDD and it rebooted well.
 

works_arc

Commendable
Apr 7, 2021
82
6
1,535
Ok.
Here are instructions to move bootloader to 250GB disk.

Execute from elevated command prompt. Regular command prompt will give error on last step.
If you get any errors, then stop immediately.
Last message should be "Boot files created successfully".

diskpart
list disk
select disk 1
(select 232GB disk)
list partition
select partition 3
(select 560MB partition, we're going to delete it, to make space for new bootloader)​
delete partition override
create partition efi
format fs=fat32 quick
assign letter=H
exit
bcdboot C:\windows /s H:

Shutdown, physically disconnect HDD and
try to boot into windows.

If everything goes well, then proceed with cloning to nvme.

https://www.computerhope.com/jargon/e/elevated.htm

Command_Prompt_After_Reoot
 
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