Question Switching my system from one drive to another

[Hiero18]

Hi! Newbie question here.

I've purchased a prebuilt computer, with the system running on a 1TB M. 2 2230 drive. The computer has room for two drive slots, and I wanted to upgrade them to 2TB drives. Once I install the first new drive in the empty slot, is there a way to move the system from the 1TB drive to that one, so that I can then remove the 1TB drive and replace it with the 2nd 2TB? Thanks so much for any advice!

 

[scout_03]

name and model of both m 2 .

 

[Hiero18]

Sorry!

The original is an Alienware 1 TB, M.2, PCIe NVMe, SSD -- that's all it says. What to replace with 2 Samsung 990 Pros.

 

[ThatVietGuy]

You can use Samsung's own Data Migration Software to clone the current 1TB drive to the new 2TB drive - https://semiconductor.samsung.com/us/consumer-storage/support/tools/

 

[Misgar]

Assuming Samsung's Data Migration tool is similar to Macrium Reflect, this is what you do:-

1). Install the new 2TB drive in the computer.
2). Switch on the computer, boot into Windows from the 1TB drive.
3). Download and install the Data Migration program.
4). Start the program.
5). Choose the (source) drive you want to clone (copy), i.e. the 1TB drive.
6). Choose the (destination) drive, i.e. the new 2TB drive.
7). Double check you've identified the source and destination drives correctly!!! If you make a mistake, you could overwrite valuable data.
8). Proceed with the cloning (copying) process. This could take 10 to 30 minutes.
9). When the clone is complete, shut down the computer.
10). Remove the original (source) drive from the computer, i.e. the 1TB drive. It is important that you don't start the computer with both drives fitted at this stage. Windows may put the new boot partition on the wrong drive.
11). Switch on the computer.
12). If you're lucky, the BIOS will detect the drive swap and boot from the new 2TB drive.
13). Or, you may have to enter the BIOS and specify the new 2TB drive as the boot disk.
14). When Windows starts, check to see if all your programs are working on the new 2TB drive.
15). If any programs don't work, re-install them. Usually, the clone is perfect.
16). Power off the computer and re-install the 1TB drive if you want to wipe it and use it for data storage.
17). Start the computer. Check to see if you are still booting up into the new 2TB drive (drive C:. ) and not the old 1TB drive.
18). If the old 1TB drive is back as Drive C:, enter the BIOS and change the drive boot order to 2TB first, 1TB second.
19). Finished. Good luck.

 

[USAFRet]

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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
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

Verify the system boots with ONLY the current "C drive" connected.
If not, we have to fix that first.

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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