[SOLVED] Upgrading from HDD to SSD. Some questions

[MasterBlack]

I am upgrading from a 2TB HDD that has my Windows 10 OS to a 2TB SSD: (https://www.newegg.ca/western-digital-blue-2tb/p/N82E16820250093?Item=N82E16820250093).

I plan on using Macrium Reflect to clone the drive.
Wondering if there are any risks?
Will I still be able to boot from both drives in case the need arises?
Should I do anything to prepare my HDD before the cloning?

 

[USAFRet]

DIsregard the "boot from both drives in case the need arises ". Done properly, a clone is a clone is a clone.
An exact copy of the original.
The one step that people usually miss is to disconnect the old drive before you power up for the very first time with the new drive.

Do it just like this...
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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
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 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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[MasterBlack]

I don't need to wipe the old drive just make sure its off the boot order?

 

[USAFRet]

I don't need to wipe the old drive just make sure its off the boot order?

You do that long AFTER you've verified it is all working from the new drive by itself.
Physical dosconnection before the first power on with the new drive.

 

[MasterBlack]

But do I have to wipe the old drive? Can't I just keep it as is?

 

[geofelt]

@USAFRet. You have lined out the line to switch the sata drive cables.
Is this a suggestion or a requirement?

@op:
You will have two C drives after the clone, but you can only use one at a time.
Best to remove the original HDD from the case. It can serve as a starting point for backup is the need should arise.
Once you have verified proper operation of the new SSD clone, you can do what you wish with the old HDD.

 

[USAFRet]

@USAFRet. You have lined out the line to switch the sata drive cables.
Is this a suggestion or a requirement?

Given that it is an M.2 target drive, no cable swapping needed or possible.
He still disconnects the old one, though.

 

[USAFRet]

But do I have to wipe the old drive? Can't I just keep it as is?

Having 2x semi identical OS drives is not usually good idea. I've seen too many cases where it somehow boots up from the old drive, and the user is left confused.

One case took us 2-3 days to figure out why, from almost exactly this situation.

User had cloned from old drive to new, and left the old drive in there. Forgot about it.
6 months later, boot up...what the...?
System looked just like it did long ago.
"Where's my stuff?!?!?"

He was thinking virus, or some malicious update from MS....

Turns out, the SATA data cable to the new drive went bad, and the system just dropped down to the next option in the boot order, the old drive. That had not been touched in 6 months.

Unless you're purposely doing a dual boot, and you know why, wipe that old drive clean once you're sure everything is working from the new drive.

 

[USAFRet]

But do I have to wipe the old drive? Can't I just keep it as is?

What do you plan to use the old drive for?

Wiping it takes all of 30 seconds.