Question Upgrading HD - Best Way w/o Starting from Scratch

[howaboutme]

Hi all...New here. Thanks in advance for your guidance.

I have a desktop that has 2 HDs. One is a SSD drive that is my C drive. The other is a traditional HDD that is my D drive. My C drive is what I have Windows installed on and some programs that can't be moved to the D drive. My D drive (larger capacity) serves as my file storage drive where I save all of my files. That includes pathing all of the "My Documents", "My Pictures", etc to.

My issue is that my C drive, the SSD that Windows is installed on, is running out of space. That is with just the bare essentials needed to run Windows and other software that doesn't reside on D. I need/want to upgrade that drive to something larger. What is the most recommended way to do that w/o starting from scratch?

Is it using a mirroring tool? If so, what happens to D? Will Windows recognize D as it was prior? What happens to software installed on D? Are there registries on C that will get messed up when upgrading the SSD drive? Or is a fresh install from scratch for both C and D better? I'm pretty handy with moderate computer knowledge and am not afraid to do anything. I'm just not familiar with this process and want to be fully prepared for what is to come.

Thoughts?

 

[USAFRet]

What are the specific drives involved?
Make/model/size...

A clone operation of either or both is "easy", but we have to know what we're starting with.

Also, motherboard, use, budget...

 

[howaboutme]

The computer is a Dell G5 5090 desktop. The 2 HDs are:

- 128GB M.2 PCIe NVMe Solid State Drive (C drive to be replaced)
- 1TB 7200 rpm 3.5" SATA Hard Drive (D drive to keep)

I don't have the specific motherboard but it's what came w/ the computer (bought about ~3 years ago). It is a 9th Gen Core i3-9100 chip.

I'm looking to replace this with a 256GB class 40. It's a home computer used midly for internet, some gaming and graphics.

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

The 128GB NVMe can be rep[laced with a 500GB-1TB for relatively low cost.

Assuming this motherboard has only 1x NVMe port, we'll have to do this with an Image.

---------------------------------
1x m.2 slot with an Image

Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current m.2 drive:

1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
3. In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
4. When done, power OFF.
5. Swap the 2 drives
6. Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
7. Restore (on the toolbar), and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2
8. Go, and wait until it finishes.
9. That's all...this should work.

 

[Lafong]

You mention "software" installed on D.

Was D chosen only because C did not have enough space?

Is it known that the PC boots and operates well without the D drive?

The price differential between a 256 gb drive and a 500 gb drive is quite small. You might consider 500 gb. Regardless, I'd try to put all applications on the boot drive eventually after the smoke clears from your clone.

 

[howaboutme]

The 128GB NVMe can be rep[laced with a 500GB-1TB for relatively low cost.

Assuming this motherboard has only 1x NVMe port, we'll have to do this with an Image.

---------------------------------
1x m.2 slot with an Image

Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current m.2 drive:

1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
3. In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
4. When done, power OFF.
5. Swap the 2 drives
6. Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
7. Restore (on the toolbar), and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2
8. Go, and wait until it finishes.
9. That's all...this should work.

Thank you! Just to be clear the software I want to use is Reflect 8 Home?

 

[Lafong]

Thank you! Just to be clear the software I want to use is Reflect 8 Home?

That will work. I think the "free" version is officially called the "trial" version. After 30 days, the trial will continue to work as the free version. That's the way it was the last I checked. I eventually bought the paid version.

The paid version has a few more features that you don't need for this simple job.

Lower left side:

Macrium Reflect Free Trials

Macrium Reflect - Incredibly powerful software that allows you to create and schedule effective backups

www.macrium.com

 

[howaboutme]

You mention "software" installed on D.

Was D chosen only because C did not have enough space?

Is it known that the PC boots and operates well without the D drive?

The price differential between a 256 gb drive and a 500 gb drive is quite small. You might consider 500 gb. Regardless, I'd try to put all applications on the boot drive eventually after the smoke clears from your clone.

That is correct. I moved what I could to be on D to help w/ space on C. Once I get a larger C, I will have everything on C.

I have not tried to boot the computer w/o D. I am not sure how I would even do that? There is nothing related to Windows on D, just certain software.

Will those same software on D be there the same way using the clone software after upgrading C? This is where I get worried. Otherwise, this upgrade would be more straightforward.

Also, is there another place to get these SSD drives besides Dell that will guarantee compatibility?

Thanks!

 

[USAFRet]

Also, is there another place to get these SSD drives besides Dell that will guarantee compatibility?

Pretty much any NVMe drive will work.

Samsung 970 EVO Plus, for instance.

 

[Lafong]

Anything on D should continue to work as before when the old C is swapped for the new C.

Cloning can fail inexplicably. Imaging with Macrium is a fallback option if cloning fails. Cloning and imaging are cousins that lead to the same result.....a replica of one drive transferred to another drive.

After you get this done, you might temporarily disconnect D to confirm that D is NOT needed to run the PC. That's what you'd like to see and most likely is true. If some of Windows is on D, it can cause issues. You're going to have to open the case up anyway when you put in the new C.

Standard sources for new drives include Amazon and Newegg.

 

[howaboutme]

Anything on D should continue to work as before when the old C is swapped for the new C.

Cloning can fail inexplicably. Imaging with Macrium is a fallback option if cloning fails. Cloning and imaging are cousins that lead to the same result.....a replica of one drive transferred to another drive.

After you get this done, you might temporarily disconnect D to confirm that D is NOT needed to run the PC. That's what you'd like to see and most likely is true. If some of Windows is on D, it can cause issues. You're going to have to open the case up anyway when you put in the new C.

Standard sources for new drives include Amazon and Newegg.

Thank you.

This answers one of my questions, which is, am I only cloning/imaging the C or the D. It sounds like I am only cloning/imaging the C drive.

Also, I wasn't aware that there is a difference between cloning and imaging. What am I doing if I use the Macrium software?

To test if the D drive is needed to operate Windows, I can probably just do that now to test?

Thank you all again!

 

[USAFRet]

Thank you.

This answers one of my questions, which is, am I only cloning/imaging the C or the D. It sounds like I am only cloning/imaging the C drive.

Also, I wasn't aware that there is a difference between cloning and imaging. What am I doing if I use the Macrium software?

To test if the D drive is needed to operate Windows, I can probably just do that now to test?

Thank you all again!

You can clone or image one or both.

Since your motherboard has only one M.2 port, we'll do the C drive just like this:

----------------------------------------------------
1x m.2 slot with an Image

Assuming you have another drive with sufficient free space to hold the entirety of your current m.2 drive:

1. Download and install Macrium Reflect
2. Run that, and create a Rescue CD or USB (you'll use this later). "Other Tasks"
3. In the Macrium client, create an Image to some other drive. External USB HDD, maybe. Select all partitions. This results in a file of xxxx.mrimage
4. When done, power OFF.
5. Swap the 2 drives
6. Boot up from the Rescue USB you created earlier.
7. Restore (on the toolbar), and tell it where the Image is that you created in step 3, and which drive to apply it to...the new m.2
8. Go, and wait until it finishes.
9. That's all...this should work.

 

[Lafong]

Thank you.

This answers one of my questions, which is, am I only cloning/imaging the C or the D. It sounds like I am only cloning/imaging the C drive.

Also, I wasn't aware that there is a difference between cloning and imaging. What am I doing if I use the Macrium software?

To test if the D drive is needed to operate Windows, I can probably just do that now to test?

Thank you all again!

Yep; you can see if D is needed right now if you want.

Cloning is a 1 step process; typically used when moving from one drive to another drive. Destination drive probably larger/newer/better. Old drive operating well, but too small, too slow, or you have upgrade-itis and just want to change. Not best regarded as a "backup". Replicates all partitions on the original drive onto the new drive.....warts and all.

Imaging is a 2 step process. 1: Make an image file of chosen partitions on the existing drive; possibly all partitions. 2: Restore them to another drive at some point in the future. Maybe 3 minutes from now; maybe in 3 years. This is a proper "backup". Image files are large (15 GB or so on up); store them wherever they will fit. Move them around as you wish. Make a new one whenever you want (weekly? monthly?). Keep as many as you like. Typically used to get yourself out of a bad situation (failed drive; virus; software or Windows gone goofy), but can be used to simply move to a new drive, just like cloning. You choose which partitions to include in the image file...usually all of them, but up to you. Restoration takes a few minutes; maybe an hour, depending on image size, drive speed, and CPU horsepower.

Macrium does both. Either can work or fail. Know what you will do if both fail. Success rate in the high 90s.

 

[howaboutme]

Yep; you can see if D is needed right now if you want.

Cloning is a 1 step process; typically used when moving from one drive to another drive. Destination drive probably larger/newer/better. Old drive operating well, but too small, too slow, or you have upgrade-itis and just want to change. Not best regarded as a "backup". Replicates all partitions on the original drive onto the new drive.....warts and all.

Imaging is a 2 step process. 1: Make an image file of chosen partitions on the existing drive; possibly all partitions. 2: Restore them to another drive at some point in the future. Maybe 3 minutes from now; maybe in 3 years. This is a proper "backup". Image files are large (15 GB or so on up); store them wherever they will fit. Move them around as you wish. Make a new one whenever you want (weekly? monthly?). Keep as many as you like. Typically used to get yourself out of a bad situation (failed drive; virus; software or Windows gone goofy), but can be used to simply move to a new drive, just like cloning. You choose which partitions to include in the image file...usually all of them, but up to you. Restoration takes a few minutes; maybe an hour, depending on image size, drive speed, and CPU horsepower.

Macrium does both. Either can work or fail. Know what you will do if both fail. Success rate in the high 90s.

Thank you for the explanation. I have not downloaded Macrium yet but when I do it will ask me if I want to clone or image? In my case, which one should I do? I see 6 one half dozen or the other here.

 

[Lafong]

The main interface should show all of your drives.

With the choice "image this disk" or "clone this disc" below each of them. Be sure to select the correct drive.....the one with your C partition.

I'd probably try cloning first. It's one step and may well work fine.

On a first attempt, you should be able to just accept most Macrium defaults.

Don't worry about the strange terminology. You don't need to be concerned with stuff like scheduling, templates, or retention rules on a first attempt. Concentrate on the correct source disk, the correct partitions, and the correct destination disk.

But..............the first thing you should do is get a USB stick of at least 1 GB capacity and "create rescue media" from the "other tasks" menu.

Then confirm that stick will in fact boot your PC...as opposed to using the hard drive to boot. If it won't.....you did something wrong and the rescue media is useless.

You need rescue media to boot the PC after you remove the old hard drive. How would you otherwise then boot the PC?

You don't need the rescue media to do a clone, but you would to use images...so you may as well get rescue media done and confirm it will boot your PC.

No harm done if you want to try imaging first rather than cloning. Take your pick really.

 

[howaboutme]

What do you all think of Crucial P5 Plus? Kind believe how cheap they are compared to Dell brand. Wow!

Also, Crucial has their own cloning software. Thoughts on that? Thanks!

I should add that I have used their RAM and all is good there.

 

[USAFRet]

What do you all think of Crucial P5 Plus? Kind believe how cheap they are compared to Dell brand. Wow!

Also, Crucial has their own cloning software. Thoughts on that? Thanks!

I should add that I have used their RAM and all is good there.

Nothing wrong with that drive.

But, cloning....
You have only ONE M.2 port, correct?
For a clone, you need both drives connected.

 

[howaboutme]

Nothing wrong with that drive.

But, cloning....
You have only ONE M.2 port, correct?
For a clone, you need both drives connected.

Ah, I see now. That is a difference between cloning and imaging. If I only have 1 port, I need to image onto an external and then bring that back. Got it.

So imaging and bringing that image back onto the new SSD will also install Windows?

 

[USAFRet]

Ah, I see now. That is a difference between cloning and imaging. If I only have 1 port, I need to image onto an external and then bring that back. Got it.

So imaging and bringing that image back onto the new SSD will also install Windows?

Yes.

The Image is a total (mostly) representation of whatever you selected.
Mostly, because it leaves off irrelevant things like the pagefile.

The Macrium Rescue USB that you create boots up the system, and lets you select that Image and apply it to the new drive.

The result is just like a direct clone....the whole system on the new drive.

 

[faalin]

I would buy a new M.2 nvme drive and an external caddy for it. Put the new drive in the caddy plug it in to a usb port and clone the C:/ drive over to it, then swap the drives. You would then be left with a nice little external 128GB nvme thumb drive.

For work i carry 4 M.2 external caddies, 2 in NVMe and 2 in SATA. I've cloned may of drives with Macrium Reflect putting both drives in external caddies and plugging them into my laptop cloning from one external to the other.

 

[howaboutme]

All.

My new SSD is arriving today so I plan to do this in the next few days, hopefully. (I will also test to make sure the computer can run w/o the D drive.) One last question or reiteration is regarding the software's currently loaded on my D drive.

When I do the imaging of the C to prepare for the swap, what happens to the software running off of the D drive after I install the new C drive? It should all be the same? (I will eventually move all of that to the C.)

Thank you.

 

[USAFRet]

All.

My new SSD is arriving today so I plan to do this in the next few days, hopefully. (I will also test to make sure the computer can run w/o the D drive.) One last question or reiteration is regarding the software's currently loaded on my D drive.

When I do the imaging of the C to prepare for the swap, what happens to the software running off of the D drive after I install the new C drive? It should all be the same? (I will eventually move all of that to the C.)

Thank you.

Nothing will change, except you are running on a larger, newer drive.

 

[Lafong]

When I do the imaging of the C to prepare for the swap, what happens to the software running off of the D drive after I install the new C drive? It should all be the same? (I will eventually move all of that to the C.)

You need to be prepared for Plan B.

Plan B is a clean Windows install, followed by a re-installation and configuration of all software.....if the imaging attempt fails.....if push comes to shove, for whatever reason.

I don't know if you've ever done that.

 

[USAFRet]

(I will eventually move all of that to the C.)

And you can't just "move" software.
(except games, mostly)

You would Uninstall it, then install on the new larger C drive.

 

[howaboutme]

Thanks all! Yes, I do understand Plan B. I appreciate the help!