Solved How to clone OS from SATA SSD to NVMe SSD

How to clone OS from SATA SSD to NVMe SSD (on M2 slot or PCIe slot), using free software.

If Windows 7, how to do (since I am NOT sure Windows 7 working or NOT. at least I have seen a PCIe conflict on my PC)

If Windows 10/11, how to do,

a GPT disk, always there are three sectors, boot, MSR and OS partition.

It's an old question. but new to me. I was using a paid program. but not this time.

Thanks,

siliconbeaver said:

How to clone OS from SATA SSD to NVMe SSD (on M2 slot or PCIe slot), using free software.

Click to expand...

There are many free apps that will clone. Here is a few.
Macrium free is still available but not listed anymore on Macrium site. See this thread. Refer to @Bree posts #5 and #10 for instructions how to get it.

Here are instructions how to clone with Macrium.
How to clone Cloning a disk with Macrium Reflect 8

Aoemi Backupper Best Backup, Recovery, Clone Software for Any Devices and Everyone | AOMEI Data Protection

Easeus Disk Copy (free trial) How to Clone Windows OS from HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD

Thanks for prompt help.

I got it downloaded and installed. It has to be run under windows?

Anyway just boot then clone? as my PC is NOT up at this time but I have borrowed a Windows 11 OS from another PC.

I also downloaded a copy of Clonezilla. NOT sure if this one recommended or NOT.

Can Macrium rescue disk do clone disk to disk? or it can run only for image to disk?

Why the obssession with wanting to clone? Too many forums across the internet with multiple entries of cloning attempts that have ended in tears

Image > restore (with Macrium, AOMEI Bcakupper).

The restore process is achieve by booting from a created USB using whichever image program
Macrium > Other tasks > Create rescue medium
AOMEI >Tools > create bootable media

clone means copy on-fly, source-target two disks enough.

image needs 3rd disk.


btw, my NVMe SSD is Samsung, see if I can try its Samsung Data Migration. but still that needs PC up 1st then install the software to run.

siliconbeaver said:

image needs 3rd disk.

Click to expand...

As in an external USB? Which you should have anyway for normal future system image backups ....

yes,

I have one.

but before install done, no need to start its backup. I need it's up first then tune more.

siliconbeaver said:

Can Macrium rescue disk do clone disk to disk? or it can run only for image to disk?

Click to expand...

Yes, it can clone disk to disk.

thanks,

let me make a rescue disk first.

Macrium rescue/Win PE CD, boot , , windows start, , , all pop-up. . . then USB mouse/keyboard NOT working (at boot stage was ok, red LED was on).

my PC USB ports all are USB 3.1. No USB2 or USB3. tried wireless mouse. still no go.

looks like, Macrium free version no support for USB 3.1.

siliconbeaver said:

Macrium rescue/Win PE CD, boot , , windows start, , , all pop-up. . . then USB mouse/keyboard NOT working (at boot stage was ok, red LED was on).

my PC USB ports all are USB 3.1. No USB2 or USB3. tried wireless mouse. still no go.

looks like, Macrium free version no support for USB 3.1.

Click to expand...

You're not using the boot USB properly. Windows shouldn't start, it's the Macrium boot program on the USB that needs to start

You need to change the boot order of your computer, either through a dedicated key at startup, or accessing the BIOS and changing the boot order (BE CAREFUL !!!)

Lenovo = F12/F8/F10 for boot menu, F1 or F2 for BIOS (depending on model)

Nothing to do with USB3.1, or any other USB standard. It's your computer that has to recognise the USB device, irrespective of what's on it.

EDIT : I'm getting very nervous here .....

EDIT 2 : Alternatively, if Windows is starting even if booting to USB, then faulty creation of boot USB device.

siliconbeaver said:

How to clone OS from SATA SSD to NVMe SSD (on M2 slot or PCIe slot), using free software.

If Windows 7, how to do (since I am NOT sure Windows 7 working or NOT. at least I have seen a PCIe conflict on my PC)

If Windows 10/11, how to do,

a GPT disk, always there are three sectors, boot, MSR and OS partition.

It's an old question. but new to me. I was using a paid program. but not this time.

Thanks,

Click to expand...

Indicate
a) Whether you plan to continue using Windows 7 or whether you plan to upgrade to Windows 10
b) Whether you are or are not dual booting
c) Whether you are or are not using BIOS UEFI
d) Whether there were any disk drive problems with the SATA SSD


Post images of disk management:

siliconbeaver said:

How to clone OS from SATA SSD to NVMe SSD (on M2 slot or PCIe slot), using free software.

Click to expand...

Hang on! If the source drive and the target drive are both installed, you can use Macrium to clone from one to the other (without boot SBs, etc) Just run Macrium from within Windows ....

I was trying on another PC (PC2). at least, proved Macrium rescue could clone disk to disk (NavyLCDR is right). but PC2 has no available PCIe slot to install NVMe SSD. hence my goal is still NOT achieved. Keyboard/mouse working fine on PC2.

my goal is to clone disk to disk (SATA SSD to NVMe SSD) on PC1 in where Macrium rescue has USB 3.1 issue (keyboard/mouse NOT working)

I also tried Samsung Data Migration, a nice tool. but it only works on source disk. well, my PC1 is NOT up yet. no OS source.

@zbook​

If possible, I would run Windows 7. and I have tried. install was ok. but later saw PCIe bus conflict between Graphics and NVMe (could be motherboard PCIe design issue). thought no solution at Windows 7 level. On Windows 11 level, I2C offers solution. hence run fine. I tested.

Therefore, my present plan is to clone Windows 11 OS disk (with data partition) to NVMe SSD on PC1. so far no luck.

I really tortured this Samsung NVMe SSD hard this time.

Free clone app here:

When available please post images or share links of disk management.

Clean install Windows 10 or 11 on the NVMe disk drive.
Report whether it runs smoothly or whether there are problems.

If it runs smoothly then restore only the data partition onto the NVMe disk drive.

siliconbeaver said:

Can Macrium rescue disk do clone disk to disk? or it can run only for image to disk?

Click to expand...

You can use the rescue disk to restore an image to a new drive. In effect, it is like cloning an OS.

Thanks zbook,


It's NOT clean-install. the PC was running fine Windows 7 on SATA SSD. Now migrating onto (Samsung) NVMe SSD.

the issues I have run into
1. Windows 7 on NVMe SSD, run but saw conflicts on PCIe bus. hence I am trying to clone Windows 11 OS to NVMe SSD after test install.
2. Macrium rescue Ver 8 no support on USB 3.1. aftermath, PC mouse/keyboard NOT working. no way to go ahead. on PC2, no mouse/keyboard issue. but no available PCIe slot.
3. Samsung Data Migration. it only works on source disk. my PC is NOT up yet. no OS source.

the PC (PC1) is NOT up. cannot be online. PC2 can go online. but I was taking its OS to PC1 to try. now I am using PC2's image.

zbook said:

When available please post images or share links of disk management.

Click to expand...

1) When possible, please post images or share links of disk management into this thread.



2) Run: diskpar info > post a share link into this thread



3) consider this as a trial and error step: clean install Windows 11 onto the NVMe drive> report findings