Upgrading to larger SSD. Do I "clone" current one?

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

Ideally I would like to keep everything from the current SSD, files, operating system, programs etc so when I put the new one in, it's like nothing has changed.

I BELIEVE I have to do a disk clone to do this? If this is the case, what is considered the best freeware for this? I have a SATA adaptor already and software I've read about does detect it

Also if this is the case, after the cloning is done, from what I've read I don't quite understand, do I need to instantly switch out the old SSD for the new one? Or can the old one stay in, everything works the same, until I'm ready to put the new one in?

Thanks :)

EDIT: If this screenshot helps and this is the right software to use, do I make the last partition max size?? I'm a bit confused as the 3rd one is the largest, I'd assume it's the main one with all my files, the OS etc?? I would have thought that was the one I could max it out?? (If I'm doing the correct thing)

CountMike · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Ideally I would like to keep everything from the current SSD, files, operating system, programs etc so when I put the new one in, it's like nothing has changed.

I BELIEVE I have to do a disk clone to do this? If this is the case, what is considered the best freeware for this? I have a SATA adaptor already and software I've read about does detect it

Also if this is the case, after the cloning is done, from what I've read I don't quite understand, do I need to instantly switch out the old SSD for the new one? Or can the old one stay in, everything works the same, until I'm ready to put the new one in?

Thanks :)

Yeah sure, you can clone disk, I like Macrium Reflect for that operation although there are other programs. Once cloned it will leave some empty space/partition on new disk so you will have to do something about it, make new partition or expand existing one.
Is that a laptop or desktop PC ?

barman58 · Nov 5, 2021

I would always strongly suggest that you only perform the clone when you are ready to use the new drive, simple reason, if you create a clone and then continue with the existing system your original and your clone will soon differ, due to updates and system changes that you make

If you use Macrium Reflect free it will only take minutes to clone the drive and off you go - you can then repurpose the original drive for other uses.

The only time I would suggest that you produce a clone and not use it immediately, is a case where you wish to make a major change to the OS and then possibly return to the original state if the change does not work

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

CountMike said:
Yeah sure, you can clone disk, I like Macrium Reflect for that operation although there are other programs. Once cloned it will leave some empty space/partition on new disk so you will have to do something about it, make new partition or expand existing one.
Is that a laptop or desktop PC ?

Thanks for that. I edited my original post with a screenshot using Macrium.

It is a laptop

CountMike · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Thanks for that. I edited my original post with a screenshot using Macrium.

It is a laptop

So you don't have a space for another SSD ? Than you have to use a USB adapter to connect drive. When you install Macrium Reflect, make sure you also make rescue USB to be able to troubleshoot eventual boot problems

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

barman58 said:
I would always strongly suggest that you only perform the clone when you are ready to use the new drive, simple reason, if you create a clone and then continue with the existing system your original and your clone will soon differ, due to updates and system changes that you make

If you use Macrium Reflect free it will only take minutes to clone the drive and off you go - you can then repurpose the original drive for other uses.

The only time I would suggest that you produce a clone and not use it immediately, is a case where you wish to make a major change to the OS and then possibly return to the original state if the change does not work

Thanks! Only reason why I'm not ready at this moment, I simply am not quite sure myself how to open up my laptop. Going by your post, I would definitely prefer to wait when I am more confident after watching tutorials/find someone more experienced before doing the clone!

CountMike · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Thanks! Only reason why I'm not ready at this moment, I simply am not quite sure myself how to open up my laptop. Going by your post, I would definitely prefer to wait when I am more confident after watching tutorials/find someone more experienced before doing the clone!

It's quite straight forward operation. Connect new drive by USB, start MR, choose clone disk and from whuch drive to which. Based on the system it will suggest right things to do.

barman58 · Nov 5, 2021

Yes, the fun and games trying to access the internals of a laptop - not for the faint hearted.

one other thing I'd recommend for a swap on a laptop, an external case, (USB) or Cable to perform the initial clone these are not expensive and there is usually no room in a laptop to do the clone.

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

CountMike said:
So you don't have a space for another SSD ? Than you have to use a USB adapter to connect drive. When you install Macrium Reflect, make sure you also make rescue USB to be able to troubleshoot eventual boot problems

Oh nah didn't open up the laptop.Didn't realise there could be more than one SSD slot? But running a scan on the crucial website, I don't believe I do but did connect the new SSD with a USB adaptor. Thanks for that last tip!

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

Also an edit from the first post as I'm still a bit confused but here's what I added - If this screenshot helps and this is the right software to use, do I make the last partition max size?? I'm a bit confused as the 3rd one is the largest, I'd assume it's the main one with all my files, the OS etc?? I would have thought that was the one I could max it out?? (If I'm doing the correct thing)

CountMike · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Also an edit from the first post as I'm still a bit confused but here's what I added - If this screenshot helps and this is the right software to use, do I make the last partition max size?? I'm a bit confused as the 3rd one is the largest, I'd assume it's the main one with all my files, the OS etc?? I would have thought that was the one I could max it out?? (If I'm doing the correct thing)
View attachment 12627

Your installed disk is one with C: partition (top one), once it's cloned new one will look like bottom picture.

barman58 · Nov 5, 2021

The source will be the existing drive, and have a number of partitions the actual Windows plus one or more system partitions, all these partitions should be selected.

The target drive ( the new drive) should be completely empty and without any partitions or format. ( I use the select method to set the clone rather than the drag and drop)

After the clone process you may have a part of the new larger drive set as unallocated, and you would need to combine this with the new windows partition to increase the available space for future expansion of the windows system - this can be done easily with Macrium

You can actually do this at the clone stage but I would normally advise caution until you know the software fully

cereberus · Nov 5, 2021

Download the trial version of Macrium Reflect version 8. Then when you get to screen showing unallocated space at end of the recovery partition, you can click on the last partotion using a new "float right" command.

This moves the recovery partition to end of drive so unallocated space is before it.

Then you can expand the C drive to fill the unallocated space.

If you choose not to pay a Reflect licence after 30 days, it reverts to the free version (without paid advanced features). Doing above is standard in free version.

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

CountMike said:
Your installed disk is one with C: partition (top one), once it's cloned new one will look like bottom picture.

Oh sorry I should have explained myself more better. So the bottom one, which will be the new one, all that free space. Would it be better to leave it like that? Would it all be available once installed? Or Should I maximize the partitions to make it all available to use?
The bit that confused me is the only partition I can maximize is the one on the end, number 4. I assumed number 3 having that much used up, that it would be the main one???
Sorry if I'm not making sense or asking silly questions. Can tell I'm very new to this :ROFLMAO:

CountMike · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Oh sorry I should have explained myself more better. So the bottom one, which will be the new one, all that free space. Would it be better to leave it like that? Would it all be available once installed? Or Should I maximize the partitions to make it all available to use?
The bit that confused me is the only partition I can maximize is the one on the end, number 4. I assumed number 3 having that much used up, that it would be the main one???
Sorry if I'm not making sense or asking silly questions. Can tell I'm very new to this

Read what cereberus said, you can include that empty partition or you could just form a partition from tha empty one and use ti for data.

jvickers · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Oh sorry I should have explained myself more better. So the bottom one, which will be the new one, all that free space. Would it be better to leave it like that? Would it all be available once installed? Or Should I maximize the partitions to make it all available to use?
The bit that confused me is the only partition I can maximize is the one on the end, number 4. I assumed number 3 having that much used up, that it would be the main one???
Sorry if I'm not making sense or asking silly questions. Can tell I'm very new to this

You need to resize the Acer (Auto) partition by merging it with that unallocated space.

I believe this page has the information on how to do that:

Modifying restored paritition properties - Knowledgebase 8.0 - Macrium Reflect Knowledgebase

knowledgebase.macrium.com

Some please correct me if I'm wrong.

vesh88 · Nov 5, 2021

Thanks for all the help guys!

Unfortunately, I keep getting this error 8 message. I'm off to bed now (almost 1am in Sydney) but any help in the meantime for when I get up in the morning will be greatly appreciated!

Scott · Nov 5, 2021

vesh88 said:
Would it all be available once installed?

Back when I dual booted Windows 10 & 11 Insider, I cloned my Win 11 build from a 500Gb SSD to a 1 TB M.2 NVMe. When it was done, half the NVMe drive was "unallocated". All I did was right-click my D: drive and select Extend Volume and it reclaimed all that space,

SIW2 · Nov 5, 2021

I would suggest DG migrate os. You dont need to detach the old disk after doing this. There is an option to resize the partitions during the migration, or do it afterwards.

vesh88 · Nov 6, 2021

SIW2 said:
I would suggest DG migrate os. You dont need to detach the old disk after doing this. There is an option to resize the partitions during the migration, or do it afterwards.

View attachment 12702

View attachment 12703

View attachment 12704

View attachment 12706

View attachment 12707

Thanks for that! A few error messages popped up but it kept continuing on and said it completed. Same amount of space used as on my current drive, files all there etc so I guess the error messages wouldn't have mattered and it'll be alright to replace my current SSD?