How to Clone SSD to New SSD (for Windows 11/10/8/7)

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Highlight:

#️⃣Replacing an old SSD with a new one is an excellent way to boost your computer's performance and expand storage capacity.
#️⃣Cloning the SSD to a new SSD involves three steps: connecting the new SSD, downloading disk cloning software, and then cloning the SSD to the new one.
#️⃣Choosing a reliable best SSD cloning software ensures a smooth and successful migration of your SSD to the new one without data loss.

"I really need a clear answer on how to correctly clone an old SSD to a new M.2 SSD and make the new one the boot drive. Many YouTube videos are outdated, referring to programs that are no longer available, and when I try to do both (clone the SSD to the new M.2 SSD and make it the boot drive), I can only seem to follow instructions for one of these steps. Any help would be greatly appreciated. My motherboard has two SSD slots (AM4). After the transfer, I plan to sell or give away the old SSD. Thanks!"

Solid State Drives (SSDs) have become increasingly common and are now the preferred storage medium and system drive for most computer/laptop users. However, with prolonged use, SSDs can get full and slow down, affecting your computer's speed and potentially leading to data loss when out of space. In such a scenario, getting a new SSD is the best solution.

How can you upgrade to an SSD while keeping all your data and installed programs? The answer is to clone your old SSD to the new SSD. This transfers all the information saved on the old SSD – including the operating system, settings, configurations, installed apps, and system files – to the new SSD without losing any data. You won't need to reinstall Windows.

This article from Tools offers an elaborate guide on how to clone SSD to new SSD or clone HDD to M.2 SSD, with step-by-step instructions. Read on and get more insights into the process.

Preparing to Clone SSD to New SSD

Before cloning SSD to new SSD, you need to get well prepared to ensure the cloning process goes well:

1️⃣ Create a backup of your old SSD.

To prevent data loss, you need to back up all your important data to a secure location, such as an external drive/USB or another hard disk. To create a system image, you can use the built-in backup and recovery feature in Windows, or third-party backup software like Todo Backup Free.

2️⃣ Purchase a new solid-state drive (SSD) with sufficient storage capacity.

There are several types of SSDs available, including SATA SSDs, NVMe SSDs, and M.2 SSDs, among others. They differ in various specifications, so you'll need to choose one that's compatible with your computer. Additionally, the new SSD should have enough capacity to hold all the information from your old SSD.

Prepare SSD

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3️⃣ Connect or install the new solid-state drive correctly in your desktop computer or laptop.

Once you have your new SSD, you can connect or install it in your computer.

If your desktop has two SSD bays, open the case and screw the new SSD into the motherboard.

If you have a laptop, you can connect the new SSD to it with a USB cable or adapter. Make sure your computer recognizes the SSD.

Next up, we've got the image showing "Connecting an SSD to a computer or laptop": ![USB Adapter Connecting SSD to Laptop](/images/en/screenshot/disk-copy/resource/usb-adapter-connect-laptop-and-ssd.png)

4️⃣ Choose an SSD cloning software.

Choosing a reliable SSD cloning tool is crucial for a successful cloning process. There are many popular disk cloning tools to choose from, with Clonezilla being a commonly recommended free and open-source option. However, this tool requires technical expertise and a significant amount of time to set up.

Another popular easy-to-use SSD cloning software is Disk Copy Home Edition, often used by those who want to save time and boost productivity.

You may also like: Best SSD to SSD Cloning Software

Clone an SSD to a new SSD with a boot sector

As mentioned earlier, Disk Copy is an excellent hard drive cloning software. With this professional HDD/SSD cloning tool, you can enjoy the following advantages:

Clone SSD to a larger SSD or vice versa.
Perform SSD cloning in just 4 steps.
Clone only the Windows OS from one SSD to another.
Compatible with various SSD brands and types for flexible SSD-to-SSD cloning.
Supports sector-by-sector cloning to migrate only used space.
Automatically resize partitions during cloning, eliminating the need to format the new SSD.
Smartly monitors the disk sizes of both source and target SSDs.
Migrate all your data to a new SSD without reinstalling the operating system.
Track the progress of SSD cloning tasks in real-time with a progress bar.
Create a bootable clone of a Windows disk to restore your computer to a previous working state.

What are you waiting for? Download this powerful tool now and delve into the detailed steps right away!

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector clone requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Do not check this option if you want to clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be erased. Proceed with caution.

Step 1: To start copying/ cloning an entire disk to another disk, select the disk in Disk Mode, and then click Next.

Step 2: Choose another hard drive as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of both disks. You can choose to "Adapt to Disk," "Copy as Source," or "Edit Disk Layout" to manage the disk layout on the target disk.

When prompted, click OK.

• "Auto-Adjust for Disk" makes some modifications to the layout of the target disk by default, so it is in an optimal state. • "Copy As Is" doesn't change anything on the target disk, and its layout will be the same as the source disk. • "Edit Disk Layout" allows you to manually adjust/move the partition layout on the target disk.

Check “Do this if the target is an SSD” to ensure best performance from your SSD.

A warning appears, telling you that your data will be lost. Confirm this by clicking OK, and then click Next.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to actually carry out the task.

Click 'Start Clone' to initiate the cloning process

Suggestion: What to Do After Cloning SSD

The above isn't a comprehensive guide to cloning an SSD to a new SSD. After you clone an SSD to an SSD, you should take a few steps to finish the process.

✅ Verify the integrity of the cloned SSD.
✅ Format the original SSD and use it as a storage drive.
✅ Change the boot order in BIOS to start your device from the cloned SSD. (Available only if you have two SSDs installed on your device.)
✅ Clean up disk partitions and create additional ones if needed.
✅ Check that all installed programs are running properly.

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Final words

It's all about cloning SSD to new SSD. If you have no idea about how to clone SSD, this post will give you all the help you need.

As long as you choose the right tool, cloning an SSD to a new SSD is not a daunting task. A disk cloning software can help you accomplish this with just a few simple clicks. Download this powerful tool to clone any of your disks, and you surely won't miss out.

FAQs: Cloning SSD to New SSD

1. How do I clone my M.2 SSD to a new M.2 SSD?

Cloning an M.2 SSD to a new M.2 SSD involves the same process as cloning an SSD to a new SSD, which includes the following steps:

Connect the new M.2 SSD to your computer. Download a disk cloning software, such as Disk Copy tool. Use the disk cloning software to clone all data from the M.2 SSD to the new SSD, including the operating system, settings, and installed programs.

If you're replacing an old SSD with a new one, you can boot your computer or laptop from the cloned M.2 SSD and run the operating system from the new M.2 SSD.

2. Can I replace the M.2 SSD without reinstalling Windows?

It is possible to replace an M.2 SSD without reinstalling Windows, but for a smoother process, consider the following: 1. **Backup your data**: Before swapping the SSD, make sure to back up all important data to an external storage device to protect against accidental loss. 2. **Create a System Repair Drive**: Use the built-in Windows tool to create a system repair drive, which will contain all the files needed to recover your Windows installation. This way, you can restore your system if there are any issues with the new SSD. 3. **Check compatibility**: Ensure that the new M.2 SSD you purchase is compatible with your computer's motherboard, including the interface type (such as NVMe or PCIe) and size (like 2280, 2260, etc.). 4. **Disable Secure Boot**: Some computers may require disabling Secure Boot in the BIOS settings to allow proper booting when installing non-original hardware. 5. **Clone the hard drive**: Use professional disk cloning software like Clonezilla or Acronis True Image to clone your old SSD's system and data onto the new SSD, preserving your original settings and applications. 6. **Install the new SSD**: Follow your computer manufacturer's instructions to correctly install the new SSD and set it as the primary boot device. 7. **Update BIOS**: If your new SSD requires the latest BIOS version to function properly, ensure you update your motherboard's BIOS before the replacement. 8. **First boot and system adjustments**: Upon first boot, there might be driver updates or other system adjustments to complete. Follow on-screen prompts as needed. By following these steps, you should successfully replace your M.2 SSD without needing to reinstall Windows.

Ensure the new M.2 SSD is compatible with the current operating system. Create a backup beforehand to prevent data loss during the process. Update the BIOS settings to successfully recognize the new M.2 SSD.

How to clone an SSD to a new SSD without losing anything (including the operating system)