How to Resolve Slow Performance of Windows 10 After Cloning - Efficient Methods⭐

Updated by

Tracy King 

Written by

Cici 

Updated on Apr 22, 2024

Follow the solutions to resolve Windows 10 or SSD slowness after cloning:

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Cloning Windows involves creating an exact replica of a computer system and transferring it to another device with a single click. However, there's a drawback to this process, as users frequently encounter sluggish performance issues following an HDD to SSD cloning. Why does Windows or a laptop remain slow even after upgrading to an SSD or cloning to one?

Several factors can cause this issue, such as outdated drivers, insufficient storage on Windows drives, and more. You can promptly revive your system's performance and speed by adopting the right approach and following a few troubleshooting steps. Read on to learn how to address the Windows 10 slow after clone problem.

How to Resolve Slow Performance in Windows 10 After Cloning

As mentioned earlier, it's common for Windows 10 to become sluggish after being cloned onto a different PC due to various factors. This part of the guide will introduce you to several effective methods to address this issue:

Method 1: SSD 4K Alignment

SSDs typically utilize larger sectors known as 4K (4096 bytes), as opposed to the 512 bytes used by HDDs. However, if SSD partitions are not aligned to the 4K boundaries, additional operations may be required for reading and writing data, which can lead to an SSD becoming slow after cloning. This misalignment can happen when cloning a Windows 10 system from a source drive with a different alignment or by using incorrect cloning methods.

To resolve the "SSD slow after clone" issue, the Partition Master Professional tool comes to the rescue with its robust features. This utility is one of the best partition managers for Windows users, enabling them to manage virtually any partition-related task for storage drives. By utilizing its 4K alignment feature, you can achieve optimized and accelerated SSD performance with just a few clicks.

Step 1. Go to "Toolkit" and select "4K Alignment".

Step 2. Select the disk that you want to align, and then click the "Start" button.

Moreover, with this utility, you can also alter the SSD allocation unit size and cluster size for boosting the speed.

Method 2: Enable AHCI and Update Drivers

AHCI (Advanced Host Controller Interface) is a communication standard that enables the operating system to effectively communicate with Solid State Drives (SSDs). Enabling AHCI mode ensures that the SSD can leverage advanced features and performance improvements.

Additionally, older drivers might not have optimizations for specific hardware configurations of modern SSDs. Therefore, updating the drivers for the storage controller is one of the simplest solutions. Follow this comprehensive guide to accomplish this and resolve the Windows 10 slow after cloning issue:

Step 1. First, open the Windows "Search" box and type "cmd." Next, right-click on "Command Prompt" and select "Run as Administrator," then click "Yes" on the User Account Control (UAC) window.

Step 2. Type the "bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal" command in the Command Prompt window and press "Enter."

Step 3. After that, restart the system and press the F2 key during startup to enter BIOS and enable AHCI.

Step 4. After that, press F10 to save your changes and exit.

Step 5. After restarting Windows, open the Command Prompt again and type the command "bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot". Then, press "Enter" and restart your computer to automatically install the AHCI drivers.

Step 6. Once enabled, access the "Device Manager" from the WinX menu and expand the "Disk Drives" section.

Step 7. Right-click on the SSD drive and select "Update Driver."

Step 8. Finally, choose "Search automatically for drivers" to proceed with the update process.

Method 3: Free Up Space on C Drive

When you clone Windows 10 to a new system, the C: drive might become cluttered with unnecessary files and system backups from the cloning process. This can result in a lack of disk space, which is particularly problematic for SSDs where available space is crucial for optimal performance.

However, you can easily resolve the issue of the C drive being out of space by removing unnecessary files and programs. Additionally, you can also expand the C drive to enhance its performance. Download the comprehensive tool - Partition Master, and witness how it functions to free up space on the C drive:

Step 1. Click "Adjust with 1-Click" to extend the C drive.

When your C drive runs out of space, hover the mouse over the C drive to see the Low Disk Space alert in the Partition Master tool. Click "Adjust with 1-Click" to extend it.

Step 2. Click "OK" to extend C drive automatically.

By clicking "OK", Partition Master will automatically allocate space to your C drive to resolve the low storage issue.

Additional Option: You can also click "Manual Adjustment" to extend the C drive manually.

When switching to Manual Adjustment, select the C drive and drag the dots to the right to allocate more space to the C drive. Click "OK" to confirm.

Step 3. Confirm to fix low disk space on the C drive

Click the "Execute Task" button in the top corner and initiate all pending operations by clicking "Apply."

tools Partition Master 提供了解决磁盘空间不足的完整解决方案，包括：

• App Mover: Migrate software to a partition
• Resize Partition: Resize a partition by either reducing or expanding it
• Delete Partition: Permanently delete all contents of the target partition with a single click.
• Clone Disk: Upgrade to a larger hard drive without data loss

Please feel free to download this tool and enjoy the advantages it brings to you.

Method 4: Enable TRIM for SSD

If you're still encountering the issue of your SSD taking too long to boot after implementing the aforementioned solutions, you might need to enable TRIM. TRIM is a command supported by contemporary SSDs and operating systems that instructs the SSD to selectively erase unneeded data blocks.

When you clone a Windows 10 system to a new SSD, the operating system might not automatically enable TRIM, which can result in decreased performance. To enable it correctly, follow these steps:

Step 1. Begin by locating the "Command Prompt" app through the Search function, then right-click on it and select the "Run as administrator" option.

Step 2. Next, type the command: "fsutil behavior set DisableDeleteNotify 0."

Step 3. After that, press the "Enter" key and restart your computer to enable TRIM successfully.

Method 5. Disable Disk Indexing

Disk indexing is a Windows feature that creates and maintains an index of files and their contents on the hard drive. While it improves search efficiency, it requires constant disk activity and consumes system resources to keep the index up to date.

Therefore, the increased disk activity and resource consumption may result in slower system performance, particularly on entry-level PCs. To disable disk indexing and address a laptop that remains slow after an SSD upgrade, follow the provided guide:

Step 1. First, access "File Explorer" by pressing the "Win + E" keys and then navigate to "This PC."

Step 2. Next, right-click on the Windows drive and select "Properties."

Step 3. At the bottom of the "General" tab, uncheck the box that says, "Allow files on this drive to have contents indexed in addition to file properties."

Step 4. After that, click the "OK" button to disable disk indexing.

Now, check if the issue of the cloned hard drive running slow has been resolved or not.

Method 6: Disable SSD Defragmentation

Traditional hard disk drives benefit from defragmentation to enhance read and write performance. However, SSDs function differently and do not require defragmentation. In fact, defragmenting an SSD can lead to unnecessary write operations and decreased performance over time. To learn how to disable it on Windows 10, refer to this guide for addressing the Windows 10 slow after clone issue:

Step 1. Again, open the "Properties" of your SSD drive from "File Explorer," and this time, navigate to the "Tools" tab.

Step 2. Click the "Optimize" button in the "Optimize and defragment drive" section.

Step 3. In the following window, click on the "Change Settings" button.

Step 4. Lastly, deselect the "Run on a schedule" option and click "OK" to apply your changes.

Method 7: Disable System Restore

System Restore is crucial for resolving system issues and recovering from errors, as it creates restore points for Windows at regular intervals. However, it also consumes disk space and necessitates continuous disk activity to maintain these points.

Thus, you can minimize performance issues related to disk activity and storage by disabling System Restore. Follow these steps to disable System Restore on Windows 10:

Step 1. First, open the Start Menu on your Windows and type "System Restore." Next, click on "Create a restore point" from the search results.

Step 2. From the newly appearing window, select your Windows drive and click on "Configure."

Step 3. Select the "Disable system protection" option and click "OK" to confirm.

Even after cloning your HDD to SSD, Windows OS might still run slowly. Follow these tutorials to optimize the SSD. If you find this guide helpful, please click the social media buttons to share it with others who need assistance.

Final Words

Overall, Windows cloning offers numerous advantages, such as saving time when setting up multiple computers. Nevertheless, you might encounter performance issues because of the factors discussed in the article. However, you can readily address these problems by employing the appropriate solutions. We have listed the most effective methods for dealing with the "Windows 10 slow after clone" issue.

Furthermore, we've introduced you to one of the top disk management tools available to optimize your disk's performance. Partition Master enables you to create, move, extend, merge, or format partitions on your disk with maximum efficiency. Instead of using multiple tools and methods to manage your storage disk, give this all-in-one solution a try for free.

Frequently Asked Questions About Windows 10 Being Slow After Cloning

Although we've provided ample explanation on this subject, there might still be some lingering questions in the minds of users. Therefore, this section is dedicated to addressing those common queries to enhance your understanding.

< strong >1. Does cloning Windows decrease performance?

Cloning Windows itself does not inherently decrease performance. However, problems such as misaligned partitions, outdated drivers, or unnecessary background processes following the cloning process can affect performance.

**2. Why is my laptop still slow after installing the SSD?**

Several factors could contribute to this issue. Common reasons include outdated drivers, insufficient RAM, or excessive software bloating. Furthermore, if the SSD is not properly optimized, its performance boost may not be fully realized.

3. What should you do after cloning Windows 10?

After cloning Windows 10, it is essential to ensure a proper setup and optimization. This involves addressing the following aspects:

• Updating drivers
• Enabling AHCI mode (if applicable)
• Disabling unnecessary startup programs
• Optimizing SSD settings such as TRIM and defragmentation