How to move OS to a different drive

[JanJan]

I have a 2018 Dell G3 3779. Came with Windows 10 installed in preinstalled 120gb ssd. I also bought a 1tb crucial BX500 ssd. Now Windows 11 is available for upgrade but I can't clear 64gb on the original 120gb to install new windows. What's the best way to go about migrating Windows 10 OS to my 1tb ssd and then upgrade to Windows 11?

 

[stinger608]

Image the drive with Macrium Reflect Free:

Macrium Reflect | Free 30-Day Trial

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

www.macrium.com

 

[plastiscɧ]

https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/

you can also click through here. the Samsung software is very easy to use and so are its derivatives. everything is free of charge. also the cloning of operating systems.

 

[JanJan]

Image the drive with Macrium Reflect Free:

Macrium Reflect | Free 30-Day Trial

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

www.macrium.com

you can also click through here. the Samsung software is very easy to use and so are its derivatives. everything is free of charge. also the cloning of operating systems.

thanks guys! so I just want to make sure I get the steps right:
1. Partition the 1tb D drive into 500gb & 500gb
2. Clone the OS into a 500gb partition
3. Then go into BIOS and chose the boot drive as D instead of C
4. Update to windows 11
5. Format C drive

That should just work? is there a recommended program to back up the C drive in case something happen?

 

[Toothless]

View attachment 237406View attachment 237407

https://semiconductor.samsung.com/consumer-storage/support/tools/

you can also click through here. the Samsung software is very easy to use and so are its derivatives. everything is free of charge. also the cloning of operating systems.

I've never seen Samsung support this on drives that isn't theirs. I'm assuming this was changed since OP isn't using Samsung?

 

[OneMoar]

Use reflect to Clone the 128 onto the 1TB
reflect will expand the file system automatically
set the bios to boot from the 1TB
one you have booted from it wipe the old drive and throw it in the bin

Don't split partitions or other non-sense this isn't 1999 that is not recommended anymore

 

[plastiscɧ]

I've never seen Samsung support this on drives that isn't theirs. I'm assuming this was changed since OP isn't using Samsung?

doesn't he? or am I on the wooden way..?!

 

[droid-I]

Clone the 128 onto the 1TB
reflect will expand the file system automatically

I recall Macrium reflect having this feature, not been using it very often, but a while ago
when doing a clone from a smaller disk to a larger, it defaults to making an exact copy without
making the entire space available(or I did not see where to tick this).
The issue being the three partions of windows were in "wrong" sequence for extending the space.
Used AOMEI Partition Assistant after the clone on the new disk to work around this, all space of the new drive merged.

 

[protain]

I have a 2018 Dell G3 3779. Came with Windows 10 installed in preinstalled 120gb ssd. I also bought a 1tb crucial BX500 ssd.

doesn't he? or am I on the wooden way..?!

I don't think his system specs match the info in the original post...

 

[plastiscɧ]

A clone is an exact image of a hard disk.
There are disk clones and sector clones.
I'll hold back from now on, because with the Samsung software we wouldn't have to discuss it, but he would simply use it.
Easy.
But why simple when it can be complicated...?

I don't think his system specs match the info in the original post...

no. there is not just mentioned ONE 1TB drive. a samsung + crucial. maybe he can clarify that first

 

[Toothless]

doesn't he? or am I on the wooden way..?!

View attachment 237651

Look at his first post. Crucial 1TB is new drive.

 

[docnorth]

If your 120gb SSD is Samsung, @plastiscɧ is probably right, Samsung's data migration tool is very easy and should work in your case. Otherwise my suggestion is Aomei, it worked without problems while Macrium reflect and Easeus failed earlier to clone the same disk.

P.S. Don't partition, except if there is a special need for it.

 

[plastiscɧ]

If your 120gb SSD is Samsung, @plastiscɧ is probably right, Samsung's data migration tool is very easy and should work in your case. Otherwise my suggestion is Aomei, it worked without problems while Macrium reflect and Easeus failed earlier to clone the same disk.

P.S. Don't partition, except if there is a special need for it.

Agree 100%.
AOMEI is very comfortable too.

There is only one limitation of the program that should be taken into account:
The normal clone mode is not able to clone the system partitions as the OS needs (100MB - 16 MB - xxxGB - 557MB) exactly to two decimal places! It can only create them odd, but then they will not be recognized and allocated correctly by the system.
I therefore advise a sector to sector clone. However with the consequence that on a 1TB hard disk behind an unpartitioned area develops.
But this can be released afterwards and formatted independently. So it will probably come down to several partitions. One way or another.

(My unallocated part. has got another origin; it is overprovisioning by samsung - do not pay attention)

 

[stinger608]

Use reflect to Clone the 128 onto the 1TB
reflect will expand the file system automatically
set the bios to boot from the 1TB
one you have booted from it wipe the old drive and throw it in the bin

Don't split partitions or other non-sense this isn't 1999 that is not recommended anymore

This^