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How to Transfer Windows to New Hard Drive

Transitioning to a solid-state drive (SSD) is ideal if you want a storage drive that will be faster and more energy-efficient. You don't have to start from scratch, either. We'll show you how to move Windows 10 to an SSD so you can have the best of both worlds.

To keep your existing data as is but enjoy the SSD speed, you'll need to move your operating system (and all the data it holds) over to the new drive. Windows 10 doesn't make this simple, but the instructions below make cloning and swapping your Windows 10 install to a new hard drive as easy as possible.

Take note: This guide is for people who are only switching drives. However, this method may work if you're building a new rig or swapping computers, depending on your setup. It likely won't work with any virtualization project, though you can find those services if you're willing to pay for them.

How to move Windows 10 to an SSD

Before copying and moving anything, it's essential to make sure you clean out your files to transition them quickly and painlessly. Thankfully, Windows comes with its proprietary cleanup tool, which you should use before you move on.

Step 1: Search for "disk cleanup" in the Windows search bar and click the respective link that appears.

Once open, see a box with a list of file types, which lets you check the files you want to delete. Here, carefully review the file types, as there are many types of data you don't need (temp files, recycle bin data, etc.). It's always a good idea to double-check the options, just in case there's something you'd like to keep.

Click Clean Up System Files near the bottom of the window. Doing so adds a few other file types to delete, such as Previous Windows Installations – which can be quite sizable, especially if you're part of Windows 10's Windows Insider program. When the Disk Cleanup tool switches to include system file types, it resets any changes you had made to the file type list in step 2, so take care.

Select OK to start the Disk Cleanup tool and sweep the gunk out of your system. Even with several GB of data, the process shouldn't take too long.

Step 2: Windows 10 doesn't offer a simple cloning method and swaps your OS to a new hard drive. The good news is that there are plenty of apps that let you do just that. These are usually backup programs that include significant cloning functions specifically designed to move Windows 10 from an old hard drive to an SSD (or similar migrations). There are quite a few to choose from, but below are several free options that we recommend.

EaseUS Todo Backup Free: The long name hides a well-maintained backup tool, one that boasts an interface that's friendly to both Windows 10 power users and newcomers.

EaseUS Partition Master Professional: A more professional tool with better data management capabilities, Partition Master is for those who know what they're doing and want more control over the migration process. Make sure you opt for the free trial version, however, which should be enough to complete your move.

AOMEI Backupper Standard: A long-term backup solution with a lively interface. This app is an excellent pick if you like the idea of using backup and cloning tools for future projects but don't have any current solution.

Once you've got your backup tool downloaded, this is a great time to back up your data, just in case something goes wrong. Open up your tool and look at the main menu. All the tools above have a sidebar and top menu with Backup or Backup Tool options. Choose the appropriate option — again, the wording may vary — and select where you'd like to back up your files. Then, take the time to complete the process before moving on to the migration procedure.

We probably don't have to say this, but you shouldn't back up your data onto the hard drive you're migrating from or the SSD you're migrating to. Use a separate external hard drive or specify a cloud backup service.

Step 3: Power down your PC and connect your new hard drive — or your old hard drive, depending on how you're migrating — to your computer. If it's a SATA SSD, you'll need to plug it in to the motherboard using a SATA cable and the power supply with the respective SATA power connector. If you're installing an NVMe or M.2 drive, you'll need to find the respective slot on your motherboard and install it there. Refer to your motherboard or system manual for greater tips on doing that for your particular system.

Power your PC back up again, and confirm the drive has been detected. When it is, open your chosen backup application. In the main menu, look for the option that says Migrate OS to SSD/HDD, Clone, or Migrate. That's the one you want.

A new window should open, and the program will detect the drives connected to your computer and ask for a destination drive. Make sure you choose your new SSD or another drive as the destination, and ensure the destination drive has enough room. This window should also provide useful information about the data in each drive — the example below is from EaseUS Partition Master.

Step 4: These backup tools will typically give you options to customize partitions. You can delete partitions on the destination drive if previously used or configured to work with another device. If you're unsure, it's a good idea to delete the partitions to be on the safe side.

You'll also have an option to choose partition sizes when they migrate over. You can decide to make a copy without resizing partitions, but this is usually a poor choice that doesn't take advantage of the tool. Instead, select the option to fit and optimize partitions to the new drive. Optimize, Resize, and similar commands are what you want to use.

The program's cloning wizard will now take over. Look at your drives and start the migration process. Confirm that you want to proceed, and the software will let you know when it's finished. The cloning process can take some time, but if you run into problems, you might want to double-check that your SATA and power cables are connected and that the older hard drives have plenty of room to "breathe" so they don't overheat.

Once the migration is complete, reboot your computer and check to see if everything works. Your tool should prompt you to do so, or you can choose to restart your PC after the migration process is complete automatically. Then, you can either delete the backup tool or keep it around for more data management in the future.

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How to Transfer Windows to New Hard Drive

Source: https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-move-windows-10-to-an-ssd/