Cloning from big HDD to small SSD

[Steyr69]

I got this laptop with 320GB HDD (Windows 10 Home). Plan to clone to 120GB SSD.
Software plan to use in Macrium Reflect 8.

1. I plan to unplug the 320GB HDD (source disk) and fit to my desktop PC as a slave. Then connect the 120GB SSD (destination disk) via USB cable. Can this setup be used for the cloning?

2. Attached below is my 320GB disk management. I guess I have to do some shrink volume?

 

[86technie]

Do a clean install of Windows than copy files and any important data inside the old hard disk to the SSD.
Any changes to the partition like shrinking etc. Can cause data lost.
So do the long route which is clean of Windows than the fast and easy route which is cloning.

 

[KleoZy]

totally agree, I long time never do clone.. since norton ghost era .. lol now install windows is so fast.. no need clone.. clone = waste of time.. refersh os and reinstall apps compared to clone. i rather refresh and reinstall apps. also data transer is so much faster.

 

[Steyr69]

Ok......but the laptop I do not have the Product Key. The laptop used to be Windows 8 when I bought from the shop. But only last year I upgraded to Win 10 Home via network.
The copy of Win 10 is activated.

 

[Mach3.2]

Ok......but the laptop I do not have the Product Key. The laptop used to be Windows 8 when I bought from the shop. But only last year I upgraded to Win 10 Home via network.
The copy of Win 10 is activated.

Activation is not tied to the boot media, just clean install and it should activate normally.

 

[Steyr69]

Ok....Thanks guys! I will clean install then. Actually the last cloning I did on another PC was a failure.
In the end, need to reinstall Win 10 also. Lol.

 

[86technie]

Ok....Thanks guys! I will clean install then. Actually the last cloning I did on another PC was a failure.
In the end, need to reinstall Win 10 also. Lol.

Why do clean install for SSD is because certain partitions like the EFI partition which is essential for Windows to boot cannot be clone over.
Worse OEM laptops/desktop PC there are multiple partitions example recovery partition also cannot be copied over.

For OEM laptop/desktop, the correct way to restore back to factory image have to download the Windows USB recovery tool. For those never try before I will not advice to do that cuz it takes very long to restore back
the laptop/desktop as well as junks and the Windows version can be out of date.

Clean install of Windows will ensure the EFI partition is created so the Windows can boot.

 

[Steyr69]

Hi Guys,

Found some time to put in the SSD and install Win 10.
I choose to install Win 10 Pro N.
Everything goes smoothly.
Laptop boots up, but unfortunately, upon connecting to internet,
"Windows reported that no product key was found on your device. Error code : 0xC004F213."

Windows is not activated.

 

[Steyr69]

I googled and it seemed I should have install Win 10 Home instead of Win 10 Pro.
Maybe the original product key was only intended for Win 10 Home.

When I got the laptop, it was pre-installed with Win 8. Only last year, I upgrade to Win 10 via online.
It automatically install Win 10 Home with no option for me to choose.
It was activated with digital license after the upgrade.

 

[86technie]

Hi Guys,

Found some time to put in the SSD and install Win 10.
I choose to install Win 10 Pro N.
Everything goes smoothly.
Laptop boots up, but unfortunately, upon connecting to internet,
"Windows reported that no product key was found on your device. Error code : 0xC004F213."

Windows is not activated.

Windows 10 Pro N?

https://www.easeus.com/knowledge-ce...What Is Windows 10 Pro N,, Teams, Video, etc.
Think you selected the wrong version, should install home.
FYI some think install Windows 10 pro means the PC is pro which is not correct.
For home use, Win 10 Home is more than enough unless you need to join domain,
Bitlocker etc. function than pro.

Think you have to install again select Win 10 home this time see how it goes.
Unless the key used to activate Windows is invalid, try that first if not
need to go the long route to get the key properly authenticated.

 

[Steyr69]

Think you selected the wrong version, should install home.
FYI some think install Windows 10 pro means the PC is pro which is not correct.
For home use, Win 10 Home is more than enough unless you need to join domain,
Bitlocker etc. function than pro.

No, I specially selected Pro version.
During the XP days, my friend advise me to opt for Pro instead of Home.
As in his own words " XP Home sucks!"

Since then I always go for Pro version for future Windows version.
My currrent desktop PC is using Pro N.

Anyway, I do another install and I make sure to delete all existing partitions during the setup.
So everything is fresh.
Win 10 Home N was available and I selected it.
Installation was a breeze again and within less than 20 mins, I got Win 10 Home running.
Upon connecting to internet, it automatically got activated!

All is good!

 

[86technie]

No, I specially selected Pro version.
During the XP days, my friend advise me to opt for Pro instead of Home.
As in his own words " XP Home sucks!"

Since then I always go for Pro version for future Windows version.
My currrent desktop PC is using Pro N.

Anyway, I do another install and I make sure to delete all existing partitions during the setup.
So everything is fresh.
Win 10 Home N was available and I selected it.
Installation was a breeze again and within less than 20 mins, I got Win 10 Home running.
Upon connecting to internet, it automatically got activated!

All is good!

As expected, some thought install Win pro means the PC pro.
Anyway as suspected the activation key was for Home only so for pro will not
get activated.