HELP: On migrating / Clone SSD.

[LIN_JOEL]

Hi Guys,

I need help on migration my OS and data.

Currently I’m using laptop and change my Nvme ssd from to Toshiba XG5 to Samsung 970 Pro.

I bought a Nvme to USB 3.0 / Type C enclosure but it detected as USB.
So the Samsung Magician software could not detect the 970 pro and unable to install driver as well.

So I bought the Easeup Todo software.
I’m able to clone everything to the 970Pro except the files size in 970 Pro is slightly bigger than XG5.

After all done, I change the laptop ssd to 970 Pro and everything works except when I try to restore to factory setting by using Recovery; remove everything.
It prompt “could not find the recovery environment “
Insert your windows installation or recovery media, and restart your PC with the media.

The original XG5 doesn’t not have this issue and able to perform this normally.

Please advise is there anything I missed out during cloning?

 

[xonix]

Recovery partition tend to not work well if partition size is altered/changed during cloning process.

I would not bother about the recovery and just do a fresh installation instead. Less manufacturer bloatware.

 

[NSFnewbie]

I used easeus disk copy when I migrated from my harddisk to SSD for my OS. Not free though, but you can 'try' from other sources

 

[LIN_JOEL]

Recovery partition tend to not work well if partition size is altered/changed during cloning process.

I would not bother about the recovery and just do a fresh installation instead. Less manufacturer bloatware.

Mine I think bloatware not much, Using Huawei Matebook X Pro.
I don't dare to do clean install as I'm afraid I got issue getting back the drivers and I don't have the windows key.

I used easeus disk copy when I migrated from my harddisk to SSD for my OS. Not free though, but you can 'try' from other sources

Erm...any other recommendation beside Norton Ghost and Clonezilla.

 

[xonix]

Before you do any clean installation, always go check if drivers are provided by manufacturers. In any case, most devices can be installed using oem drivers.

Secondly, cd key for modern pc are embedded in the uefi. Windows installer will read from uefi during the installation process.

 

[kracie17]

Mine I think bloatware not much, Using Huawei Matebook X Pro.
I don't dare to do clean install as I'm afraid I got issue getting back the drivers and I don't have the windows key.


Erm...any other recommendation beside Norton Ghost and Clonezilla.

For windows key, as long as yours is windows 10 and activated, you will have no problem reformatting it and activating it. As for drivers, you may search on their website or sometimes windows has the generic drivers.

For drivers, if you are worried, you can always backup your drivers via a 3rd party tool and reinstall on a separate drive.. once its stable, you can clone everything over.

 

[Ark Law]

... I don't have the windows key.

Erm...any other recommendation beside Norton Ghost and Clonezilla.

Use produkey to retrieve your Windows key. Use Macrium Reflect to clone (and alter partition size to fit even if your new drive is smaller than old drive).

Just to chime in on cloning software. I tried using clonezilla to clone an existing 256GB ssd to a 250GB ssd. But clonezilla won't allow cloning to a smaller drive capacity, even with -icds option. Would have to manually adjust the OS partition size in order to allow that. Acronis requires paid version for cloning, so ended up with AOMEI Backupper and Macrium Reflect.

The former's free version allows disk cloning but locks OS drive cloning to paid version. Macrium allows both for free version. Initially would throw insufficient space, but it conveniently allows manual partition size mapping. Simple tweak of OS partition from 228 to 223GB.

So Macrium would be my go-to for now. Thanks all for sharing about Samsung Magician failing to clone over recovery/OEM partition. Learnt some important stuff today

 

[LIN_JOEL]

Hi Guys,
Thanks for all the valuable inputs.
I'll try clean install later tonight