What You Need Before Moving Windows To SSD
It is important that you tidy up all the files and data on your HDD before you move all over to your new SSD. Most of the time your HDD capacity will be much larger than your SSD since HDD price is much cheaper than SSD.
We will suggest that you delete those unwanted files and data you no longer need from your HDD. This will save you a lot of storage space.
Do a virus scan on your HDD to remove potential virus infection to your new SSD when moving those files/data over. It also helps to prevent malware from attacking your computer.
You may want to backup all your essential information on the HDD to an external storage device. It can be a USB drive or HDD or another SSD.
If your computer is a desktop, you should have an extra drive bay within your computer to put in the new SSD. For a laptop computer, you need a USB-to-SATA cable to connect the SSD to the USB port.
In brief, here is the tool/action you need before connecting to your SSD:
- a USB-to-SATA cable
- delete/remove unwanted files/data
- scan for any virus
- backup the data
Installing a new SSD at your computer
Depending on the type of SSD you want to install on your computer, you will need to know what are the steps to do the job. Besides, desktop and laptop will need a different skill set to put in the SSD.
We have another article on this website, showing you How To Install SSD on your computer. Go over now and have a read. You will gain a lot more knowledge on SSD.
There are different types of SSDs in the market. You should choose the most appropriate one to match your computer capabilities. Feel free to check it out on our site so you won’t miss out on any of it.
Using Suitable Software To Move Windows OS
We have shortlisted 6 methods you can consider moving your Windows Operating System. Each program has its own pro and con you may want to take note of. Any one of them can perform the moving function and you are free to decide the program to meet your needs.
Here is a summary of the List of Methods:
- EaseUS Todo Backup
- EaseUS Partition Master
- AOMEI Backupper
- MiniTool Partition Wizard
- Macrium Reflect
- Laplink PCMover
Method 1. Using EaseUS Todo Backup
In 2004, EaseUS established in China as data recovery and data security company. There are many powerful tools the company has developed since the establishment. Below is a list of program you can explore:
Step 1. Install “EaseUS Todo Backup Home” version on your computer
We will use the tool under the Backup & Restore Category called “Todo Backup Home” for this exercise. This program allows us to move the Windows System to our new SSD.
There is a Free version but it has very limited features you can use. For our application to move the Windows OS to the SSD, we will need to use the paid Home version. As you see from the screenshot below, the Clone System feature is only available for the Home version. You can download the trial version to perform this action.
Step 2. Select “Clone” from the left menu
Once you launched the EaseUS Todo Backup Home program, click “Clone” at the left menu. It will bring you to the below screen. Select your source (which is your HDD) and check all the 3 partitions. Next, select your target (which is the new SSD) to move your Windows over.
Step 3. Optimize the SSD
At the bottom of the screen, select the button with “Advanced Options” and tick the box with “Optimize for SSD”. Follow the screen instruction to move all the files/data from HDD to SSD.
Step 4. Finished moving of Windows to SSD
The whole process of moving the Windows and files/data from the HDD to SSD will take some time. The larger the file size, the longer time it will take.
When completed, click the “Finished” button and switch off your computer. If you use the USB-to-SATA cable to connect the SSD, disconnect it from the USB port. Next, install the SSD inside your computer.
Give yourself a clap and celebrate your achievement. Now is time to re-boot your computer from the SSD.
Method 2. Using EaseUS Partition Master
This Professional Version allows you to customize how and what you want to move over from the HDD to SSD. You have full control over the migration process.
It has a wizard to guide you in transferring your existing system from the HDD to SSD. As you see from the below screenshot, there is a feature for the Professional version to clone HDD to SSD. This is a paid version but the value you get from the tool is worth the money.
Follow the onscreen instruction and perform the cloning process. This will move all your Windows system and data over to SSD. Comments by other users have been good and easy to manage. If you have the budget, we encourage you to give it a try.
Method 3. Using AOMEI Backupper
AOMEI founded in China in the year of 2010. The company aims to provide insurance to those data on the computer. Its users are everywhere in the world covering over 180 countries and regions.
We recommend AOMEI Backupper Standard Version to clone the data from HDD to SSD. It is free with basic functions you can use for simple tasks.
The installation process is very easy to follow. Click the “Download Now” button and the program will download on your local drive. A message “Installation Successful” will appear on your screen.
Select the “Clone” option from the left menu and click “Disk Clone” to clone your HDD to the SSD. Choose the Source Disk you want (which is your HDD) and click “Next”. The screen will ask you where is the Destination Disk you prefer. Select the new SSD and the cloning process will begin.
It is important that the data on your HDD is able to fit all onto your new SSD. Delete unwanted files/data before cloning your drive.
Once the cloning completed, close the program and remove the HDD if yours is a desktop computer.
Method 4. Using MiniTool Partition Wizard
In 2009, MiniTool Solution developed Partition Wizard as a free disk partition software. Since then there are over millions of users using it to format, re-partition, or cloning the disk.
The program is reliable and safe, with a lot of useful tools for the Pro version allowing you to manage your disks.
To migrate the Windows from HDD to SDD, following the steps below:
Step 1. Launch MiniTool Partition Wizard.
Step 2. Click “Migrate OS to SSD Wizard” (see below screenshot).
Step 3. Tick Option B -> “I would like to move my operating system to another hard disk. And keep the original hard disk on my computer…..
Step 4. Select the target disk to transfer Windows to it and click “Next”.
Step 5. Select a copy option and click “Next”.
Step 6. Read the onscreen boot note and click “Finish”.
Step 7. Click the “Apply” button at the left bottom to start the process and tap “Yes” to proceed with the migration.
Method 5. Using Macrium Reflect
In 2006, Paramount Software UK Ltd developed Macrium Reflect as a cloning software. Since then, this software has flourished among the IT community. We will be using the Free Version Reflect 7 for the cloning process.
Visit Macrium Home Page and download the Reflect 7 Free version on your computer. And follow the onscreen step-by-step instruction to launch the program. Click on “Clone this disk” at the bottom of the screen to start the cloning process.
Select SSD as the disk you wish to clone to and follow all the prompts on the screen. The time it takes to complete your cloning depends on the file size of your HDD to move over to the new SSD. It may take half an hour to 2 hours, varying by the size of HDD and SSD you have put in place.
Remember to remove the cable connected to the HDD and set the new SSD as the new boot drive. Check the BIOS on the motherboard and complete all the settings.
Method 6. Using Laplink PCMover
Laplink Software Inc started in 1983 as a company in the USA. It provides services transferring data from one computer to another.
Big companies like Microsoft, Intel, and all the major OEMs all use Laplink products. It has 95% of the market share in the migration software market in the USA. It is the best-selling migration software in the world.
In this article, we would like to recommend their key product – PCMover. There are various versions of PCMover from Laplink. Each has its own features and functions:
The Professional version is the best and broadest among all the tools. We recommend you use it.
Step 1. Download Laplink PCMover on both your HDD and SSD
Step 2. Launched the program on both drives
Step 3. Decide the connection method between the HDD and SSD. The default by Laplink is Wi-Fi.
Step 4. Once you connect the two drives, click “Analyze PC” on the main menu of PCMover. Follow all the prompts to complete the transfer process.
Things To Note After Moving Windows To SSD
Remember to set your SSD as the boot drive so Windows can start to boot up from there once you switch on your computer. Ensure you turn on the TRIM function and off the defragmentation feature. This will allow the SSD to run more.
Conclusion
Any of the above methods should allow you to move your Windows from the HDD to SSD. The paid version has more features and functions which the free version does not have. Go for it if you have the budget.
The health of your SSD is important so you are aware of your computer performance. We have written an article which you may want to have a read to know the way to check your SSD health.
