How To - Computer Maintenance
Move your Operating System to a SSD OR HHD
Move your Operating System to a SSD OR HHD by following the steps below:
Prepare for migration.
Check if your system can see the new added SSD or HDD.
If your New SSD it is not displayed under Windows please see here
It is recommend that you migrate your system to an empty SSD (HDD) that does not contain partitions (the disk space is unallocated).
The disk size OR partition(s) size you want to backup has to be equal or smaller than your NEW SSD (HD) drive where you want to backup (move your operating system).
If the disk size or the partition(s) size you want to move is bigger than the targeted disk you will have to shrink the partition(s) you want to move to fit the new disk.
Resize the Partition(s) you want to move to fit the new disk.
If more than one partition, you will have to Add the size of all partitions and check if will fit to the new disk.
There are a lot of options you can use to Clone, Migrate, Backup a Disk, Partition, Operating System, Data.
Here are three of them: (listed on alphabetical order)
• Acronis True Image
• EaseUS Partition Master
• MiniTool Partition Wizard
In this post we will present how to clone your HDD, SSD or Move your Operating system using Acronis True Image
If you have at least ONE Western Digital (WD) Hard Drive use the FREE version of Acronis True Image. Download the software from Western Digital website ( https://support.wdc.com/downloads.aspx?p=119&lang=en )
NONE Western Digital Hard Drive – you can go to Acronis website ( https://www.acronis.com/en-us/personal/computer-backup/ ) and download Acronis True Image
Double-click on the downloaded file
Follow the instructions (Accept the agreement)
After installation open the Acronis True Image program.
To Clone your HDD, SSD or Move your OS it is better if you will use the RESTORE (Backup) and RECOVERY media option instead of Clone Disk option. This method provides more flexibility and control over migration. Also will be better if you clone the disk FROM OUTSIDE of WINDOWS (before booting to windows). Below we will give you all the needed steps.
Create a Rescue Media Bilder
• Select Acronis bootable rescue media
• You can create bootable CD, DVD, USB flash drive or build an .iso image of a bootable disc.
• Select your USB flash drive ( at least 1 Gb in size)
• Click on Proceed (Green button on Bottom right corner of Rescue Media Builder window)
• Wait for the “Bootable media has been created successfully” message.
• Click Close
Backup you Disk or Partition
• Shot down you computer and when reboot ENTER to BIOS settings. (please see your computer specification for how to enter to BIOS )
• – Navigate to BOOT options and BE SURE that the EXTERNAL DRIVE (USB DRIVE) is is the FIRST option to boot.
– Go to Security Options and Disable SECURE BOOT.
– Press F10 and select YES.
• The computer will boot from your USB flash drive and open the Acronis
• Type 1 and wait for Acronis True Image to load (DO NOT PRESS ANY KEYBOARD)
• Click on the Backup Tab
• What to back up.
Back up your entire system drive. If you have more than 1 partition you can select the ones you want to backup on What to backup tab OR select ALL DISK if you want to backup an entire disk.
NOTE: The disk size OR partition(s) size you want to backup has to be equal or smaller than your NEW SSD (HDD) drive where you want to backup OR move your operating system. See Prepare for migration at the beginning of this post.
Click on Archive location tab
Select Create new backup archive.
Click on Backup location.
NOTE: Do not backup on your existing HDD (SSD) OR on the NEW HDD (SSD). Backup on another drive – External or internal).
• Click to Proceed (Next)
• SELECT CHECKBOX – Shut down the computer after archive backup created.
Add the Backup to your new HDD (SSD)
• After computers shot down remove your OLD system hard disk.
• Mount the new HDD (SSD) into the slot where the OLD hard disk was.
• Boot again from your Acronis rescue media.
• Type 1 and wait for Acronis True Image to load (DO NOT PRESS ANY KEYBOARD)
• Select Recovery tab (1)
• Select Brose for backup… and Locate your archive. (2)
• Click Disk Recovery (3) – Proceed
• CLICK CHECKBOX – Shut down the computer.
Using the OLD HDD or SSD to store data on your computer
If you Want to use the OLD HDD (SSD) and it has an OS installed, you need to clean up first the old OS partition.
WARNING: THIS WILL DELETE ALL PARTITIONS FROM THE OLD HD (SSD).
• ADD the OLD HDD (SSD) to a port of your computer.
• Boot again from your Acronis rescue media.
• Type 1 and wait for Acronis True Image to load (DO NOT PRESS ANY KEYBOARD)
• Click Tools & Utilities and Click on Add new Disk (right side menu).
• Select the OLD HDD (SSD) and Proceed.
• Press Power button to shut down the computer.
• Remove Acrinis Bootable media.
Boot the system from the NEW added HDD (SSD)
• Start the computer. The Computer will start from the NEW HDD (SSD).
• Restart the computer and ENTER to BIOS settings. (please see your computer specification for how to enter to BIOS )
– Go to Security Options and Enable SECURE BOOT.
– Press F10 and select YES.
All done!
Please navigate to Moved By Web – How TO – section to find some more helpful and worth reading articles.