Questions / advice needed re: cloning HDD to new SSD

uk_unbeliever · 5 Aug 2016 at 14:45

I'm planning to swap out the HDD for an SSD in my HP DM1 notebook, I've read a few guides about cloning but still a bit confused about what order to do things

my notebook does not have a DVD drive, and I'd also need to know what cables to buy if needing to plug the SSD into a usb port. For reference, I have a desktop PC if it is easier to take my current notebook HDD and the new SSD and do the cloning using my PC. I really just want to get it all done with minimal steps and minimal chance to mess up at the lowest cost! thanks in advance for advice

Boogieman_WD · 5 Aug 2016 at 15:45

Hey there.

Basically you could give it a try with this tutorial. It has everything explained from start to end: http://lifehacker.com/5837543/how-to-migrate-to-a-solid-state-drive-without-reinstalling-windows.

Note that you can use whatever software you like, as most manufacturers offer their own cloning software. I've even heard of some which send the SSD with a SATA to USB cable so that you can clone the drive over to the SSD without having to look for a different computer or buy the aforementioned cable. If you don't have it, just look for a SATA to USB adapter, or external enclosure to connect the SSD.

Your other suggestion is also viable - the one with connecting both drives to the PC so that you can clone them. Just make sure that you don't mix-up the source and destination drives.

Hope that helps. Please let me know how it goes.
Boogieman_WD

welshdragon · 5 Aug 2016 at 16:47

The way I do it is that I place the new ssd into a usb caddy and connect it to the laptop. I then run Macrium reflect (free) and let it do it's thing. Power down the laptop and then swap the drives out. Never had a problem doing it this way.

uk_unbeliever · 5 Aug 2016 at 18:19

Thanks guys,
In terms of connecting the new SSD to the notebook, or connecting the new SSD or the existing notebook HDD to my PC, I could just use one of these SATA to USB cables? https://www.overclockers.co.uk/akas...-for-2.5-inch-sata-hdd-and-ssd-cb-085-ak.html

Is there anything I need to think about before doing this? Will windows 10 recognize the new SSD once its done and auto update any relevant drivers?

Is this likely to cause windows 10 to get annoyed and have to go through re-authentication? I had previously upgraded from windows 7 so don't know if that will make a difference?

KIA · 5 Aug 2016 at 20:28

uk_unbeliever said:
I could just use one of these SATA to USB cables? https://www.overclockers.co.uk/akas...-for-2.5-inch-sata-hdd-and-ssd-cb-085-ak.html

Yes.

uk_unbeliever said:
Will windows 10 recognize the new SSD once its done?

Yes.

uk_unbeliever said:
Is this likely to cause windows 10 to get annoyed and have to go through re-authentication? I had previously upgraded from windows 7 so don't know if that will make a difference?

No.

uk_unbeliever · 6 Aug 2016 at 06:51

Excellent, thanks for the help guys... it sounds like it should be pretty straight forward

uk_unbeliever · 2 Sep 2016 at 18:57

A quick update: I've succeeded in cloning the hdd to ssd but thought it worth mentioning the easy and annoying bits as it was not as straight forward as i hoped:

For reference i bought a samsung evo 750 250gig ssd replacing a 350gig hitachi mechanical drive in my laptop.

First problem was the laptop would recognise the ssd when using the sata to usb cable. Having now researched this more i'm assuming the usb port idoes not put out enough juice to power it. So a straight clone in situ was not possible.

Ditched that idea and hooked both drives to my pc. Used the image sortware noted in post above and this was pretty straightforward. Took an hour and a half

Next problem was the laptop would not recognise that a bootable disc was installed. Bios recognised the ssd i know as i was able to run the inbuilt disc checker

Made a windows 10 bootable by usb repairer and booted from this and hey presto that fixed everything and now its all working fine. No windows 10 authentication issues.... as yet.

Short version- definatley not a plug in and click job, hampered by no dvd drive in my notebook, but overall not a mega headache

Performance improvement is reasonable but i think the e450 apu was prob as big a bottleneck as the hdd

Worth doing as i have a 250gig ssd i can use when i do upgrade the notebook