Replacing Primary Drive and Migrating to Windows 11

nheather · 21 Jun 2025 at 15:27

Hi,

I have two planned tasks

Install an M.2 and clone it from my current SSD to become the primary disk (both Samsung so use the Samsung Data Migration application)
Migrate from Windows 10 to Windows 11

Is there any recommended order that I should do these in

Install M.2 clone Windows 10 to it, then perform migration to Windows 11
Migrate to Windows 11, install M.2, clone Windows 11 to it

I'm thinking it doesn't matter, the end result is the same, just wondering if there is anything that I have missed.

Armageus · 21 Jun 2025 at 17:04

Clone it first then removed the old drive. Then upgrade to Win 11.
Any issues and you have your Win 10 install to revert to.

nheather · 21 Jun 2025 at 17:17

Armageus said:
Clone it first then removed the old drive. Then upgrade to Win 11.
Any issues and you have your Win 10 install to revert to.

That makes good sense, I will do that.

MCFC_ANDY · 27 Jun 2025 at 06:08

was first time few weeks back i cloned a drive to switch to new drive, process is so easy, but must have brought issues over, so ended up with fresh install

nheather · 27 Jun 2025 at 06:34

Hi,

All done, I first used Samsung Magician to clone my boot SSD to the M.2. My BIOS automatically picked up the M.2 as the boot but I disconnected the SSD just to be sure. Booted the M.2 and used it as Windows 10 for a day or so just to be sure it was all good. Then when satisfied, I updated to Windows 11.

Both the cloning and the Win 11 update were very simple, no issues with either.

I still have the originally Win 10 boot SSD disconnected just in case I find I need to revert back, but after a few weeks of using Win 11 and I am content, I will reconnect and format it for some extra storage.