Samsung M.2 SSD Migration Software for Windows [2024 Selection & Guide]

Why You Need to Migrate Your M.2 SSD

M.2 SSD is a next-generation storage device designed to supersede the existing SATA interface, offering faster data transfer speeds with a more versatile physical specification. The M.2 form factor is approximately one-third the size of a 2.5" SSD and significantly smaller than a SATA hard drive, making it ideal for solid-state storage solutions in compact spaces.

The M.2 SSD boasts several advantages over its SATA SSD counterpart, such as faster data transfer speeds, lower power consumption, and a more compact design. Nowadays, many computer motherboards are equipped with an M.2 slot, enabling users to enhance their system's performance by upgrading with an M.2 SSD.

However, when you wish to replace your old SATA SSD with a new M.2 SSD, you might require Samsung M.2 SSD migration software to transfer the operating system and data from the old drive to the new one, should you wish to avoid re-installing the Windows OS and other applications.

✏️ Further Reading: [How to Migrate OS to Samsung M.2 NVMe SSD (Securely Boot)](/disk-copy/clone-resource/how-to-migrate-os-to-samsung-m.2-nvme-ssd.html)

Samsung Data Migration (SDM) vs. Todo Backup Tools

When it comes to choosing an M.2 SSD, Samsung's M.2 SSDs are among the most popular options available on the market. This is due to their impressive read/write speeds, high reliability, and excellent compatibility with various systems.

When you acquire a new Samsung M.2 SSD, you might be wondering about the most efficient method to transfer data from your existing HDD/SSD to the new drive. We will present two approaches for this: utilizing Samsung Data Migration (SDM) or employing tools like Todo Backup.

Samsung Data Migration (SDM) is a software crafted by Samsung, aimed at helping users migrate their data from an old Samsung hard drive to a new Samsung SSD.

However, this software is limited to migrating data from HDD/SSD to Samsung SSD and cloning disks of the same brand only. It lacks a sector-by-sector cloning option, and the target disk must be equal to or larger than the source disk. Additionally, users occasionally report that the cloning process may become stuck.

Tools Todo Backup is an excellent alternative to Samsung Data Migration. It is a reliable and user-friendly backup & restore software and cloning tool that supports cross-brand HDD/SSD copying and cloning. It enables cloning from M.2 to M.2, M.2 to NVMe M.2, NVMe M.2 to M.2, and SSD to M.2 across various SSD brands. Furthermore, it provides a sector-by-sector clone function to ensure an exact replica of the source disk.

Aside from the aforementioned features, Todo Backup also offers the following advantages that make it a worthy choice:

• Support cloning basic/dynamic disks and MBR/GPT disks.
• Cloning has a high success rate with no data loss and no freezing.
• Supports various types of hard disks, including IDE, SATA, SCSI, SSD (Samsung, Kingston, Crucial, SanDisk), USB, etc.
• Backup and restore files, disks, systems, and emails.
• Satisfies diverse disk cloning needs such as cloning OS, upgrading to a larger hard drive, or SSD.
• Allows cloning the hard drive while in use without interruption.
• Create WinPE bootable disk rescue media for emergency disk cloning and system restoration.
• Free upgrades to the latest version and supports Windows 11/10/8/7.

Migrate to a Samsung M.2 SSD Using Samsung Data Migration (SDM)

If you don't mind the limitations of Samsung Data Migration and are willing to accept the risk of data loss, then you can utilize it to perform the Samsung M.2 SSD data migration.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1. Download and install Samsung Data Migration from Samsung's official website.

Step 2. Install the new SSD into the computer you wish to clone the Samsung M.2 SSD to.

Step 3. Launch SDM, and it will automatically detect all the HDDs/SSDs installed on your computer.

Step 4. Firstly, select the source drive on the main interface of SDM. This designates the Samsung M.2 SSD as the source disk. By default, SDM will only select the C drive. If you have multiple volumes on the SSD, you can choose several drives.

Step 5. Select the newly installed SSD as the destination drive.

Step 6. Tap the "Start" button at the bottom of the interface and wait for the cloning process to complete.

Migrate Samsung M.2 SSD Using Todo Backup Tools

Todo Backup Home is a better alternative to SDM for migrating data from Samsung and other M.2 SSDs. Its user-friendly interface enables effortless cloning of HDDs or SSDs.

Here are the steps to use Todo Backup to clone Samsung M.2 SSD: 1. **Download and Install Todo Backup**: Visit the official website of Todo Backup and download the appropriate version for your operating system. Install it on your computer. 2. **Connect Devices**: Connect your Samsung M.2 SSD to your computer using an appropriate adapter or NVMe USB cable. Ensure that it is properly connected and recognized by your computer. 3. **Launch Todo Backup**: Open the installed Todo Backup software on your computer. 4. **Select "Clone" Function**: In the main interface, locate and click on the "Clone" option. This will initiate the cloning process. 5. **Choose Source Disk**: In the "Clone Disk" window, select the Samsung M.2 SSD as the source disk. This is the disk you want to clone from. 6. **Choose Destination Disk**: Click on "Destination" and then select the target disk where you want to clone the data. It could be another M.2 SSD or any other compatible storage device with sufficient space. 7. **Select Clone Options (Optional)**: Todo Backup offers various options like sector-by-sector clone or resize partitions during cloning. Review these options and customize them according to your needs. 8. **Start Cloning**: After selecting the desired options, click on "Start" to begin the cloning process. The software will copy all data from the source disk to the destination disk. 9. **Wait for Completion**: The cloning process may take some time, depending on the size of data and the speed of your devices. Do not interrupt the process or disconnect the drives while it's in progress. 10. **Verify Data Integrity**: Once the cloning is complete, verify the data integrity by booting from the cloned drive and ensuring all files and applications function correctly. 11. **Optional: Replace Original Disk**: If you're cloning for a replacement, safely disconnect the original Samsung M.2 SSD and replace it with the cloned one. Your computer should boot up normally with all your data intact. Remember to always backup important data before performing any disk operations, and ensure your devices are connected securely throughout the process.

Step 1. Launch Todo Backup and click "Tools" in the upper-right corner, where you'll find Clone and other utilities.

Step 2. Select the source disk or partition and the target disk (make sure the target disk has more space than the source disk or partition).

Step 3. The clone will permanently erase all data on the target disk/partition. If you have backed up your data, click "Continue."

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to begin cloning.

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Final Thoughts

This post introduces and compares two Samsung M.2 SSD migration software: Samsung Data Migration and Todo Backup. Select the one that best suits your requirements.

Tools Todo Backup is superior to SDM due to its lack of brand restrictions, capability to clone disks with different file systems, and provision of a sector-by-sector clone option for ensuring an exact replica of the source disk. Furthermore, it is significantly more user-friendly than SDM.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Samsung M.2 SSD Migration Software

1. Does Samsung SSD come with cloning software?

Samsung offers a utility called Samsung Data Migration (SDM) for cloning or updating SSDs within the Samsung brand. To utilize this tool, it's essential that both the source and target disks are Samsung. If they aren't, you might consider using alternatives like Todo Backup for effortless cloning of HDDs or SSDs.

2. Does Samsung Data Migration support M.2 drives?

Yes, SDM (Secure Data Migration) is compatible with M.2 SSDs from Samsung. However, it has a restriction in that it only supports cloning SSDs from the same brand. For instance, you can clone a Samsung 860 EVO to a Samsung 970 EVO. It is not permissible to use SDM to clone a Kingston M.2 SSD to a Samsung M.2 SSD.

3. How do I clone one Samsung SSD to another? To clone one Samsung SSD to another, you can follow these steps: 1. Backup your data: Before starting the cloning process, ensure that you have backed up all important files to an external storage device, just in case anything goes wrong during the cloning. 2. Choose a cloning software: You can use Samsung's Data Migration Software (if it came with your Samsung SSD) or third-party cloning software like Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or tools Todo Backup. 3. Connect both SSDs: Connect both Samsung SSDs to your computer using appropriate SATA or USB-to-SATA adapters or enclosures. Make sure the new SSD is connected as a secondary drive. 4. Install cloning software: If you're using a third-party tool, install it on your computer. 5. Launch the cloning software: - For Samsung Data Migration: Follow the on-screen instructions to launch the software and select the source (your current Samsung SSD) and destination (the new Samsung SSD). - For third-party software: Open the application and choose the clone or migration option. Identify the source and target drives correctly. 6. Start cloning: Initiate the cloning process. The software will copy all data, including the operating system, from the source SSD to the destination SSD. 7. Wait for completion: This process may take some time depending on the size of data being cloned. Be patient and do not interrupt the process. 8. Verify cloned data: Once the cloning is complete, boot your computer from the new SSD to ensure that everything has been cloned successfully. 9. Disconnect old SSD: After verifying, you can safely disconnect the original Samsung SSD if you no longer need it. Remember that cloning a drive doesn't resize partitions, so if the new SSD is larger, you'll need to expand the partition manually or use disk management tools to utilize the extra space.

Cloning a Samsung SSD to another SSD isn't as complicated as it appears. If you opt for using Samsung Data Migration (SDM), follow these steps: Install the software and the new SSD on your computer, select the source (your current Samsung SSD) and target (the new SSD) disks, and then click the Start button to initiate the process. Alternatively, if you prefer using AOMEI Todo Backup, here's what to do: Utilize the Clone function, subsequently select the source disk (your Samsung SSD) and the target disk (the new SSD), and finally, click the Proceed button to commence the cloning operation.