If you're planning to replace your HDD/SSD with a solid-state drive, this guide will assist you in the process. It offers straightforward instructions on how to upgrade your desktop or laptop's HDD to a SanDisk SSD. For more detailed information, consult the instructions provided with your SSD.

Preparations - What You Need Before Starting SanDisk Cloning

To ensure a successful installation of your SSD, it's essential to prepare beforehand. Here's what you'll need: 1. Solid State Drive (SSD): Choose the appropriate SSD model compatible with your system. 2. Screwdriver: A small Phillips head screwdriver will be necessary for securing the SSD in place. 3. Computer or Laptop: The device where you'll be installing the SSD. 4. SATA Cables: These cables connect the SSD to the motherboard for data transfer. 5. Power Cable: If applicable, an SATA power cable to supply power to the SSD. 6. Optical Disk Drive (ODD) Bay or Hard Drive Caddy (optional): If you're replacing a DVD drive or adding an additional drive, you might need this. 7. Mounting Brackets (if necessary): Some SSDs may require brackets to fit into your computer case. 8. Operating System (OS) Installation Media: If you're cloning your existing OS or reinstalling, have the installation disc or USB drive ready. 9. Cloning Software (optional): Tools like Clonezilla or Acronis True Image can help copy your existing data to the new SSD. 10. Instruction Manual: For specific guidance on your computer or SSD model. Once you have all these items, you can proceed with the installation process.

Required Hardware

  1. 1. SATA data cable
  2. 2. 3.5-inch mounting adapter and screws
  3. 3. Phillips screwdriver

SanDisk SSD cloning preparations

SanDisk Cloning Software Required

Disk Copy, the esteemed disk and partition cloning utility, has now been recognized as the top choice for SanDisk SSD cloning software as well as SanDisk SSD data migration software. It is consistently endorsed by both regular users and expert reviewers from reputable review platforms such as CNET, PCWorld, and TopTenReviews...

The widely used SanDisk SSD products, such as SanDisk Extreme Pro SSD (240GB-960GB), SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD (480GB-1.92TB), SanDisk Ultra II SSD (120GB-960GB), SanDisk Ultra II mSATA SSD (128GB-512GB), SanDisk Extreme 510 Portable SSD (480GB), and SanDisk Extreme 500 Portable SSD (120GB-480GB), can all utilize the software freely, as the cloning tool supports hard drive capacities up to 16TB.

1 - Connect Your SanDisk SSD to Your Computer

The very first thing you need to do is connect your SanDisk SSD to your computer to clone your data.

Step 1. Use the screwdriver to take off the computer case.

Step 2. Connect the SanDisk SSD to your computer using the SATA cable.

Connect your SanDisk SSD to your computer connect your SanDisk SSD to your computer

Step 3. Restart your computer and open "Disk Management". Right-click on the new disk and select "Initialize Disk".

You need to initialize your SSD with the same partition style as your current system disk, either MBR or GPT. If your SSD is not new, you can convert it to GPT or MBR without losing data.

2 - How to Clone HDD/SSD to SanDisk SSD

Next, you'll need to clone your existing HDD (either data or OS) to your new SanDisk SSD. The process is the same for both desktop and laptop computers and generally involves four steps:

    1. Launch the cloning application 2. Follow the steps to initiate the cloning process 3. Select the "source" drive/disk (your computer's internal drive) 4. Choose your "destination" drive (Your SSD)

We will be using the tool Disk Copy to clone an HDD to a SanDisk SSD. Please follow this step-by-step guide:

Prior Notice:

    • The "Sector by sector copy" option requires the destination disk to have a size that is equal to or larger than the source disk. If you want to clone a larger hard disk to a smaller one, do not check this feature. • All data on the destination disk will be completely erased. Please exercise caution.

Step 1. To begin copying/ cloning an entire disk to another, select this disk as the source disk under "Disk Mode" and click "Next".

select the source disk and click next Select the source disk and click "Next".

Step 2. Select the other disk as the destination disk.

select the destination disk

Step 3. Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the destination disk by selecting "Autofit the disk", "Copy as the source", or "Edit disk layout".

Click OK when a warning message appears
  • "Autofit the disk" makes default adjustments to the destination disk layout to optimize its performance.
  • "Copy as the source" maintains the same layout on the destination disk without any changes.
  • "Edit disk layout" enables you to manually adjust/resize partitions on the destination disk according to your preference.

Tick the "Check the option if the target is SSD" option to optimize your SSD's performance.

A message will now appear, cautioning you that data will be erased. Please affirm this warning by clicking "OK" and subsequently click "Next."

Check the disk layout

Step 4. Click "Proceed" to officially execute the task.

click proceed to officially start

3 - How to Uninstall and Replace the HDD with a SanDisk SSD

After cloning your HDD to a SanDisk SSD, you need to replace your old drive with the SSD. Here's how to install the SSD on a desktop computer: 1. **Shut Down Your Computer**: Make sure your desktop is completely turned off and disconnected from power. 2. **Access the Internal Components**: Unscrew and open the computer case to access the internal components. Be careful not to touch any circuitry directly to avoid static electricity damage. 3. **Locate the Drive Bay**: Identify the drive bay where your current HDD is installed. Desktops typically have multiple bays for hard drives or SSDs. 4. **Remove the Old HDD**: Carefully disconnect any cables connected to the HDD and slide it out of its bay or loosen screws holding it in place. 5. **Prepare the SSD**: If necessary, attach any included brackets or adapters to the SSD to fit it into the desktop's drive bay. 6. **Install the SSD**: Slide the SanDisk SSD into the empty bay or secure it with screws, ensuring it fits snugly and is properly aligned. 7. **Connect the Cables**: Attach the SATA data cable and power cable to the SSD. Make sure the connections are firm and seated correctly. 8. **Close the Case**: Once all connections are secure, close the computer case and screw it back into place. 9. **Power On and Boot**: Plug in your computer and turn it on. The BIOS should automatically detect the new SSD. If not, enter BIOS settings and set the SSD as the first boot device. 10. **Verify Cloned Data**: After booting up, check if your system and files are accessible and functioning normally. This confirms that the cloning process was successful. Now your desktop is ready to enjoy the faster performance of the SanDisk SSD.

Tip
If your computer has a 2.5-inch drive bay, you won't need to install the 3.5-inch mounting adapter.

Step 1. Turn off your computer and unplug the power cable.

Step 2. Open the case of your desktop computer.

Step 3. Find your current HDD. Unplug the SATA data cable and SATA power cable from your existing HDD, then remove the drive from its bay.

Step 4. In most desktop computers, before installing your SSD, first slip it into the 3.5-inch mounting adapter.

Step 5. Install your SanDisk SSD into your computer's drive bay and connect the SATA data cable and SATA power cable.

Then, you can start your computer. If you've migrated Windows 10 to the SSD, boot from the SSD when you start your computer.

related articles

How to Migrate Windows 10 from HDD to SSD?

Cloning Windows 10 to SSD involves creating an exact replica of the source drive's contents and disk layout. Follow these straightforward steps to migrate your operating system to an SSD.

migrate Windows 10 to SSD

"Useful Guidelines for Utilizing SanDisk Clone Software"

    1. To successfully clone your SanDisk SSD and migrate your Windows OS, please read these tips carefully. Your SanDisk SSD can serve as either the source disk or destination disk. 2. If the original hard disk contains the system partition, please check the "Shut down the computer when the operation is complete" option. The software will automatically shut down your computer once the cloning is finished. 3. If the source disk contains a boot partition, remove either the source or destination disk from the computer to ensure normal booting. 4. For booting from the destination disk, it's recommended to replace the source disk with the destination disk. 5. If the computer fails to boot from the cloned destination disk, try cloning the source disk to another disk with the same HDD interface. 6. If you clone a hidden partition, the cloned partition will become unhidden. 7. A larger hard drive can be cloned to a smaller one, provided the destination hard drive has a capacity equal to or greater than the used space on the original hard drive.

Conclusion

SanDisk SSD Disk Copy is a powerful cloning utility specifically designed for SanDisk solid-state drives. It is compatible with all Windows editions, including Windows 7, 8, 8.1, and 10. This tool not only enables you to clone your SSD but also allows you to back up your files or entire system to desired locations.