2024 Comprehensive Guide: How to Boot from SSD After Cloning

If your Samsung cloned SSD ain't booting up after you've moved your Windows operating system to it using a reliable disk cloning software, don't sweat it. We've gotcha covered on this page with a complete guide on why the cloned SSD won't boot and how to fix it so it's bootable after the clone process.

Please follow this comprehensive guide to have your computer boot from the new SSD right now:

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Next, we'll show you how to boot your computer from the SSD after cloning.

# Guide 1: Why Can't My Computer Boot from the Cloned SSD?

To address this issue, one must first understand that cloning a hard drive does not mean that it will boot. The answer is: no.

Cloning the Windows OS or the entire disk to a new HDD/SSD is just part of the process; you will also need to perform the additional steps listed below so that Windows boots from the SSD after the clone:

1. Replace the old hard drive 2. Set the new SSD as the boot drive in BIOS 3. Boot the computer from the new SSD

If your SSD still won't boot after trying these steps, your computer might not be able to start from the SSD because of one of these issues:

• The OS cloning process failed
• The cloned SSD is not showing up in BIOS
• The cloned SSD is not being detected
• You accidentally cloned a data drive (not the OS) to the SSD

So, how do you do that, and how do you make an SSD bootable? Well, in the following tutorial, we're going to show you the whole process.

Read more: [Quick Fix] Cloned Hard Drive Won't Boot | Samsung SSD Clone Not Booting

#Guide 2: The Comprehensive Guide to Booting from an SSD

In this guide, we'll need you to work through the steps listed below so we can help identify the cause and resolve the issue, getting your SSD bootable once again.

Here's what you need to do after cloning your hard drive to an SSD, or how to boot from a cloned SSD in Windows 10/8/7:

#1. Check SSD Connection - Ensure the SSD is properly installed in your computer.

Toolkit: A SATA cable and a screwdriver.

Step 1: Make sure that the cloned SSD is connected as an external USB drive.

If so, pull it out, and go to step two.

Step two: Open your computer case and connect the cloned SSD to your PC with SATA data and power cables.

Step 3. Make sure the SSD is securely connected. If it's loose, plug the SSD cable back in.

If you don't know how to install a new hard drive, learn: How to Install a New HDD/SSD.

#2. Check if the cloned SSD contains the operating system - if not, re-clone the OS to the SSD.

After the SSD is installed, restart your computer and check that it contains the cloned Windows OS. Here's how:

Step One: Boot your computer from the original installation disc.

Step 2: Open File Explorer and then open the SSD drive.

Step 3: Look for the “Windows” folder on your SSD.

If you do, your SSD has an operating system on it already, and you can proceed to the next step. If not, you may have cloned only your data drive to the SSD. You'll need to clone your operating system to the SSD instead.

Read Also: Clone Bootable Hard Drive | Create Bootable Clone of Windows Disk

Guide to Reinstalling the System on an SSD

Tools Needed: 1. Windows Disk Management; 2. A reliable system cloning software - Todo Backup tool

**1. Erase Everything on the Solid State Drive**

• Open Disk Management > Right-click on your SSD partition > Choose "Delete Volume". • Repeat this to delete all volumes on the SSD.

2. Initialize the SSD with the same partition style as your old drive

Step 1. In Disk Management, right-click your old drive and select Properties to check its partition style.

Step 2. Right-click on the SSD and select "Initialize Disk" > set the partition style to the same as your source drive – either MBR or GPT.

3. Clone the Windows operating system back to the SSD

To clone the operating system to an SSD, you can use a professional Windows backup software like Todo Backup to perform the entire OS migration process. You can refer to a video tutorial or step-by-step guide for assistance:

Video Tutorial: Clone Windows 10/8/7 to SSD

This video guide will show you how hard drive cloning software can help you clone Windows 10 to a new SSD, and how to boot from the SSD after cloning.

How to Boot from SSD After Cloning

 

Step-by-Step Guide to Cloning Your Windows OS to an SSD

Todo Backup is a perfect HDD to SSD cloning software that makes system migration easy, fast, and stable!

On the home screen, find and tap on "Tools," where you'll find system clones and other utilities.

Step 2. Todo Backup will automatically select the system and boot partitions. Select the target disk, then click Next.

* System Clone will wipe all data, and doesn't support cloning from MBR disk to GPT or vice versa. Please ensure the partition style of source and target disks is the same.

If the target disk is an SSD, select “Optimize for SSD” in the advanced options.

Step 4: Click "Continue" to start the clone.

With the Windows operating system cloned to your new SSD, you can proceed to the next step, which involves getting your computer to boot from the SSD.

#3. Boot from the cloned SSD

To get the cloned SSD to boot on a Windows computer, the crucial step is to change the boot order in the BIOS. Follow these simple steps, and your computer will start booting Windows from the SSD right away:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2/F8/F11 or Del to enter the BIOS environment.

Step 2: Enter your BIOS boot settings and set the cloned SSD as the boot disk.

Step 3: Save the changes and restart your computer.

Your computer should now boot from the SSD.

#Guide 3: What to Do with Your Old Hard Drive After Cloning

If you have the same problem after booting from the SSD, read on. Here, we'll tell you how to dispose of your old hard drive after cloning it.

#1. Consider how to handle old hard drives

Essentially, there are two options:

1. Clean up the old hard drive and sell it online. 2. Clone the old operating system drive and use it as a data drive.

Either way, you'll need to wipe the entire disk, deleting all data from the old one. Here, a free partition management tool can help you easily erase the entire old drive with the software.

#2. Wipe the data from old hard drives

Here's a simple way to wipe all the data from an old hard drive:

We have two options for clearing your data. Please choose the one you need.

Option 1: Erase the partition

- Right-click the partition you want to erase and select "Wipe." - In the new window, set how you want to wipe the partition, then click "OK." - Click "Execute 1 Task" in the bottom right corner to review your changes, then click "Apply."

Option 2: Erase the disk

1. Select the HDD/SSD you want to wipe and right-click on it. Choose "Wipe Disk."
2. Set the number of times you want to overwrite the data (up to 10 times). Click "OK."
3. Click "Perform 1 Task" and then click "Apply."

#3. Repurpose an Old Hard Drive

Here's how to safely sell your hard drive: Remove it from your computer > Take photos and note basic information about it > List and sell it online, then ship it to the buyer.

Use the hard drive as a data drive: Partition the hard drive> Save new files and data to it.

Summary: Correctly clone and set up to boot from an SSD

On this page, we discuss the typical reasons why a computer fails to boot from a cloned SSD. Essentially, these reasons include:

1. 1. The source disk is a data drive and cannot boot.
2. 2. Incorrect boot drive is set.
3. 3. The SSD is connected to the computer only via USB.
4. 4. Some errors occurred during the cloning process.

To make a cloned SSD bootable, it's essential to identify the cause beforehand. Once you've pinpointed the reason, you can attempt to resolve it using the methods outlined in Guide 2.

1. Install the SSD solid-state drive correctly into your computer. 2. Initialize the SSD with either MBR or GPT mode, matching the source disk. 3. Restart the cloning process. 4. In the BIOS, set the correct drive (the SSD) as the boot disk.

Note that to ensure the cloned SSD can boot, you need reliable OS cloning software, like Todo Backup. Now follow the steps to have the computer boot from the SSD after cloning.

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Boot from SSD After Cloning

Can I boot from the USB SSD after cloning?

In order to successfully boot from the USB SSD after cloning, you'll need to make sure your BIOS boot order is set correctly. The USB SSD should be ahead of the hard drive in the boot order. Alternatively, you could try cloning just the operating system to the USB SSD and leaving other files on the hard drive.

Why won't my cloned SSD boot?

There can be several reasons why a cloned SSD fails to boot. Here are a few possible causes:

• The target disk is not properly prepared to be a boot device. • There is an issue with the file system on the target disk. • The boot partition on the target disk is smaller than that of the source disk. • There is no system reserved partition on the target disk.