?‍♂️USER CASE
"I bought a Samsung 100GB SSD and planned to migrate my old data to the new drive. I read the instructions carefully and properly set up the Samsung Data Migration tool to start cloning the data. However, the data migration is not working; sometimes, it gets stuck at 0%, and sometimes at 99%. How can I fix the issue of Samsung Data Migration not working and successfully complete the hard drive cloning?"

Samsung offers a tool called Samsung Data Migration for swiftly and efficiently cloning Samsung SSD to a larger SSD. However, some users have encountered the issue of Samsung Data Migration stuck at 0% or 99% or being unresponsive. This article aims to address the problem of Samsung Data Migration not working with effective solutions.

Don't want to try out solutions one by one? You have another option right here. You can use a Samsung Data Migration alternative, the Disk Clone software. It's a professional disk cloning tool that offers a seamless data transfer experience without losing any data. It's compatible with various hard drive versions and enables you to easily transfer data to or from your Samsung SSD.

Possible reasons why Samsung Data Migration is not working

It's difficult to pinpoint exactly what goes wrong with Samsung Data Migration, but here are some common issues that might cause problems with SDM:

    • Attempting to transfer large files or partitions to the Samsung SSD
    • A faulty SATA port or SATA-to-USB adapter
    • Lack of sufficient space on the target SSD to store data
    • If your Samsung Data Migration software is not up to date
    • Issues with the source hard drive or target SSD

Solving Issues with Samsung Data Migration Not Working Properly

We have compiled a list of 5 effective solutions and better alternatives to fix the Samsung Data Migration not working issue.

Read More: Samsung Data Migration Stuck at 0% When Cloning SSD

(1) Check the source HDD/SSD and target SSD

Bad sectors or an incorrectly partitioned drive on the source disk or target SSD might cause Samsung Data Migration to get stuck at 99% or 0%. Therefore, the first thing you can try is to run a health check on your devices to ensure they're working properly. You can do this by using Command Prompt (i.e., run chkdsk on SSD). Here's how:

Step 1: Do not remove the Samsung SSD while running the health check.

Step 2: Open the Command Prompt as an Administrator.

Step 3: Run the following command, press Enter, and then follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

chkdsk X:  (Replace X with the letter of your disk.)

An example of running the chkdsk command

Any hard drive issues will be displayed in the command prompt.

(2) Replace the cable/connectors

If there is an issue with the SATA cable, Samsung Data Migration may not work properly. If the SATA-to-USB connection is loose, the migration process might stop.

First, ensure that the SATA/USB connection is secure. If the issue persists, try plugging the SATA cable into a different port on the motherboard, or use a different SATA cable altogether. Also, consider cloning your important data to the target hard drive before attempting further steps.

Check the SATA/USB cable checking the sata/usb cable

(3) Check the storage space on the target disk

Obviously, no migration software can transfer data if the target disk has less storage space than the source disk. If you attempt to clone data from a 100GB disk to an SSD with Samsung Data Migration, it may stuck in the middle or show the cloning failed message.

For safety, it's recommended to migrate 75% of the source disk size, so please purchase a proper one based on your need.

(4) Check your computer's hardware status

The state of your computer's hardware is essential for managing software and all its functionalities. So, you need all the hardware to work together to execute these functions. Otherwise, you may experience issues like failed data migration.

A personal computer's hardware is primarily composed of six parts: the hard drive, CPU, GPU, RAM, and battery. Windows operating system includes a tool called "Performance Monitor" to check your computer's overall performance. Here are the steps to run it: 1. First, press `Win + R` on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. 2. In the Run dialog, type `perfmon`, then click "OK" or hit the Enter key. 3. This will open the "Performance Monitor" application. 4. On the left sidebar, you can choose "Data Collector Sets" > "New Data Collector Set" to create a new data collection configuration. 5. In the wizard that appears, select "Manually configure my settings" and click "Next." 6. Next, choose the performance counters you want to monitor. For instance, you can select "Processor" to view CPU usage, "Physical Disk" for disk activity, "Memory" to see RAM usage, and "Battery" to monitor battery status, among others. 7. Add the desired counters as per your needs and click "Next," then name your data collector set. 8. Finally, choose "Start this data collector set now" and click "Finish." The Performance Monitor will now begin recording data. 9. To view real-time performance data, find the data collector set you just created in the Performance Monitor window, and double-click it to open a chart view. Please note that understanding and interpreting the information provided by Performance Monitor might take some time, especially for those not familiar with computer hardware and operating systems. However, this tool is very useful for diagnosing performance issues or monitoring system resource usage.

Step 1: Press Windows + R to open the Run dialog box. Type perfmon /report and hit Enter to run the tool.

Run the "perform/report" command in the "Run" dialog box.

Step 2: The software will gather data for over 60 seconds and display the results. Now, click on the Diagnosis Results section to check the status of your hardware components in the subsections.

Performing a comprehensive diagnostic check on the computer hardware

You'll see errors, warnings, informational messages, and basic system checks. This is a cursory check, so try running specific hardware troubleshooting programs or diagnostic tools to address any issues.

(5) Update Samsung Data Migration

Sometimes, an outdated Samsung Data Migration tool can cause disk cloning issues. Samsung regularly releases updates for the Data Migration tool. Hence, to fix the Samsung Data Migration stuck at 0% problem, visit the official website and update the software.

The steps to update the Data Migration tool are as follows:

Step 1: Visit the Samsung official website.

Step 2: Scroll down, then expand Samsung Data Migration Consumer SSD Software under the Data migration section.

Step 3: Click on Download to download the latest version of Samsung Data Migration for Windows again.

Download the latest version of SDM from the official website Download the latest version of SDM

[[Bonus] Tool] Disk Copy for Easier Disk Cloning

If you still have issues while using a data migration tool and are tired of fixing them, you can choose another way to get the job done. Download a Disk Clone software, set your preferences, and accomplish the task effortlessly with just a few clicks.

A hard drive cloning tool is a superfast disk cloning software designed for Windows operating systems that offers quick cloning, flexible, and secure boot options. This tool enables you to clone your old HDD/SSD to a new computer, upgrade your hard drive, migrate the operating system to a new disk, and recover data from a failed drive. Additionally, it lets you perform backup and recovery services using the same utility. All these features are packed into an intuitive interface that requires just a few steps to complete.

The main features of Disk Copy include:

  • An excellent cloning software with great cost-performance ratio.
  • Supports disk cloning, system cloning, and partition cloning.
  • Enables users to create local backups of hard drives in parallel.
  • Capable of cloning hard drives with bad sectors.
  • Supports Windows 11/10/8/7 operating systems.

Clone to a Samsung SSD in easy steps:

Fire up the utility Disk Copy for a smooth disk duplication or cloning process.

1. Download, install, and run the "Disk Clone" tool on your computer.
Click "Disk Mode," select the source disk you want to copy or clone, and click "Next" to proceed.

Select the source disk

2. Select the target disk to which you want to clone/copy your old hard drive, then click “Next” to proceed.

Finish cloning or copying a disk to a new one.

3. Check and edit the disk layout, and choose to either "Fit to disk," "Copy as on source," or "Edit disk layout."
It is recommended to select "Fit to disk."

    • Choosing "Copy Source" will copy/cloning the partition layout of the source disk to the target disk. • Selecting "Edit Disk Layout" allows you to manually adjust the partition sizes or move partitions on the target disk. • If your target disk is an SSD, make sure to check the "Target is SSD" option.

Click Proceed to start the disk cloning or disk duplication process immediately.

Select the destination disk to clone or copy to

The Ultimate Verdict

If you're troubled by the issue of Samsung Data Migration not working, you've found the answer to move your data to the new SSD. These fixes generally address the underlying cause and resolve the problem. If the data migration tool fails, you can use our simple and compact solution, the Disk Copy Tool, to clone the disk for data migration.

If this article was helpful, please share it with your friends and leave a comment. If you have any questions regarding the topic discussed, feel free to ask in the comments section, and also let me know what topics you'd like to see covered in future articles.

Frequently Asked Questions About Samsung Data Migration Not Working 1. What is Samsung Data Migration? Samsung Data Migration is a software tool provided by Samsung that aids users in transferring data from an old hard drive to a new Samsung Solid State Drive (SSD). 2. Why isn't Samsung Data Migration working? Possible reasons include outdated software, incompatible drivers, incorrect disk connection, or unsupported operating system. Ensure all hardware is connected properly and try updating the software and drivers. 3. How do I fix the issue of Samsung Data Migration not recognizing the disk? Check if the disk is connected correctly, try using a different SATA cable, or test the disk on another computer. Also, make sure it has adequate power supply. 4. What should I do if Samsung Data Migration gets stuck during migration? First, restart your computer or the software. If the issue persists, close all running background applications to reduce system resource usage. If that doesn't help, manually copying files might be necessary. 5. Will my data on the old hard drive disappear after migration? Yes, generally, data on the old hard drive will be overwritten after using Samsung Data Migration. Therefore, back up important files before starting the migration. 6. Which operating systems does Samsung Data Migration support? The tool supports Windows OS, including Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11. For Mac users, alternative data migration solutions may be needed. 7. Can I use Samsung Data Migration for non-Samsung brand disks? Technically, you can, but Samsung officially recommends using it only with Samsung SSDs, as compatibility and data integrity cannot be guaranteed with other brands. 8. Are there alternative options if data migration fails? Yes, you can use other data migration software like Acronis True Image or tools Todo Backup, or manually copy and paste files to the new drive. 9. How do I get the latest version of Samsung Data Migration? Visit Samsung's official website, find the support section, and download the latest version compatible with your operating system. 10. What should I pay attention to during the data migration process? Make sure the target drive has enough space for all data. Avoid disconnecting power during migration to prevent data damage. After migration, the first boot on the new drive might take time for system optimization.

Here are some of the most common FAQs (frequently asked questions) on this topic. If you have similar concerns, hopefully, this will be helpful. Feel free to pose your questions in the comments section as well.

How to solve the Samsung Data Migration issue?

If Samsung Data Migration cloning fails, you can try the following quick solutions to address the issue:

    Check the source and Samsung SSD. Try using a different SATA port and cable. Verify the target disk space. Update SDM to the latest version.

2. Why doesn't my Samsung hard drive show up during data migration?

If you connect the SSD with a SATA enclosure, SDM might not recognize it. Try either of these two solutions to resolve this issue: 1. Connect the SSD to your computer using a SATA-to-USB cable. 2. Replace your computer's existing hard drive with the new Samsung SSD and connect the old one to your computer using a SATA/USB cable.

How to solve the problem of Samsung Data Migration cloning failure?

There could be several reasons, but here's how you can fix Samsung Data Migration clone failure:

    • Defragment the source hard drive.
    • Disable hibernation.
    • Disable the page file.
    • Turn off System Restore on the system drive.
    • Reboot, and then resize the system partition.

How long does Samsung Data Migration take?

The length of the data transfer will depend on how much data you have. The size of your files and how fast Samsung's Clone Phone app works will affect this, but users report that it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour.