How to Clone Windows OS from HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD

Issues with transferring the operating system from an SSD to an M.2 SSD

Many users are looking for effective ways to clone SSD to M.2. Here is a real user case from a tech forum:

"I'm trying to clone a 500GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD boot drive to a 1TB Samsung 961 M.2. There are a lot of apps, settings, and licenses on that system that I don't want to have to redownload or reactivate. Instead, I'd like to clone Windows 10 from the SATA SSD to the M.2 SSD. How can I do that?"

If you also need to upgrade your SSD or HDD and have no idea how to clone SSD to M.2 or NVMe M.2 SSD, you come to the right place. In this article, we will show you how to clone HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD with a professional disk cloning software.

Also, if you cloned Windows 10 to an M.2 SSD, you'll need to know how to boot your computer from the cloned M.2 SSD. You can learn all about it right here.

How to Clone SSD to M.2 SSD/NVMe M.2 SSD in Windows 10

An M.2 SSD is better than a regular SSD. M.2 with NVMe protocol is very fast, for example, Samsung's SM960/961 can read up to 3200MB/s, which is over six times faster than a typical SSD. Thus, users who need frequent file transfers and high-performance operations might choose to upgrade from HDD or SSD to M.2 or NVMe M.2 SSD.

Next, we will walk you through cloning HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD in 5 steps.

1. Install an M.2 SSD or NVMe M.2 SSD on Your Computer

Shut down your laptop and unplug the power adapter and any other connected cables. Remove the back panel and unscrew it to access the M.2 slot on the motherboard where you'll install the new NVMe SSD.

Make sure your computer detects the newly added M.2 SSD. If your SSD is not showing up in Windows 10, address the issue promptly.

2. Boot Windows 10 from the source/original SSD

Normally, when you connect an M.2 SSD to a computer, the PC won't boot from a blank new M.2 SSD. However, there's an exception where some users connect both the original SSD and the M.2 SSD to another computer. In this case, the computer might boot from the blank M.2 SSD, making it unbootable.

To avoid this boot issue, you need to enter the BIOS and confirm that your computer is set to boot from the original SSD.

3. Download Free Disk Clone Software to Clone HDD to M.2

Whether you want to clone a system disk with the Windows OS or a data disk to an M.2 SSD, disk cloning can save you from the hassle of reinstalling Windows and all your apps. You can clone SSD or HDD for disk upgrade, system migration, data transfer, file backup, or other purposes.

Hard Drive Cloning Software equips with powerful cloning ability and advanced, flexible cloning features. It helps you clone SSD to M.2 SSD easily without the cloned hard drive won't boot issue that may occur when using other disk cloning tools. Download the software to enjoy these highlights:

Disk Copy Features:

• Straightforward and quick cloning process
• Clone a hard drive with bad sectors
• Professional technical support
• Compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7

4. Cloning an SSD to an M.2 SSD Step by Step

Activate the software, then follow these steps to clone your hard drive to the M.2 SSD.

Video tutorial on how to convert an HDD to an M.2 SSD:

For a simple do-it-yourself version, follow along with this video.

The steps to clone an HDD to an M.2 SSD are as follows: 1. Purchase a compatible M.2 SSD: Ensure that the new M.2 SSD has the correct interface type (such as NVMe or SATA) for your computer and is of an appropriate size to meet your storage needs. 2. Backup your data: Before starting the cloning process, it's advisable to back up important data on your hard drive in case any issues arise during the cloning. 3. Gather tools: - Cloning software: Examples include Acronis True Image, Clonezilla, or AOMEI Backupper. - Hard drive sled/adapter (if needed): If your computer doesn't have an M.2 slot, you might need an adapter to install the M.2 SSD into a SATA interface. 4. Install the M.2 SSD: Depending on your computer model, open the case and mount the M.2 SSD into its respective slot. 5. Run the cloning software: - Download and install the chosen cloning software. - Launch the software and select "Disk Clone" or a similar option. - Choose the source disk (HDD) and then the target disk (M.2 SSD). 6. Initiate the cloning process: - Follow the software's instructions, verifying that the source and target disks are correctly selected. - Start the cloning process. This may take some time, depending on the sizes and speeds of the two disks. 7. Verify the clone: - After the cloning is complete, shut down your computer, remove the source HDD, and then restart. - Confirm that the M.2 SSD boots up normally and can access all files. 8. Format the source HDD (optional): If you no longer need the source HDD, you can safely format it for other purposes. Please note that these steps may vary slightly depending on the specific hardware and software used. Always refer to the instructions provided by the tools you're using.

Advance Notice:

• Sector-by-sector copy requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Uncheck this option if you want to clone a larger hard drive to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be completely erased. Exercise caution.

Step 1: To start cloning the entire disk to another disk, select the disk in Disk Mode and click Next.

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

You will see a warning that you will lose your data. Click OK to acknowledge the warning, and then click Next.

Step 3: Check the disk layout of the two disks. You can manage the disk layout of the target disk by choosing "Adapt to disk size", "Keep source disk size", or "Edit disk layout".

• "Fit to disk" makes some modifications to the default layout of the target disk so that it can work at its best. • "Copy as is" leaves the target disk unchanged, and its layout will be identical to that of the source disk. • "Edit disk layout" lets you manually adjust/move partitions on the target disk.

Check the box for If target is SSD, do this instead to optimize for your SSD's performance.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to start the process officially.

5. Set the computer to boot from the cloned M.2 SSD/NVMe M.2 SSD

If you cloned Windows 10 from an SSD/HDD to an M.2 SSD, you'll need to manually set the boot order. Restart your PC and press F2, Esc, or F8 to enter BIOS. Then, set the cloned M.2 SSD as the boot priority. You might need to disable Secure Boot Control for the SSD to show up as a bootable drive.

If your laptop starts up as usual, and you see all your programs and settings just as before (only much faster), then everything is fine.

More information about M.2 SSD

An M.2 SSD is a small form-factor expansion card for internal storage that enables high-performance storage in ultra-thin, power-constrained devices like ultrabooks and tablets. This type of SSD supports various protocols and applications such as Wi-Fi, USB, PCIe, and SATA.

Advantages:

• Takes up less space and consumes less power
• Reads and writes faster
• Supports PCIe, SATA, USB 3.0, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi

Disadvantages:

• A 1 TB SATA SSD might cost around $100 (or more)
• Limited capacity (maximum of 2 TB)

If your laptop supports the M.2 standard, its operating system should already include the Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) driver needed to install an M.2 card. If it doesn't, this SSD isn't for you. If it does, enjoy your computer's newfound speed.

Conclusions

That's it for using Disk Copy to clone an SSD or HDD to an M.2 or M.2 NVMe SSD. If you still encounter issues with setting the SSD as the boot drive or the cloned SSD not booting, please reach out to our Technical Support team at techsupport@tools.com for assistance.