How to Clone Windows Operating System from HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD

Before diving into the nitty-gritty of how to clone HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD, let's first look at what you will be using and what you need to prepare. Here's a table for your reference.

Issues with Transferring the Operating System from an SSD to an M.2 SSD

Many people are looking for an efficient way to clone SSD to M.2. Here is a real user case from a tech forum:

"I'm trying to clone my boot drive, a 500GB Samsung 840 Evo SSD, to a 1TB Samsung 961 M.2. There's way too much on that system that I don't want to have to re-download or reactivate – apps, settings, licenses, and so on. 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 SATA SSD or HDD but don't know how to clone SSD to M.2 or NVMe M.2 SSD, then 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 - AOMEI Backupper Standard.

Also, if you cloned Windows 10 to an M.2 SSD, you might also need to know how to boot from the cloned M.2 SSD on your computer. You can find all the info you need right here.

Read also: How to Clone M.2 SSD with Only One Slot | How to Migrate OS to Samsung M.2 NVMe SSD

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

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

Next, we'll explain in five steps how to clone HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD.

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

Shut down your laptop, unplug the power adapter, and remove any other cables. Unscrew and remove the back panel, and install the new NVMe SSD in the M.2 slot on the motherboard.

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.

You may also be interested in: How to Clone M.2 SSD with Only One Slot

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 the blank new M.2 SSD. However, there's a case where some users connect both the original SSD and the new M.2 SSD to another computer. In this situation, the computer might boot from the empty M.2 SSD, leading to unbootable issues.

To avoid this issue, you'll need to enter your computer's BIOS and confirm that it's booting from the original SSD.

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

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

The hard drive cloning software boasts powerful cloning capabilities and advanced, flexible cloning options. It can help you easily clone an SSD to an M.2 SSD or any other target disk without the risk of encountering the issue where the cloned hard drive won't boot as with other 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
• Replace laptop hard drive without losing data
• Compatible with Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

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

Download and activate the software, then follow these steps to clone your hard drive to an M.2 NVMe SSD.

Video Tutorial: How to Migrate from HDD to M.2 SSD:

You can follow this video as a guide to make it easy and straightforward – do it yourself.

 

Steps to Clone HDD to M.2 SSD

Advance notice:

• Sector-by-sector clone 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 erased. Please proceed with caution.

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

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the disk layout of both disks. You can manage the target disk's layout by choosing “Adapt to disk,” “Same as source,” or “Edit disk layout.”

• "Auto-Adjust for Disk" makes some modifications to the target disk layout by default, to optimize it. • "Copy as Source Disk" leaves the target disk unchanged, with the same layout as the source disk. • "Edit Disk Layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout of the target disk.

Check “Optimize for SSD if target is SSD” to make sure your SSD is running at its best.

A warning message appears, telling you that your data will be lost. Confirm the information by clicking OK, and then click Next.

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to actually carry out the task.

If you want to learn how to use Ghost to clone HDD to M.2 NVMe SSD on Windows 10, you can find the answer in this article.

5. Set up your 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 NVMe SSD, you must manually set the boot order. Restart your computer and press F2, Esc, or F8 to enter BIOS. Then, set the cloned M.2 SSD as the boot drive. You might need to disable Secure Boot Control to see the SSD as a bootable drive.

If your laptop booted up as usual, with all your programs and settings in place (only faster), you'd be fine.

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More information about M.2 SSD

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

Advantages:

• Smaller form factor and lower power consumption
• Faster read and write speeds
• Support for PCIe, SATA, USB 3.0, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi

Disadvantages:

• A 1 TB SATA SSD might cost around $100 (or more).
• They have limited capacity (up to 2 TB maximum).

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 storage card. If it doesn't, you're out of luck. If it does, enjoy your speed boost.

Conclusions

That's how to clone HDD to M.2 or M.2 NVMe SSD. After reading this article, it will be easy for you to clone hard drive to M.2 SSD. Since there is no built-in cloning tool in Windows, you have to turn to third-party cloning software like Disk Copy.

AOMEI Backupper Standard is a user-friendly Windows cloning software that can clone your hard drive with just a few simple steps. Download it now to clone your hard drive with confidence!

If you're still unable to set the SSD as the boot drive or the cloned SSD won't boot, contact our Technical Support team at < techsupport@tools.com > to troubleshoot the issue.

Frequently Asked Questions on Cloning HDD/SSD to M.2 SSD

1. Can I clone just the operating system to an NVMe SSD?

Yes, you can only clone the operating system to an SSD. You'll need to use professional disk cloning software, such as the Disk Copy tool, to help you transfer the C drive to a new SSD or other target disk. Such a tool will allow you to clone only the Windows operating system to another drive and perform a sector-by-sector clone of the hard drive.

To upgrade to an M.2 SSD or M.2 NVMe SSD without reinstalling Windows, you can choose cloning. Cloning enables you to upgrade the disk to a larger or smaller one without reinstalling Windows or losing data. However, for this, you need a professional disk cloning tool, as Windows doesn't come with built-in cloning functionality.

Yes, you can transfer your operating system from one SSD to another. The process typically involves creating an image of the original SSD and then restoring that image onto the new SSD. Here's a general outline of the steps involved: 1. **Backup Data**: Ensure that you have important data backed up in case anything goes wrong during the transfer. 2. **Acquire cloning software**: You'll need cloning software like Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect, or Acronis True Image. Some SSD manufacturers also provide their own cloning utilities. 3. **Connect both SSDs**: Connect both the original SSD and the new SSD to your computer. You may need an external enclosure or a USB-to-SATA adapter for the new SSD if your system doesn't have enough drive bays. 4. **Create a bootable media**: Create a bootable USB or CD/DVD with the cloning software. 5. **Boot from the cloning software**: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS or UEFI settings to change the boot order, so it boots from the cloning software media. 6. **Clone the OS**: Follow the software's instructions to clone the original SSD to the new SSD. Make sure to select the correct source (original SSD) and destination (new SSD). 7. **Shut down and replace the drives**: After the cloning process is complete, shut down your computer, remove the old SSD, and install the new SSD in its place. 8. **Boot from the new SSD**: Start your computer, and it should boot from the new SSD with the transferred operating system. If there are any issues, you might need to enter the BIOS/UEFI again to set the new SSD as the first boot device. 9. **Update the system**: Once booted, update the system to recognize the new SSD and update any necessary drivers. Remember that this process might vary depending on your specific hardware and software. Always refer to the cloning software's documentation for detailed instructions.

Yes, with the help of an OS migration software like Disk Copy, you can easily transfer your operating system from one SSD to another. It facilitates moving your operating system from one SSD to another seamlessly.