How do I create a new SSD C drive on a Windows laptop/PC?

When your C drive is full, the computer will run slowly, significantly affecting your work efficiency. In this case, it's wise to upgrade to a larger HDD/SSD for your C drive. However, if not done correctly, you may lose your Windows system. Don't worry. This article, brought to you by Tool, will guide you in detail on how to create a new SSD C drive without reinstalling Windows. Check it out!

Why choose SSD as the C drive?

It's a popular topic on Reddit, and the answer is simple: cloning is the easiest and best way to make your new SSD your Windows C drive.

How do I set my SSD as the C drive? Posted by u/BlastedUnknown in pcmasterrace

The C drive usually refers to the boot or system drive that contains the operating system or system-related files. Most users find that their C drive runs out of space easily, as Windows updates or cached installations, temporary files, and some apps default to saving on this system partition. Thus, your Windows may become sluggish, and it might even unexpectedly reboot. In this case, you might need to create a new, larger C drive on a HDD or SSD drive.

Notably, SSDs (Solid State Drives) outperform HDDs in terms of read/write speed, durability, and power consumption. As a result, most computer users prefer SSDs over HDDs, and replacing the C drive with an SSD has become a trend in the computing world. In the following sections, you'll learn step by step how to create a new SSD C drive on your computer.

How to Create a New C Drive on an SSD Using Cloning

To set up a new Windows C drive, you could perform a fresh install of Windows on the new SSD, but that would take a lot of time and effort because you'd have to reinstall Windows and all your programs. Fortunately, there's a better option. It's called cloning, and it helps you transfer data from one hard drive to another without reinstalling the operating system or losing your data.

For this, you need to find a reliable disk cloning tool because Windows doesn't have a built-in cloning feature. Disk Copy Tool is a renowned name in the cloning field that can assist you.

This is a hard drive cloning software tailored for Windows users, capable of cloning disks from multiple manufacturers. It lets you clone your boot drive to a new SSD and ensure the SSD is bootable. Plus, with its sector-by-sector cloning function, it can handle drives with bad sectors and seamlessly migrate Windows from an HDD to an SSD or from SSD to SSD without any data loss.

Solid State Drive cloning software can help you migrate the operating system to the new SSD and make the target disk bootable. Whether you want to transfer, clone, back up, migrate, or upgrade your hard drive, a cloning tool can come in handy. Download it to your computer and follow the step-by-step guide below to create a new HDD/SSD C drive.

Advance notice:

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

Step 1: To start copying/ cloning an entire disk to another disk, click on the disk as the source disk under Disk Mode, and then click Next.

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3: Check the disk partitions of both source and target disks. You can customize the partition layout on the target disk by selecting "Auto Resize," "Keep as Source," or "Edit Partitions."

• "Automatically resize partitions" makes some default changes to the layout on the target disk so that it runs optimally.
• "Copy as is" does not change anything on the target disk, and the layout will be identical to the source disk.
• "Edit disk layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout on the target disk.

Check the “Perform this check if the target is an SSD” option for best performance with an SSD.

A warning message will appear, indicating that your data will be lost. Confirm this information by clicking “OK,” and then click “Next.”

Step 4: Click “Proceed” to officially kick off the job.

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Additional Tip: How to Boot from the New SSD C Drive After installing Windows 10 on the new SSD, you need to configure your computer to boot from this new drive. Here's how: 1. **Restart Your Computer**: Turn off your PC and then power it back on, usually by pressing the power button. 2. **Enter BIOS**: During the startup process, quickly press a specific key (usually F2, F10, F12, Delete, or Esc) to enter the BIOS settings. This depends on your computer manufacturer, so if unsure, consult your computer manual or search online for the specific model's BIOS entry method. 3. **Select Boot Device**: In the BIOS menu, find the "Boot" or "Startup" option. Here, you'll see a list of available boot devices. 4. **Set SSD as the First Boot Option**: Use the arrow keys to select the new SSD as the primary boot device, then press Enter to confirm. 5. **Save and Exit**: Locate the "Save & Exit" option or something similar, then press Enter. This will save your changes and restart your computer. 6. **Verify Successful Boot**: Your computer should now start from the new SSD C drive. If everything is working correctly, you'll see the Windows 10 loading screen, indicating a successful boot from the new drive. Keep in mind that different computer brands and motherboards may have varying BIOS interfaces and steps, but the basic process remains similar. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the specifics of your device before proceeding.

After the cloning process, you can boot from the new SSD, and you need to change the boot order in BIOS settings to set the SSD as the boot drive. If you want to keep the new SSD, you can remove the old system disk and install the new one. If you plan to keep the original system disk and the new SSD C drive, you still need to do the following.

Here's how to boot from the new C drive:

Step 1. Restart your computer and press a key to enter the BIOS setup screen. The BIOS key varies by computer manufacturer, but it's usually F2, F12, Delete, or Esc.

Step 2: On the BIOS setup screen, use the arrow keys to navigate to the “Boot” tab.

Step 3: Look for the “Boot Priority” or “Boot Order” option, and select it.

Step 4. Use the arrow keys to move the SSD to the top of the boot order list, and then save your changes and exit the BIOS setup screen.

Click "Yes" to save the changes.

Step Five: Restart your computer, and it should boot from the new SSD C drive.

In short

Got it? This article provides a complete guide on how to create a new SSD system disk or how to replace the C drive with a new SSD. If you follow these steps carefully, it's really easy to make an SSD system drive by cloning. Again, cloning is the most efficient and easiest way to change to an SSD as the system disk and make the SSD bootable with just a few steps.

For this, you need a disk cloning tool like Tools Disk Copy. Such a tool can help you easily migrate your operating system to an SSD or replace drive C with a larger one without reinstalling the OS or losing data. It has many valuable features waiting for you to explore. Just download and try to change it to your new SSD!

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Create a New SSD C Drive

How to migrate the C drive to a new SSD?

To copy C drive to new SSD, cloning can help you well. A professional disk cloning software - Disk Copy tool enables you to transfer C drive to the new SSD easily without losing data or reinstalling Windows.

How do I change my new SSD to C drive?

Cloning is the best way to change an SSD to C drive, which helps you migrate your Windows installation to the new SSD and make it bootable. You need to change the boot order in BIOS settings, and then your computer can boot from the cloned SSD drive.

3. Can I transfer my C drive from an SSD to an HDD?

Yes, you can change your C drive from an SSD to an HDD. To do this, you will need a disk cloning tool like Macrium Reflect, Clonezilla, or Disk Copy, as well as a new HDD that can accommodate the operating system and data from the old SSD. Here's a general outline of the steps: 1. **Backup important data**: Before starting, make sure to back up all crucial files and data on the C drive in case of any unexpected issues. 2. **Download and install the cloning tool**: Choose one of the mentioned cloning tools, download it, and follow the instructions to install it on your computer. 3. **Connect the new HDD**: Attach the new HDD to your computer. This can be done via an internal SATA port or using a USB-to-SATA adapter. 4. **Launch the cloning tool**: Open the cloning software, which usually has a "Clone" or "Imaging" option. 5. **Select source and target drives**: Within the cloning tool, choose the C drive (the current SSD) as the source drive and the new HDD as the target drive. 6. **Start the cloning process**: After confirming the settings, initiate the cloning process. This may take some time, depending on the sizes and speeds of the two disks. 7. **Disconnect the SSD**: Once the cloning is complete, safely disconnect the SSD while keeping the new HDD connected. 8. **Set BIOS/UEFI**: Restart your computer and enter the BIOS/UEFI settings. Change the boot order to boot from the new HDD. 9. **Test the system**: Save your settings and restart your computer. If everything goes smoothly, your system should boot from the new HDD with all programs and data functioning normally. Keep in mind that different cloning tools may have unique interfaces and steps, so be sure to follow the specific instructions provided by the software. If you encounter any issues during the process, consult the software's help documentation or seek online technical support.