How to Replace an Old SSD with a New SSD on a Windows Laptop/PC

If your laptop or desktop came with a small SSD, like a 128 GB SSD, you might find that it's slowing down, especially if it's your Windows installation drive or filled with data and programs. Buying a new computer can be expensive, and you'll have to reinstall Windows and all your programs.

Fortunately, you have another option: upgrading your old SSD to a larger SSD by cloning. This article will show you how to replace your old SSD with a new one without losing data or reinstalling Windows from a tool's perspective. Let's get started!

Tools required for upgrading from an old SSD to a new SSD

As mentioned, cloning can help you switch from an old SSD, but you'll have to do some prep work to make it happen. Here's what you need to do to replace your old SSD with a new one.

An SSD with the right interface, form factor, and storage capacity.

• Solid state drives come in different form factors (such as 2.5 inches, M.2, U.2) and interfaces (like SATA, NVMe). Since NVMe SSDs read up to six times faster than SATA SSDs, it's worth getting an M.2 PCIe or NVMe SSD like the Samsung T9, Intel 670p SSD, Lexar NM790, or Kingston KC3000.
• SSDs have storage capacities ranging from 125GB to 4TB. If you only plan on installing your operating system on the SSD, a 250GB drive offers the best value for money. However, if you're a gamer, content creator, or professional, consider a 500GB to 1TB SSD.

SSD Connector

To perform an SSD to SSD transfer, you need to connect the new SSD to your laptop/PC, so you'll require a USB-to-SATA cable, adapter, or hard drive enclosure.

Screwdriver

It can help you open the removable panel of your desktop or laptop, take out the old SSD, and then install the new SSD after cloning the old SSD to the new one in Windows 11/10/8/7.

BEST SSD CLONING SOFTWARE

Since Windows doesn't have built-in cloning settings (unlike backup), you'll need to use third-party disk-cloning software for this, the core step in replacing your old SSD with the new one.

In this case, a professional and versatile Hard Disk Cloning Software can come in handy. You'll need to download it to your laptop/PC and then use it to copy data from one hard drive to another.

How to Replace an Old SSD with a New SSD Without Losing Data

Replacing an SSD generally involves three main steps, and you should follow these instructions carefully to avoid any issues. Let's dive in.

Part 1: Initializing the SSD

Generally, a new SSD needs to be initialized. Both a new SSD or HDD must be initialized, otherwise it may not work properly. The steps to initialize an SSD are as follows:

Step 1: Place the new SSD in the drive enclosure, or connect it to the SATA-to-USB adapter, and then plug the enclosure or adapter into your laptop/desktop via USB.

Step 2: Check in This PC to see if the new SSD appears as a new drive.

Step 3: Launch the Disk Management tool. You'll likely see a “Initialize Disk” dialog. To initialize your new SSD, select Disk 1 and click OK.

Step four: Right-click on the unallocated space behind your new SSD, and select “New Simple Volume.”

Then, follow the on-screen prompts to create a partition on the new SSD and assign it a drive letter. When finished, the new SSD will appear as a new drive letter in This PC.

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Part 2: Transferring data from the old SSD to the new SSD

To replace your SSD with a larger/newer one without losing data or reinstalling the OS, you need to use a third-party disk cloning software, like Toolwiz Disk Copy, because Windows does not have a built-in cloning utility. Such a tool allows you to clone a hard drive and replace your laptop's hard drive without losing data.

It's a handy disk cloning utility for Windows PCs that allows you to clone HDDs/SSDs from different manufacturers, unlike the Samsung Data Migration tool. It lets you transfer your Windows from SSD to a new SSD and easily migrate data between computers.

If you want to replace your current SSD or upgrade to a larger one, a disk cloning app will come in handy. Download it to your computer and use it to clone your hard drive.

Advance notice:

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

Step 1. To start copying/cloning an 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 layout of the two disks. You can choose to “Adapt to disk automatically,” “Keep source layout,” or “Edit disk layout” to manage the layout of the target disk.

• "Auto-resize partitions" makes some default changes to the target disk layout to optimize it.
• "Copy as source" doesn't change anything on the target disk, and the layout is the same as the source disk.
• "Edit partition layout" lets you manually adjust/move the partition layout on the target disk.

Check Optimize for SSD if your target is an SSD to ensure it runs at its best.

A warning will appear, telling you that your data will be lost. Click “OK” to acknowledge this, and then click “Next.”

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

Part 3: Replace the old SSD with the cloned SSD

Once the cloning is complete, you'll need to replace your desktop or laptop's old SSD with the new one. Here's how.

On a desktop computer

Step 1: Remove the Old SSD from Your Desktop

Step 1: Back up your data with free backup software like Todo Backup. If you've already done this, skip to the next step.

Step 2: Turn off the desktop computer and unplug it from the power outlet.

Step 3: Open up your computer case.

Step 4: Locate and remove the SSD.

Step Two: Install the New SSD in Your Desktop

Step 1: Install the new SSD in your computer and connect all cables or connectors.

Step 2 Make sure all cables are connected properly, and secure the new SSD in place.

Step three: Boot up your desktop with the new SSD installed.

On a laptop.

Step 1: Loosen and remove all screws that hold the laptop's back panel in place using a screwdriver.

Step 2: Find your old SSD and unplug its power and data cables.

Step 3: With the screws out, remove the old SSD from the drive tray.

Step 4: Install the new SSD in reverse order. Slide the SSD back into place, reconnect all the cables, secure the new SSD with its screws, and replace the laptop's back cover.

Once that's done, boot your laptop or desktop PC from the cloned SSD as you normally would. You can refer to our guide on how to do that for help.

In short

Now you know how to replace the SSD. As long as you follow the steps in this article carefully, swapping in a new SSD or one with more capacity will be a breeze. Just remember that you'll need a disk cloning app to help you move your data from the old SSD to the new one.

AOMEI Backupper is the tool you need to migrate all your content from one hard drive to another without losing data or reinstalling Windows. It lets you easily clone your boot drive to a new SSD, and clone a hard drive with just a few clicks. There are many more practical features waiting for you to explore! Download it now and give it a try!

Frequently Asked Questions on How to Replace an Old SSD with a New SSD 1. **Do I need to back up my data?** - Yes, it's highly recommended to back up important data before replacing your SSD. You can use an external hard drive or cloud storage service for safety. 2. **What size should my new SSD be?** - It depends on your storage needs. If your old SSD is full, consider getting a larger new SSD. Alternatively, base your decision on the size of the files and apps you regularly use. 3. **Will I lose my operating system during the process?** - If you're simply migrating your data, your OS won't be lost. But if you plan to reinstall the OS, make sure to back up your personal files and settings beforehand. 4. **How do I transfer data to the new SSD?** - You can use cloning software like Clonezilla or Acronis True Image to copy the entire drive, or manually copy files to the new SSD. 5. **Does the new SSD need the same interface as the old one?** - Yes, ensure the new SSD has the same interface type (such as SATA, M.2 NVMe, or PCIe) that's compatible with your computer. 6. **Is SSD replacement a task requiring technical skills?** - For most users, replacing an SSD is a relatively simple DIY job that requires basic tools and following instructions. 7. **Will replacing the SSD affect my computer's performance?** - A new SSD is typically faster than an old one, so you should notice quicker boot times and app loading speeds. 8. **Do I need to update my BIOS after the replacement?** - If the new SSD is a different type (like upgrading from SATA to NVMe), you might need to update your BIOS to ensure compatibility. 9. **How do I make sure the new SSD is recognized correctly?** - After installation, check your computer's BIOS settings to see if the new SSD appears in the list of hard drives. 10. **How do I maintain the performance of my new SSD?** - Regularly defragment, keep firmware and drivers updated, and avoid overfilling the SSD to maintain optimal performance.

How to transfer data from an old SSD to a new SSD? 1. Use cloning software: Tools like Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or AOMEI Backupper can be used for this purpose. These utilities create an exact image of the old SSD and copy it to the new one. Follow the software's instructions. 2. Utilize built-in Windows tools: - Connect the new SSD to your computer and ensure it is recognized. - Open "Control Panel" > "System and Security" > "Backup and Restore." - Choose "Create a system image," then save the system image to an external storage device (like a USB drive) as prompted. - Install the new SSD as the primary hard drive and disconnect the old SSD. - Boot from a recovery disk or installation media, and navigate to "Troubleshoot" > "Advanced options" > "System Image Recovery." - Follow the prompts to restore the system image from the external storage to the new SSD. 3. Employ third-party disk management tools: Tools such as tools Todo Backup or DiskGenius let you directly copy partitions or entire disks. Follow the tool's instructions. 4. Manual migration: If the data volume is small, you can manually copy files and folders from the old SSD to the new SSD using Windows Explorer. Note that this method does not include the operating system or other programs. Before proceeding with any method, ensure you back up important data to guard against accidental loss.

The best and easiest way to transfer data from your old SSD to the new one is by using a professional disk cloning tool like Disk Copy or Macrium Reflect, which will help you move everything – your operating system, saved data, and all – from one hard drive to another.

2. Can I upgrade my SSD without reinstalling Windows?

Yes, you can upgrade to an SSD without reinstalling the operating system. To do this, you'll need to use a third-party disk cloning tool to help you upgrade the SSD to a new/larger disk. Cloning allows you to replace the hard drive without reinstalling Windows or losing your data.

Will I lose Windows if I change the SSD?

Typically, if you replace an SSD, you lose your Windows installation. But if you clone your operating system to the new drive before swapping it in, everything, including Windows and your files, stays exactly as it was.