Secure Boot | How to Clone Lenovo HDD to SSD Without Reinstalling OS and Apps

Applies to: All Lenovo computers, such as Lenovo G70, Lenovo Y580, Lenovo Z510, Lenovo IdeaPad, and more.

Lenovo is a world-renowned manufacturer of laptops, tablets, desktop computers, and other electronic devices. Among these products, Lenovo laptops are particularly popular. Previously, most laptops came with an integrated system disk HDD with limited storage space. After using them for a while, as data accumulates and the device ages, the computer might run slowly.

In this case, many users choose to upgrade Lenovo laptop HDD to SSD or a larger HDD without reinstalling Windows to boost the computer performance without changing the PC.

Clone HDD to SSD with Lenovo - Free Download Disk Clone Software

It's well known that SSDs are faster, more secure, more stable, and longer-lasting than HDDs. They're also lighter and take up less space.

If you want to upgrade your current HDD to SSD for better computer performance without reinstalling the Windows OS and applications, it's best to clone Lenovo laptop hard drive with a professional disk cloning software.

The Hard Drive Cloning Software is user-friendly and can help you upgrade your Lenovo hard drive from an old one to a new one or from an HDD to an SSD. You can use it to upgrade your hard drive and even clone drives of different sizes. You can also use this hard drive cloning tool to:

• Migrate the operating system to an SSD or HDD without reinstalling
• Clone Lenovo laptop hard drive to a larger one
• Clone Lenovo hard drive to a smaller SSD
• Clone a hard drive with bad sectors
• Resize partitions during the cloning process

Download the ultimate disk cloning software for free now to replace the hard drive on your Lenovo laptop.

How to Clone Lenovo Hard Drive to SSD in Windows 10/8/7

Follow the step-by-step guide below to clone Lenovo laptop hard drive from HDD to SSD or HDD with a disk cloning tool. This disk/partition cloning software enables you to clone a hard drive with bad sectors.

The tools you need

• A solid-state drive (SSD)
• A SATA data cable to connect the SSD to your laptop
• Disk cloning software, such as Disk Copy utility

Requirements for an SSD (Solid State Drive) include: 1. Capacity: Choose an appropriate capacity based on individual or business needs. Common sizes range from 120GB, 240GB, 500GB, 1TB, to 2TB. A minimum recommended capacity of 240GB to 500GB is suitable for operating systems and daily applications. 2. Speed: SSD speed is measured by read and write speeds, typically in MB/s (megabytes per second). Faster read and write speeds enhance overall computer performance. Aim for sequential read speeds above 500MB/s and write speeds above 400MB/s. 3. Interface Type: Ensure the SSD is compatible with your computer. Common interfaces include SATA, M.2 NVMe, and PCIe. Newer computers may support faster M.2 NVMe or PCIe interfaces. 4. Cache Size: A larger cache can improve data processing efficiency. Generally, 256MB to 1GB cache is sufficient for most scenarios. 5. Stability and Durability: Check the product's TBW (Terabytes Written) and durability ratings. Higher TBW indicates a longer lifespan. SLC, MLC, TLC, and QLC are different types of NAND flash memory, with SLC and MLC being more stable but costly, while TLC and QLC are less expensive but have slightly lower durability. 6. Brand and Warranty: Opt for a reputable brand to ensure quality and after-sales service. Most brands offer at least a three-year warranty. 7. Drive Compatibility: Ensure the SSD is compatible with your operating system, such as Windows, MacOS, or Linux. 8. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation: For mobile devices, select low-power SSDs to prolong battery life. Also, consider its heat dissipation capabilities to prevent overheating issues. 9. Price: Select a product that fits your budget, balancing performance and cost. 10. User Reviews: Read reviews from other users to understand the product's real-world performance and reliability.

Ensure that the SSD has a capacity larger than the used space on the HDD. If the used space exceeds the total space of the SSD, it's recommended to use the "System Clone" feature to clone only the operating system to the SSD, rather than the entire disk. Make sure in Disk Management (right-click "This PC" > "Manage" > "Disk Management") that the SSD is shown as unallocated space. If not, back up the SSD first using a tool like Todo Backup, then delete all partitions on the SSD (right-click the volume and choose "Delete"). Ensure that both the SSD and HDD have the same partition style. If not, you should convert the MBR disk to GPT or vice versa, depending on your needs. You can refer to this link for the conversion process: Convert MBR Disk to GPT Disk During Windows Installation.

To check the disk's partition style:

Step 1: Connect the HDD/SSD to your computer.

Step 2: Right-click This PC and select Manage > Disk Management.

Step Three: Right-click on your drive and select “Properties.”

Step 4. Switch to the “Volumes” tab. Under Disk Information, you'll see the disk's partition style.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Clone Lenovo HDD to SSD 1. **Gather Tools**: First, gather the following tools: - An SSD (Solid State Drive) as your target drive - A SATA data cable and power cable (if needed for connecting the new drive) - A hard drive caddy or adapter (if the SSD's size doesn't match the original HDD) - A cloning software such as Clonezilla, Acronis True Image, or tools Todo Backup Free 2. **Backup Important Data**: Before starting the cloning process, ensure you back up all crucial files and data in case of any issues. 3. **Shut Down and Disconnect Power**: Safely shut down your Lenovo computer and disconnect it from the power source. 4. **Install the SSD**: Place the SSD into an available drive bay in your computer, connecting it to the motherboard with the SATA data cable and power cable. If necessary, use a caddy or adapter to accommodate different sizes. 5. **Enter BIOS**: Reconnect the power, turn on the computer, and press F2 (or the specific key for your Lenovo model) during startup to enter the BIOS settings. 6. **Adjust Boot Order**: In the BIOS, locate the "Boot" or "Startup" options and set the SSD as the primary boot device. 7. **Run Cloning Software**: Insert a USB drive or CD/DVD with the cloning software, follow on-screen instructions to install and run the software. 8. **Select Source and Target Drives**: Within the cloning software, choose the current HDD as the source drive and the newly installed SSD as the target drive. 9. **Start the Cloning Process**: Initiate the cloning process according to the software's instructions. This may take some time, depending on the size and speed of both drives. 10. **Verify the Clone**: Once cloning is complete, re-enter the BIOS, change the boot order back to the original HDD, then restart your computer to confirm that all systems and applications run properly. 11. **Permanently Switch to the SSD**: After verifying, enter the BIOS again, set the boot order to the SSD, and save the settings. Then, safely remove the original HDD. Your Lenovo computer should now boot from the new SSD, providing faster performance. Remember to handle the old HDD appropriately, either as a backup storage device or for resale.

With the preparations above, you can follow the detailed steps below to clone Lenovo hard drive to SSD.

If you're performing a hard drive replacement on a Lenovo system, after the clone, you'll need to manually set your computer to boot from the cloned SSD. If you're only cloning a data drive, no boot settings changes are necessary.

Step 1: In Disk Mode, select the HDD you want to clone.

Step 2: Select the SSD as the destination disk.

Step 3: After you have modified the disk layout, click Proceed.

Since the destination is an SSD, it's recommended to check the option "If target is SSD, please check this option."

A warning will appear, alerting you to the fact that your SSD's data will be erased. If you don't have any important data on the target disk, click “OK” to proceed.

Step 4: Wait for the process to complete.

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1. **Restart the computer**: First, you'll need to restart your Lenovo PC. 2. **Enter BIOS**: As the computer boots up, repeatedly press the `F2` key on your keyboard (on some models it could be `F1`, `Fn+F2`, or `Delete`) to access the BIOS setup screen. There should be a brief prompt at the bottom of the screen indicating which key to press. 3. **Select the Boot menu**: In the BIOS, use the arrow keys to navigate to the "Boot" or "Startup" menu. 4. **Adjust boot order**: Under "Boot Priority" or "Boot Order," locate your SSD device. It might show up as "NVMe SSD" or a specific drive name. Use the arrow keys to move it to the top of the list. 5. **Save and Exit**: Press `F10` (or the key indicated on-screen) to save your changes and select "Yes" to confirm exiting. The computer will restart with the new boot order. 6. **Verify the boot source**: If configured correctly, your computer should now boot from the SSD. If it still doesn't start from the SSD, you may need to re-enter BIOS to ensure the SSD is properly recognized, or contact Lenovo customer support for further assistance. Keep in mind that these steps can vary slightly depending on the Lenovo model and BIOS version. Refer to your Lenovo computer's user manual or online support resources if you're unsure how to proceed.

If you cloned a data drive, you can skip this step. If you cloned your system drive, however, you'll need to set your computer to boot from the SSD. Here's how:

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2 or F8 to enter the BIOS settings.

Step 2: In the Boot options, select the new HDD/SSD as the new boot drive, and save all changes.

Possible Issues You May Encounter When Cloning HDD to SSD on Lenovo

Though it's a minority, some users may encounter the following issues after cloning Lenovo hard drive to SSD.

Question 1: Disk Booting Issue

The most common problem after a clone is disk booting. There are three main reasons for this:

1. You manually selected the system drive (only C:) for cloning.
2. You connected the HDD to your computer and made it a USB drive.
3. The computer is lacking necessary drivers.

For scenario 1: When using Disk Copy to clone the system, make sure you select Disk Clone instead of Partition Clone. This ensures that the system partition and the boot partition remain together, avoiding any booting issues. If you accidentally cloned the partition, please reach out to our support team (support@todo-backup.com) for remote assistance. They will assist you in creating a system partition to resolve the boot issue.

For case 2: You need to edit the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) that was cloned to the SSD, which helps make the Windows system partition bootable. For a detailed guide on editing the BCD, refer to Microsoft's official documentation: BCDEdit command-line options.

For scenario 3: You can use the built-in Windows command-line tool DISM (Deployment Image Servicing and Management) to add drivers. You can also refer to Microsoft's official documentation, Add and remove drivers from an offline Windows image, for assistance.

If you encounter any issues that you can't handle after cloning HDD to SSD with Todo Backup, feel free to reach out to our support team (support@tools.com) for assistance.

Question 2: Request for software reactivation

Depending on the software design, some programs may require reactivation when hardware changes are detected. If this happens, contact the software vendor and ask them to reset your activation code to resolve the issue.

Question 3: SSD alignment failed after cloning

Your SSD might have alignment issues after disk cloning. You can check the alignment of your SSD by following these steps:

Step 1: Press “Windows + R,” then type msinfo32.

< b > Step 2: < /b > Go to Apps > Storage > Disks.

Step 3: Check the value for “Partition Start Offset.” If this number is not divisible by 4096, your SSD is not properly aligned.

How to Make the Most Out of Your SSD

After you install an SSD in your computer, follow these recommendations to help you get the most from it and extend its lifespan:

Enable Trim

The TRIM command can improve an SSD's write speeds and extend its lifespan. As such, you should enable TRIM on it to keep it performing at its best.

Update the firmware

SSD manufacturers regularly release updates to fix technical issues and bugs, and even to optimize SSD performance. So, it's a good idea to keep your SSD's firmware up to date.

Always leave a little space.

When an SSD runs out of space, performance-related issues might occur. Also, if the SSD is your system disk, you should consider that both the system and applications require free space to function properly. Therefore, always keep some spare space available on your SSD.

There are other tips for getting the most out of an SSD, too, like not defragmenting it, not storing large files on it, and not Secure Erasing the drive. Follow this advice, and you'll get both better performance and longer life out of your SSD.

Ultimately

With software like Disk Clone Tool, cloning HDD to SSD on Lenovo laptop can be quite straightforward. In most cases, the job should be done smoothly as long as your SSD meets the requirements mentioned above. If you encounter any unexpected issues and are unsure how to resolve them, feel free to reach out to our support team for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions on Cloning Lenovo Hard Drive to SSD

Below are several issues highly relevant to cloning a Lenovo laptop hard drive. If you encounter any of the following problems, you may find solutions here.

1. How do I replace the solid state drive (SSD) in my Lenovo laptop?

Follow these simple steps to replace the HDD with an SSD in your Lenovo laptop.

Tool:

• Hard drive or SSD
• Small screwdriver

Step one: Make sure the laptop is turned off and disconnected from its power adapter, and remove the battery.

Step 2: Remove the screw holding the hard drive caddy in place.

Step 3: Connect the SSD to your laptop. Plug in the cable, and slide the drive into its slot. Put the cover back on. Reinstall the battery.

How do I transfer my laptop's operating system from an HDD to an SSD?

Connect the SSD to your laptop and use a disk cloning tool to migrate the OS from the HDD to the SSD without reinstalling the operating system.

Step 1: Run the program and choose the system disk in "Disk Mode" as the source disk, then click "Next".

Step 2: Select the target disk as the destination disk.

Step 3: Check the disk layout of two hard drives and click "Continue" to start the task.

Step 4. Boot the Windows operating system from the cloned hard drive.

How do I clone Windows from HDD to SSD?

To clone operating system from HDD to SSD, you can easily accomplish the task with a disk cloning tool. You can follow the instructions in the tutorial to clone Windows to a smaller SSD. After cloning, you need to perform the remaining operations to ensure a smooth boot.

How to clone Lenovo hard drive?

Step 1: Download, install, and run the disk cloning tool on your computer. Click "Disk Mode," then select the hard drive you want to copy or clone. Proceed with "Next."

Step 2: Select the target disk. If prompted, click “OK” to erase the data from the target disk.

Step 3. Review and edit the disk layout, then click “Continue” to start the cloning process.