Samsung SSD Cloning Won't Boot - How to Fix It?

The problem of a cloned HDD/SSD not booting is a common error encountered by many users after cloning their HDD/SSD, which can be frustrating and affect productivity.

This guide will explain why your Samsung SSD clone won't boot and offer effective solutions to help you create a bootable cloned drive in Windows 11/10/8/7.

The main takeaways

So, today I bought a Samsung 840 EVO 250GB SSD and cloned my main hard drive to it using Samsung Data Migration v2.6. It successfully copied and verified all the data. Upon completion, it prompted me to restart the computer and “install the SSD.” After the restart, the computer booted from the SSD but when I checked the drives on my computer, the original hard drive was still set as C: with Windows files on it. Any idea why this happened? How can I get everything over to the SSD so it's the only bootable drive?

Have you encountered the same issue when attempting to upgrade to a new Samsung SSD? To effectively resolve this problem, it's essential to understand why the error occurs. Some of the most common reasons include:

• The SSD is not connected properly or is installed incorrectly, causing it to be unrecognized.
• The cloned SSD is not set as the boot drive.
• The BIOS boot mode is incompatible with your cloned SSD.
• The boot sector is hidden and was not cloned to the SSD.
• The cloning process of the Samsung SSD failed.

Viable Solutions to Fix Unbootable Samsung SSD Issues

We've listed five solutions below, ordered from the most to the least likely cause. Follow the step-by-step guides to get your SSD working properly.

Quick navigation:

1. Correctly reconnect/reinstall the SSD
2. Change the boot order to boot from the cloned SSD
3. Set BIOS to boot from UEFI or Legacy
4. Run Bootrec.exe
5. Reclone the Samsung SSD?

1️⃣ Reconnect/Properly Install the SSD +

You will need to connect the SSD to your computer correctly with a SATA-to-USB cable or adapter to ensure that the Samsung SSD is recognized properly.

If you installed the Samsung SSD in a desktop computer case, reseat it and make sure it's installed in the correct position.

After that, restart your computer and check if it can boot from the new SSD drive.

Next up, we just need the translation in American English:

2️⃣ Change the boot order to start from the cloned SSD

If you have two disks installed in your computer, it's also possible that you're not booting from the cloned Samsung SSD. In that case, you can change the boot disk in your BIOS settings.

Step one: Turn off the computer and restart it. Hit F2, F8, F12, or Del to enter the BIOS setup.

Step 2. Look for the Boot tab, and then select the cloned Samsung SSD as the boot drive.

Step 3: Save the changes and exit the BIOS.

Step 4. Restart your computer and wait patiently to see if it boots from the cloned SSD.

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3️⃣ Set the BIOS to boot from UEFI or Legacy mode

If you clone a GPT disk to an MBR SSD or vice versa, you must change the boot mode from UEFI to Legacy, or from Legacy to UEFI.

Step 1: Restart your computer and press F2/F8/F12/Del to enter BIOS setup.

Step 2. Move the mouse cursor to the Boot tab, click Boot Mode, and select either Legacy or UEFI.

Step 3: Press F10 to save the settings and exit the BIOS.

Step 4. Restart your computer and check whether the cloned SSD can boot.

4️⃣ Run Bootre.exe

Bootrec.exe is a utility used to update the Master Boot Record (MBR) code, Partition Boot Sector code, and the BCD (Boot Configuration Data). You can use this Windows Command Prompt tool to address the issue of "Samsung hard drive won't boot after cloning."

First, obtain a Windows installation DVD and boot from it.

Step 2. Select “Troubleshoot” – “Advanced options” – “Command prompt.”

Step 3: Type the bootrec.exe command in the Command Prompt window that opens, and run the tool to fix the error.

These are commands used in the Windows operating system to repair the boot records: 1. `bootrec.exe /fixmbr` - Fixes the Master Boot Record (MBR). This command replaces the MBR without affecting the partition table. 2. `bootrec.exe /fixboot` - Repairs the boot sector. It overwrites the Windows Boot Manager (BCD) onto the boot sector of the system partition. 3. `bootrec.exe /scanos` - Scans for all operating systems. This command looks for all instances of Windows installed on the computer. 4. `bootrec.exe /rebuildbcd` - Rebuilds the Boot Configuration Data (BCD). This command searches all system partitions to find Windows installations and allows you to select which ones to add to the BCD store. Please note that when running these commands, it is typically required to do so with administrative privileges at the Command Prompt. These commands are often used to address boot issues or when Windows fails to start normally.

Figure 1: Launching the Repair Command Prompt

5️⃣ Clone the Samsung SSD Again

If all the solutions above don't work, then the clone might be incomplete. During the SSD cloning process, Samsung Data Migration may get stuck or not work properly. To ensure a successful Samsung SSD clone, you should use an alternative to Samsung Data Migration, which is a professional disk cloning program with many advanced features: AOMEI Backupper Standard.

• Rapid cloning speed with no data loss.
• Compatibility with various HDDs and SSDs.
• Support for sector-by-sector cloning, copying only used space.
• Smart cloning that skips bad sectors during hard drive cloning.
• System cloning support for seamless migration to an SSD.

With this powerful disk cloning tool, you don't have to worry about the process failing or losing data. Download it now and clone your Samsung SSD.

Advance notice:

• "Clone by sector" requires the target disk to be the same size or larger than the source disk. Do not check this option if you want to clone a larger disk to a smaller one. • All data on the target disk will be completely erased. Please proceed with caution.

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

Step 2: Select another disk as the target disk.

Step 3. Check the partitions of source and target disk. You can choose to “Resize partition automatically”, “Keep the same as source disk”, or “Edit Partitions” to customize the partition on the target disk.

• "Fit to disk" makes some modifications to the manual layout to optimize it for the destination. • "Copy source disk" makes no changes to the target, which has the same layout as the source. • "Edit disk layout" lets you manually adjust/move partitions on the target disk.

Check “Perform this check if the target is an SSD” to ensure best performance from an SSD.

A warning message will appear, telling you that your data will be erased. Tap “OK” to confirm the warning, then tap “Next.”

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

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In short

It's all about "Samsung SSD Clone Won't Boot", and we hope this post helps you get your cloned Samsung SSD up and running.

Based on our experience, Samsung Data Migration might not be the perfect choice due to its basic features and limited technical support. As an alternative, you can try using the Disk Copy tool, which offers advanced SSD cloning features and faster speed. With just a few clicks, you can easily clone your HDD/SSD and boot directly from it. Don't miss out on this option.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Samsung SSD Cloning Issues and Inability to Boot

1. Why is my Samsung Data Migration not progressing?

Samsung Data Migration may get stuck and fail to proceed due to various potential factors, such as insufficient disk space, attempting to migrate large files or partitions at once, bad sectors on the source/destination disk, or partition errors.

How long does it take to clone a Samsung phone?

The time it takes to clone a Samsung SSD largely depends on the amount of data stored on the hard drive. The more data you have on your SSD, the longer it will take. Other factors, such as cloning speed, hardware condition, and connection cables, can also influence the speed, which can range anywhere from 10 Mb/s to 1000 Mb/s. To speed up the cloning process, opting for a reliable disk cloning tool like Disk Copy is advisable.

How do I get BIOS to recognize a new SSD?

If your BIOS isn't detecting or recognizing the new SSD, check the cable connection. Make sure the SATA cable is properly and securely connected to your computer. Also, inspect the SSD for any physical damage that might be causing issues. Additionally, ensure that your BIOS settings are correct.