Your Ultimate Guide: How to Clone Windows to M.2 SSD [2024 Tutorial]

The key points to clone Windows to M.2:

If you have reliable and suitable software, cloning Windows to M.2 can be a seamless and straightforward process. In this article, you'll learn how to clone Windows to M.2 using the best OS cloning software for a successful boot.

Please continue reading through this article to the end and follow the guide to get the best OS cloning software to clone Windows to M.2. This will help in making it bootable successfully.

If you've recently purchased a new M.2 SSD drive, you might be looking to migrate your data and operating system from the old drive to the new one. You'll need to know how to clone Windows to M.2 SSD. Let's learn the process:

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How to Clone Windows to M.2? Best OS Cloning Software Free Download

• Objective: Clone Windows to an M.2 SSD
• Intended Users: Beginners and professionals using Windows
• Supported Operating Systems: Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and Windows Server
• Prerequisites: Install and initialize the M.2 SSD, backup important data on the Windows system volume

If you plan to clone Windows to M.2, it's not possible without any third-party OS cloning software. Not only will this make the job easier, but it will also help you work quickly. We have a top recommendation that is both reliable and user-friendly: the Partition Master Tool. It offers support for cloning operating systems, disks, and partitions. It operates swiftly, delivering effective results with just a few clicks.

Read More: How to Clone an M.2 SSD With Only One Slot

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Step-by-Step Guide to Cloning Windows to an M.2 in 2023 Cloning the Windows operating system to an M.2 SSD has become a popular method for boosting computer performance in 2023. Known for its high speed and compact size, here's a simple tutorial on how to do it: 1. **Gather Tools**: - An M.2 NVMe SSD (your new storage device) - A card reader or a desktop/laptop with an M.2 interface - Windows Media Creation Tool (for creating a system installation drive, if needed) - Cloning software: e.g., Acronis True Image, Clonezilla, or the built-in Windows tool for creating a system image 2. **Backup Data**: Before starting, ensure you back up all essential data as a precaution. 3. **Install the M.2 SSD**: Insert the M.2 SSD into the appropriate slot on your motherboard, according to your computer model. Make sure it's securely installed. 4. **Connect to the System**: If your PC doesn't have an integrated M.2 slot, use a card reader to connect the SSD to a USB port. 5. **Choose Cloning Software**: Select suitable cloning software based on your preferences and needs. For this example, we'll use Acronis True Image: - Download and install Acronis True Image. - Launch the software and select the "Clone" option. 6. **Select Source and Target Drives**: In the cloning wizard, choose your current Windows system drive as the source drive, then select the new M.2 SSD as the target drive. 7. **Start Cloning**: After confirming the settings, initiate the cloning process. This may take some time, depending on the speeds of the source and target drives. 8. **Verify the Clone**: Once cloning is complete, disconnect the M.2 SSD and reconnect it. Ensure your system recognizes the new drive. Boot your computer – if everything goes well, it should automatically boot from the M.2 SSD. 9. **Set BIOS/UEFI**: Access BIOS/UEFI settings and set the new M.2 SSD as the primary boot device. 10. **Test and Adjust**: Begin using the new drive, checking that all applications and settings run smoothly. Make adjustments as necessary. Please note that these steps might vary slightly depending on your specific hardware and software environment. Always follow manufacturers' recommendations and guidelines. Don't hesitate to seek professional assistance if you encounter issues during the process.

If you want to clone Windows directly to an M.2 drive, follow these steps:

If your system partition and boot partition are on separate volumes, you'll need to repeat this process twice: once to clone the system partition, and again to clone the boot partition.

Step 1. In the left-hand menu, choose “Clone.” Click “Clone Partition” and “Next.”

Step 2: Select the source partition, and click Next.

Step 3: Select the partition that you want to format, then click "Next" to continue.

• If you clone a partition to an existing one, move or back up your data first so it will not be overwritten. • Review the warning, then click Yes.

Step 4. Click “Start,” and wait for the cloning process to finish.

You can see how to clone a partition or the System Reserved partition in this video tutorial.

Additional hint: How to make Windows bootable on an M.2 drive

After cloning Windows to the M.2, you should know that your work isn't over yet. Next, you must set the M.2 as the boot drive to ensure that Windows can boot from the new disk. This can be achieved through BIOS settings. Here are a few steps to follow to do this:

Step 1: Make the Motherboard Recognize the M.2 SSD

First, turn off the computer and quickly press “F2” or “Delete” when prompted to enter BIOS. Then, confirm or set the M.2 SSD as the first boot option.

If your M.2 SSD doesn't appear in the list, you'll have to set it to “Manual,” which will set your motherboard to M.2 mode.

Step 2: Set the M.2 as the boot drive

Now, enter the boot menu and change the boot priority to set Windows to boot from the M.2 SSD.

Step 3: Save the settings and exit the program.

Next, browse through the BIOS menu and look for the “Save & Exit” tab. Then, select the option to “Save Changes and Exit.” Finally, your computer will automatically restart.

Yeah, you totally can clone Windows onto an M.2 SSD. The perfect time to do this is before your current system drive gets full or starts acting wonky. Here's a quick rundown: 1. **Back up important data**: Make sure you've got all your vital files and docs backed up before you start cloning. 2. **Buy an M.2 SSD**: Grab an M.2 NVMe SSD with enough space for your Windows install and other stuff. 3. **Get cloning software**: Pick up something like Clonezilla, Macrium Reflect Free, or a paid option like Acronis True Image. Windows 10 has built-in backup tools, but they might not do the cloning thing. 4. **Set up the M.2 SSD**: Install the new M.2 in your rig according to the manufacturer's directions. 5. **Boot from the cloning tool**: Make a bootable USB or CD/DVD with the software and boot your PC from it. 6. **Clone the system**: In the software, follow the prompts to clone your current Windows drive to the M.2. Choose the source (your current drive) and destination (the new M.2). 7. **Verify the clone**: Once cloning's done, switch your BIOS/UEFI settings to prioritize the M.2 SSD and see if it boots up properly. 8. **Optional: Resize partitions**: If needed, use tools like Windows' Disk Management to tweak partition sizes for the new drive. 9. **Remove the old drive (optional)**: If everything's good, disconnect the old drive to free up space or use it for storage. Keep in mind, cloning can sometimes mess with booting, especially when going from an HDD to an SSD since SSDs might need different drivers. If issues arise, you might need to do a clean install on the new SSD with installation media, then manually restore your backups.

Yes, you can clone your Windows installation to an M.2 solid-state drive (SSD). An M.2 SSD is a next-generation SSD that offers faster speeds compared to a standard SSD. M.2 SSDs that support the NVMe protocol can connect directly to the motherboard, providing data transfer speeds of up to 3500 MBPS. Generally, these transfers range between 200-500 MBPS. Additionally, M.2 SSDs are much smaller than SATA SSDs, making them easy to fit into a computer case.

Windows will certainly boot and run faster from an M.2 SSD than from an HDD. There are a few scenarios where you might need to clone Windows to an M.2 SSD:

• When upgrading the operating system drive from an HDD to an M.2 SSD.
• When your computer runs slowly with an old HDD.
• When seeking a better gaming experience.
• When you want to optimize your computer for faster read and write speeds.
• When your computer boots up slowly or lags during operation.

So, whenever there's a need, refer to the guide provided on the page and switch your operating system to a more efficient M.2 SSD without any hassle of OS reinstallation or booting issues.

Final Judgment

Hopefully, we've met your expectations in guiding you through cloning Windows to an M.2 drive. You can trust the Partition Master tool to deliver excellent results.

What else can you do besides using an M.2 SSD or partition tool on a Windows computer?

Apart from cloning Windows to M.2 SSD, Partition Master also offers some useful features for Windows users to manage and optimize both the M.2 SSD and the old system disk. Here are some of them:

• Migrate OS to M.2 SSD with just a few clicks.
• Optimize SSD performance with 4K alignment.
• Boost SSD read and write speed by adjusting cluster size.
• Check SSD health status, test SSD temperature, and I/O performance.
• Clone a hard drive with bad sectors.
• Provide professional technical support when needed.
• Compatible with almost all Windows operating system versions.

Impressively, it utilizes 4K alignment to optimize SSD. It can help you clean your old hard drive with its disk wiping feature. Additionally, the software yields lightning-fast results with just a few clicks. Download it now to take full advantage of it for cloning and other purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cloning Windows to an M.2 Drive

We hope we've successfully guided you through how to clone Windows to M.2. It's now time to look at some FAQs to address any other concerns you might have.

1. Can Windows 10 be cloned to an SSD?

Yes, if you have a regular hard drive with Windows 10 installed normally, you can switch to an SSD without reinstalling Windows by cloning your system disk. You can refer to this page for how to do that: "Clone Windows to SSD for Free."

2. How to clone an OS from HDD to NVMe?

You can clone the operating system from HDD to NVMe. Most NVMe SSDs use the M.2 form factor, so you'll need to ensure your computer's motherboard supports NVMe. For instance, if you have a motherboard with an M.2 slot that supports NVMe and your computer is in UEFI mode, you can utilize a disk cloning software like the Partition Master tool to clone the OS from HDD to NVMe.

To do so, follow these steps:

1. Install NVMe on your computer.
2. Boot Windows 10 from the original HDD.
3. Download the Partition Master software tool for disk cloning, to clone the hard drive to NVMe.

How do I clone Windows to an SSD only?

1. First, gather your SATA cable and SSD along with the cloning software. 2. Connect the SSD to the SATA-to-USB adapter, then plug it into your computer for initialization. 3. Right-click on the Start menu and select "Disk Management." 4. Install and open the PartitionMaster tool. From the left-hand menu, click on "Disk Clone," then hit "Next." 5. Select the operating system partition and boot partition, then click "Next." 6. Choose the new SSD as the target, then click "Next." When prompted with a warning, click "Yes." 7. Preview the layout of the target disk, then click "Start" to clone the operating system to the SSD. 8. Finally, change the boot drive to the new SSD with the cloned Windows system.