How to Migrate OS from HDD to SSD? OS Migration 2024

Since SSDs provide better performance, users might wanna migrate their operating system to SSD for a smoother experience. Are you looking for a tool to move your OS to an SSD? If so, you're in the right place. This article will guide you through the steps of migrating your OS to an SSD using the Partition Master tool.

Before we begin the tutorial, let's review the overview of how to migrate the operating system to an SSD:

Proceed to Transfer System to SSD in Windows

Follow and proceed to learn how to migrate the Windows operating system to SSD on your PC manually:

**Step 1: Prepare your SSD - Install it properly in your PC.**

First, ensure that Windows can detect and access your SSD. Connect the SSD to your PC using a USB cable, or insert it into the NVMe or M.2 slot if that's the type of SSD you have. For a brand new SSD, open Disk Management and initialize the SSD with the same partition style as your OS drive.

**Step 2: Create a backup of your data and save it to an external disk if necessary.** This step translates to: **Step 2: Backup your data and save it to an external drive if needed.**

In case of unexpected system transfer failure or interruption causing data loss issues, it's wise to create a backup of valuable data to an external hard drive in advance.

Step 3: Create a system image of your Windows PC.

Once the SSD is ready, you can create a system backup image by going to Control Panel > Backup and Restore > Create a System Image. Next, browse to select the disk where you want to save the system image.

Step 4: Perform System Image Recovery to migrate OS to your SSD.

Use a USB flash drive to create a Windows installation media and boot the PC from the bootable media. Upon the installation screen, choose "Repair your computer" and enter the Troubleshooting window. From the Advanced options, select System Image Recovery, and then choose the system image you wish to restore onto the SSD.

Migrating the operating system to an SSD using system recovery.

< strong >Step 5: Make the Windows bootable on the new SSD.

Restart the PC and press the F2/F10/Delete key to enter BIOS. In the boot menu, set the new SSD as the boot drive. Save the changes and restart the PC.

If you prefer an easier or beginner's guide for migrating the Windows operating system to your new SSD, follow the next guide for more details.

How to Migrate OS to SSD Using OS Migration Tools Here's a general guide on how to migrate your operating system (OS) to a Solid State Drive (SSD) using migration tools: 1. **Choose a Migration Tool:** - Popular options include: - Windows built-in "Reset this PC" or "Create a system image." - Third-party tools like tools Todo Backup, Clonezilla, or Macrium Reflect. 2. **Backup Your Data:** Before starting the process, ensure all important files and documents are backed up. 3. **Connect the SSD:** Attach the new SSD to your computer. You can use an external enclosure or connect it internally if you have access to the hardware. 4. **Boot from the Migration Tool:** If using a third-party tool, create a bootable USB or CD/DVD with the software and boot your computer from it. 5. **Start the Migration Process:** Follow the tool's instructions to initiate the OS migration. This typically involves selecting the source drive (your current OS drive) and the target drive (the new SSD). 6. **Clone the OS:** The tool will copy your OS, including the system files, applications, and settings, to the SSD. 7. **Verify the Clone:** After the cloning process is complete, check if the cloned SSD has all necessary files and settings. 8. **Set BIOS/UEFI to Boot from SSD:** Enter your computer's BIOS/UEFI settings and change the boot order to prioritize the SSD. 9. **Save Changes and Restart:** Save the changes and restart your computer. It should now boot from the SSD. 10. **Finalize Configuration:** If prompted, perform any necessary post-migration configurations, such as updating the SSD driver or resizing partitions. Remember that the exact steps may vary depending on the specific tool and your computer's setup. Always refer to the tool's documentation for detailed instructions.

The "Migrate OS" feature in tools Partition Master allows you to transfer all data on the system and boot partitions, including the operating system and applications, to a new SSD or HDD without the need to reinstall Windows or apps. This function greatly simplifies the process of OS migration and saves time.

Follow the step-by-step tutorials below to migrate OS from HDD to SSD with simple clicks.

Step 1. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant, go to the Clone tab, and then click "Migrate OS" and hit "Next" to proceed.

Select "Migrate OS" and then click "Next" to proceed.

Step 2. Select the target SSD you want to move Windows OS to, and click "Next".

Step 3. Click "Yes" to confirm that you want to perform the operation.

Step 4. Click "Start" to begin migrating your OS to the new SSD.

Further Tips: Make Windows Boot from New SSD After OS Migration

Follow the steps to migrate the OS from the HDD to the SSD. Afterwards, complete the following steps to ensure your computer boots from the cloned SSD. This part is critical as it determines whether you can successfully boot the operating system. Share this article to inform others how to do it.

Step 1. Restart your PC and press F2/F8/F11 or Del to enter BIOS.

Step 2. Navigate to the boot section in BIOS and set the cloned SSD as the boot drive.

Step 3. Save the changes and restart your PC.

Now, you should be able to boot your computer from the Windows installation on the new SSD.

In addition to transferring the OS from HDD to SSD, Partition Master also makes it easy to help you partition HDD/SSD and make full use of your disk:

Translate the following text into English: -
• Directly transfer free disk space from one drive to another, for instance, move space from D drive to C drive.
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• Resize or move partitions, create, format, delete, and merge partitions.
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• Copy and clone an entire disk to another, even if the target partition is smaller than the source.
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• Convert a logical partition to primary or primary to logical, FAT to NTFS partition, MBR disk to GPT, or GPT disk to MBR.
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• Permanently wipe out all data on the hard disk to prevent information leakage or recovery.

Why Do I Need to Move OS to SSD

Should I upgrade from HDD to SSD? Absolutely. In numerous aspects, SSD outperforms HDD, including faster data read and write speeds, less noise, and higher efficiency. Besides, modern systems demand improved disk storage performance, making it essential to migrate Windows to a new SSD.

As a robust and feature-rich tool, Partition Master can swiftly and securely migrate your operating system from an HDD/SSD to an SSD. You can utilize this tool to enhance performance in the following scenarios:

Here are the translations in American English:
• Moving your operating system to an SSD for quicker boot times.
Shift to an SSD to speed up booting.
• Swapping out an old hard drive without reinstalling everything.
Replace an aging hard drive without losing your system.
• Moving the OS to a bigger SSD fixes the issue of low space on the original drive.
Upgrade to a larger SSD to overcome storage limitations on the original disk.

In short, there are many scenarios for migrating an operating system. Migrating a system using professional tools does not result in data loss. Migrating OS to SSD with tools like Partition Master is a wise choice.

Conclusion

With the help of the tool Partition Master, you can easily migrate your operating system to an SSD! It simplifies the process and boosts the migration success rate.

Later, you can also use this tool to optimize the performance of SSDs, such as 4K-aligned SSDs. If you have any needs, download Partition Master for free and try this tool!

More Relevant Topics About Tools for Operating System Migration

Here are some frequently asked questions about the tools Partition Master and its Clone and Migrate OS features. Check the brief answers if you have any of these concerns as well.

1. How do I clone a hard drive to an SSD?

You can use the Clone option in AOMEI Partition Assistant to clone HDD or SSD. You can even clone a larger HDD to a smaller SSD.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Partition Assistant. Right-click the source disk that you want to copy or clone. Then, select "Clone".

Step 2. Select the target SSD as your destination and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 3. Here, you can choose to "Autofit the disk," "Clone as the source," or "Edit disk layout." Click on "Edit disk layout" to proceed.

Step 4. Click "Execute the Operation" and hit "Apply" to start cloning the hard drive to SSD.

2. Tools: Migrate OS VS Clone

You can use the Clone feature of AOMEI Partition Assistant to clone a partition or an entire disk. You can clone HDD to HDD or copy HDD to SSD. This function is best used to clone data disks. If you want to clone system disks, we recommend you try the Migrate OS option.

Migrate OS allows you to clone your system disk to a larger HDD or SSD without the need for reinstallation or encountering any boot issues. It copies both the system partition and the boot drive together, ensuring that the target disk can be booted correctly after the process.

3. Can't迁移操作系统到SSD? In American English, it would be: "Can't move the operating system to an SSD?"

There could be an unspecified reason preventing you from migrating the operating system (OS) from a hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid-state drive (SSD). In such a scenario, the most efficient solution is to utilize a dependable system migration software for the task. Download the tool Partition Master to migrate your OS to an SSD.

To migrate the operating system (OS) to a solid-state drive (SSD):

1. Click "Migrate OS" from the top toolbar. 2. Select a target disk and customize the partition layout on the target disk. 3. Click "OK" to start the cloning process.

4. Cloned SSD won't boot?

There are several reasons why your cloned SSD might not boot, including an incomplete clone, clone failure, BCD (Boot Configuration Data) error, incorrect boot order, and more. Try these solutions to resolve the issue of the SSD not functioning after cloning.

Here are the translations for the given phrases into English: 1. Re-clone HDD to SSD using Partition Master tool 2. Check and fix the BCD (Boot Configuration Data) error 3. Add required drivers to the cloned SSD 4. Change the boot order in the BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) 5. Set the system partition as an active partition 6. Connect the SSD to the computer using a SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) cable