One-Stop Wizard to Copy Boot Drive to New Drive or SSD(Bootable)

The easiest method to copy boot drive to another drive is using disk clone software, which will include OS-related system files or drivers to ensure your computer is bootable. It also includes the installed programs and your personal data.

But it is disappointing that Windows does not have such software. Reinstalling Windows is complicated and time-consuming, and most users don't want to spend time on it. Indeed, this is something we often avoid doing. Here recommend you use 3rd-party software - AOMEI Backupper and show you a complete guide as follows. 

AOMEI Backupper

We strongly recommend you use powerful cloning software - AOMEI Backupper Professional. Learn more >>

Download Demo
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

Get a New HDD or SSD

The biggest differences between HDD and SSD are capacity and performance. If you want a disk with a large capacity, please prepare a new HDD. 

• Seagate BarraCuda, with 7200 RPM, 1TB-8TB capacity
• WD Blue Desktop, with 5,400 – 7,200 RPM, 500GB -6TB capacity
• Seagate Seagate FireCuda, with 7200 RPM, 250GB -8TB capacity

If you are serious about performance, then SSDs are the way to go. Samsung SSDs (e.g. Samsung 990 Pro, 990 EVO, 980,  870QVO), Crucial SSDs (e.g. Crucial T705, P3), and WD SSDs (e.g. WD Black SN850X) are both good SSD options.

Importantly, make sure you buy an HDD or SSD with the right form factor, such as a 2.5-inch drive, or the "gumstick" M.2 format. Also, the disk capacity matters, especially on a laptop, or computer with only one disk slot. Please prepare a screwdriver and connector (e.g. SATA or M.2, PCIe, NVMe, etc., cable, adapter, enclosure) as well.

Free Up Space and Backup Your Data

If you want to copy boot drive to a smaller SSD, you need to be sure the used space on the old disk and free up more space if it's larger than smaller SSD. You can choose to delete some useless files and uninstall programs you no longer use. In addition, it's necessary to backup large files and delete them from the old disk (if there are more files).

In addition, backing up files to external hard drive before cloning it is a good way to protect your data safely. You are at risk of losing data during the process due to human error. Windows provides you with several backup options, such as File History. You can also use third-party software like AOMEI Backupper to enjoy more flexible features.

Install New HDD or SSD 

To be sure the cloning process goes smoothly, you need to connect both the old disk and the new HDD or SSD. If your computer has two slots, just slide your drive into the slot and screw it tightly. If your computer only has one slot, connect your new HDD or SSD using an adapter, or put it into a disk enclosure and then connect the other side to your computer via a USB port.

If it's a brand new one, you cannot see it in the File Explorer unless it's initialized. Right-click Start and select Disk Management. Locate your new drive and select Initialize Disk. Then, you will be asked to select MBR or GPT as the partition style. Here I select GPT as my disk partition type is GUI Partition Table. If yours is Master Boot Record, select MBR.

Copy Boot Drive to New Drive or SSD using Software

Some manufacturers offer migration software to help smooth out the process, such as Samsung Data Migration, WD edition of Acronis True Image, etc., to migrate their data from one hard drive to another.

But there are some restrictions while using it. If you experience any unpleasantness, try third-party hard drive and SSD cloning software - AOMEI Backupper Professional. It works for all the Windows operating systems and any disk brands. 

AOMEI Backupper

Easy Hard Drive and SSD Cloning Software

• Bootable clone: The “Disk Clone” feature includes all the OS-related partitions, such as C drive, EFI system partition, or system reserved partition, recovery partition, etc.
• Clone HDDs/SSDs and MBR/GPT disks without converting partition style.
• Clone hard drive with different sizes: You can not only clone disk to larger disk, but also clone larger HDD to smaller SSD.
• Clone hard drive or SSD with different interfaces, such as clone NVMe to NVMe, clone M.2 SSD to M.2 SSD, clone PCIe SSD, etc
• SSD Alignment: It optimizes the SSD disk performance and extends its lifespan.

Download Demo
Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7

100% Secure

Step 1. Install AOMEI Backupper Professional

Click the download button to get an .exe file and double-click it for installation. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to complete this process and open it. 

Step 2. Choose the Disk Clone feature

In the main page of AOMEI Backupper, click Clone and Disk Clone to start the cloning process. If your smaller SSD cannot hold all data on the old disk after freeing up space, try to only move boot partition in Windows 10 or 11 using the "System Clone" feature.

Step 3. Choose the Source Disk and Destination Disk

The source disk is the old drive containing the operating system (to be cloned), while the destination disk is where the data (on the cloned disk) is to be kept. Note the data on the destination disk will be overwritten or deleted. Please backup files in advance. Click OK to continue if you've done this. 

Step 4. Manage Your Disk and Start Clone

Confirm the operation and click Start Clone to clone boot drive in Windows 10. Click SSD Alignment to accelerate the reading and writing speed of SSDs. 

Optionally, click the "Edit Partitions" feature and select "Add unused space to all partitions" or "Manually adjust partition size" to show the full capacity of a cloned disk. 

• Copy without resizing partitions: It will not resize the partition size.
• Add unused space to all partitions: It will reallocate the unallocated space to each partition of the target disk, appropriate for the disk size.
• Manually adjust partition size: It allows you to extend unallocated space to any partition on the destination disk you want.

You can also enjoy the Convert the destination disk from MBR to GPT option, or vice versa, depending on the disk partition styles between them. So you don't need to convert partition style before or after cloning. 

Boot Your Computer

Sometimes, your computer will not boot from the target drive automatically, especially for a laptop. For a desktop, you can directly change boot order to set the boot priority for cloned disk, then it will boot.

But if you are using a laptop, you need to take out the old hard drive and install SSD on the location of your original hard drive. If you don’t switch the boot drive in Windows 11/10/8/7, it may boot from the original hard drive automatically. Then, set the cloned hard drive to the first boot option and boot from it.

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