How to Easily Clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD (Secure Boot)

You can learn the best disk cloning software for cloning M2 SSD to SATA SSD and you can learn how to use it to clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD easily. Please read on.

By @Clytze Last Updated February 13, 2025

User Case: How Do I Clone NVMe to SATA SSD and Boot Successfully?

“I have a Western Digital SN750 M.2 NVME SSD. It has my Windows 10 Installation and a Data Partition. I recently bought a Samsung 960 Evo which is a SATA SSD. They are both 1 TB. I used the Samsung Data Migration Tool to Clone my Boot Drive to the Samsung Drive. When it finished, my laptop rebooted and then failed to boot. How do I boot to the cloned drive successfully? Or, do I need to re-clone it with different software? Thanks!”

If you have also encountered the problem mentioned in the above case and want to know how to clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD and boot from cloned disk successfully. You can continue reading the following sections. This article will introduce the best disk cloning software and use it for cloning M2 SSD to SATA SSD.

Preparations for Cloning M2 SSD to SATA SSD

To clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD and boot successfully, you need to complete the following preparation work first.

1. Backup important files

If your target SSD is not new and it contains some important files, it is recommended that you backup files in advance. The reason is that the target disk will be wiped after cloning.

2. Compatibility

Make sure the target SATA SSD is compatible with your motherboard, or consult your computer manufacturer.

3. Check if there is a SATA cable

Since the target disk is a SATA SSD, you need to confirm if the computer has a SATA cable. If so, you can successfully connect the SATA SSD.

4. Install the SATA SSD properly

You need to disconnect the battery or disconnect the power before installation.

5. Convert the SATA SSD to GPT disk

Since NVMe disks support UEFI boot mode, if you want to successfully boot your computer from the cloned SATA SSD after cloning, you need to convert the SATA SSD to a GPT disk just the same as the NVMe or you can also use disk cloning software for conversion.

6. Download the best M2 cloning software

To successfully clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD, AOMEI Backupper Professional - the reliable and secure disk cloning software is your best choice.  It will clone everything from M.2 SSD to SATA SSD without reinstalling Windows, whether it's GPT or MBR disk. After cloning, you can successfully boot your computer from the cloned disk.

AOMEI Backupper
Why AOMEI Backupper Stands out in SSD Clone?

  • Multiple SSD brands and types: It supports various branded SSD (WD, Crucial, Kingston, Samsung, etc) with different disk types (SATA, NVMe, M.2, etc). In addition to SSDs, it also supports HDDs, USB flash drives and SD cards.

  • SSD Alignment: This feature can accelerate the read and write speed of the target SSD disk.

  • Intelligent clone: By default, it will only clone used sectors, so you can easily clone a large NVMe M2 SSD to a small SATA SSD. When you clone a disk with bad sectors, it can automatically skip the bad sectors.

Download Demo Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7
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How to Clone M2 to SATA SSD Step by Step

Next, this article will introduce how to clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD easily with professional disk cloning software. Download and install this software first and you can follow the graphic tutorial below to clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD step by step. If you are a Windows Server user, please try AOMEI Backupper Server.

Step 1. Open AOMEI Backupper Professional, then click Clone > Disk Clone.

Step 2. Choose the M2 SSD as the source disk. Then, click Next.

Step 3. Choose the SATA SSD as the destination disk. Then, click Next.

Step 4. If the SATA SSD is an MBR disk and you haven’t converted it before, click Edit Partitions and tick Convert the destination disk from MBR to GPT, then click OK.

Step 5. Click Start Clone to clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD. After cloning, change boot order in BIOS to make your computer boot from the newly cloned drive.

Notes:

  • SSD Alignment: You can tick this feature to accelerate the SATA SSD's reading and writing speed. 
  • Sector By Sector Clone: If your target disk is equal to or larger than the source disk, you can use this feature and it will help you clone all sectors, whether they are used or not. 
  • If your computer doesn’t boot as expected, check the cloned SSD won’t boot guide to fix it.

Why Clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD?

NVMe M.2 Drive is a type of SSD (solid-state drive), mostly used in Ultrabooks and laptops. M.2 SSDs are commonly used to replace mSATA SSDs for smaller size and faster speed. Compared with most mSATA SSDs (50mm*30mm*4mm or 30*30*4mm), M.2 SSDs can be faster.

SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) is an interface used to connect solid-state drives (SSDs), hard disk drives (HDDs) and optical drives. SATA greatly improves upon its predecessor - PATA, and the read speed can reach up to 600 MB/S under ideal conditions.

Regarding why you should clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD, this article summarizes the most common reasons for you as below.

  • Get more storage space: If you find that your NVMe M.2 drive doesn't have enough capacity, you may need to upgrade to a larger drive.
  • Avoid drive failure: A hard drive that's been in use for several years can easily wear out. You can avoid hard drive failure by replacing your old M2 SSD with a new SATA SSD.
  • Save money: NVMe M.2 is more expensive than SATA SSDs, so if you already have an NVMe M.2 SSD, you can choose to buy a new SATA SSD.

FAQs about Cloning M2 SSD to SATA SSD

1. What’s the difference in speed between M.2 and SATA SSDs?

M.2 SSDs generally offer much faster read and write speeds than SATA SSDs, especially if the M.2 drive is using the NVMe protocol. SATA SSDs are limited by the SATA interface, which typically offers speeds up to 600 MB/s, while M.2 NVMe drives can reach speeds exceeding 3,000 MB/s.

2. Will cloning an M.2 SSD to a SATA SSD affect my system performance?

Cloning from an M.2 SSD (especially an NVMe one) to a SATA SSD could result in a noticeable decrease in performance, as SATA SSDs are slower compared to M.2 NVMe drives. However, your data will still be preserved, and the system will function normally, albeit at slower speeds.

3. Can I boot from the SATA SSD after cloning from the M.2 SSD?

Yes, you should be able to boot from the cloned SATA SSD, provided that the cloning software properly copies all the necessary boot sectors and system files. Make sure to check your BIOS/UEFI settings to ensure the SATA SSD is selected as the boot drive.

Summary

This article shows you the best reliable and professional disk cloning software AOMEI Backupper Professional and how to use it to easily clone M2 SSD to SATA SSD in Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7. After cloning, you can successfully boot your computer from the cloned disk. It supports multiple SSD disk types and brands, and you can choose to clone only used sectors or clone all sectors.

Except for Disk Clone, it also offers System Clone and Partition Clone to meet your different needs. You can download this software to discover more features.