Quick transfer of windows 10 to ssd. Bootable media AOMEI Backupper. Selecting the primary drive in BIOS

It was necessary to look for ways and programs to transfer the system from HDD to SSD, since I had a lot of data on the current operating system and there was no way to perform a clean installation of the system. It is definitely best in this situation to install the Windows 10 operating system again and simply configure it; if you do not know which programs are best to use to transfer the system, then it will be even a little faster.

We decided to look into this issue and tell you how to transfer a Windows 10 system from HDD to SSD without reinstallation. In this article, we have selected the best programs for cloning a Windows 10 hard drive. We also note that with the help of these programs you can even transfer the system in previous versions of Windows.

Before using any of the programs on our list, you need to allocate SSD disk memory. Because after connecting a new SSD drive, the memory is not allocated by default. In this situation, the built-in Windows operating system disk management tool will help us.

Now you can see the new partition on my computer and use it in the future. How to add the My Computer icon to the desktop in Windows 10 can be found in ours.

Programs for cloning Windows 10 hard drive

There are many programs that allow you to transfer the Windows 10 operating system to an SSD drive without reinstallation. The transfer process itself is not complicated, but since I had a very weak HDD drive, some programs that everyone recommends for this simply took a very long time to determine the size of the system.

Therefore, our list of programs will start from the best and simplest to the more complex.


  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • Quickly transfer data from HDD to SSD
  • Automatic search for installed operating systems
  • Russian interface language

Using unique technology that allows you to move Windows to a smaller drive in one operation, you can quickly and easily migrate Windows from a large hard drive to a high-speed SSD. There is also support for all Windows operating systems and different system configurations.

It was this program that made it possible to transfer the system to an SSD drive the fastest. Due to the narrow focus of the program purely on transferring the operating system from HDD to SSD, the transfer is carried out in just a few clicks. A good bonus is that the program interface is in Russian, which will greatly please beginners. In fact, you can open the program and simply follow the OS migration wizard, it will do everything itself, you only need permission.

The downside of the program is the need to buy it, in principle, like most programs of this kind. Well, if you try, you can find an already activated version of the program.


  • Free analogue of cloning programs (license for 30 days)
  • Only English language of the program interface
  • Intuitive and simple user interface

A good tool for transferring an operating system to an SSD drive. The program will not do everything automatically, like our previous software product. This will be a little more difficult to figure out, but the transfer can be done without purchasing a program license.

  1. Download and install the program.
  2. In the window that opens, select the license type Trial And Home, then press Dowmload to download the program completely.
  3. After installing the program, you will be asked to create a backup copy of the system in the form of a bootable USB flash drive.
  4. Next select the tab Create a backup, in which specify the system drive and select Clone this disk.
  5. Here we indicate which sections we want to transfer and select the option Select a disk to clone to to choose where to transfer.
  6. Next you will be shown how the transfer will be carried out, if everything suits you, then click Next and wait for the process to complete.

Although there is nothing complicated here, a beginner can get confused, so the first program on our list is Paragon Migrate OS to SSD, which we recommend that beginners use.


  • Wide functionality of the program
  • Availability of Russian interface language
  • Simple user interface

To transfer the system, most inexperienced users recommend this program. Acronis True Image has the ability to perform direct disk cloning (a license is required), and disk cloning by creating a copy of the system (can be done in the free version).

The downside of the program, besides the need to buy or look for alternative ways to obtain a license, is that it behaves very strangely with very old hard drives. For some reason, the wrong size of the system disk was constantly displayed, or the program took a very long time to calculate. While she was trying to do something, she managed to try several other programs.

conclusions

In this article, we showed how to transfer a Windows 10 system from an HDD to an SSD drive without reinstallation. And also pay attention to the point in our article that Windows 10 does not see the SSD, since this must be done before transferring in any case.

All the programs on our list are good and can solve this issue, but we still recommend using Paragon Migrate OS to SSD, since it beats its competitors in speed and does almost everything automatically.

Moving your system to an SSD is an effective way to organize your computer.

Content:

Please note that depending on the version of Windows and the parameters of the purchased flash drive, transfer methods may vary.

What data can be transferred to SSD

Storing the operating system on an SSD not only speeds up its operation, but also improves the response of other programs and files that are stored on the disk.

The user can transfer the following types of data to a flash drive:

  • Operating system . It is added to the SSD with all ready-made drivers and settings. In essence, a duplicate of it is created, which was previously stored on the HDD;
  • Programs – choose yourself which applications you want to add to and which you want to leave on (HDD). We advise you to leave extensive programs for video editing and software development/testing on your computer - this way they will work many times faster;
  • User files . This can be any of your documents, photos, music, videos and other types of data.

Components to move

To add used Windows to the SSD, the following objects are required:

If you only work with OS resources, you won't need to install a third-party utility to transfer.

Computer requirements

Before you perform any OS migration steps, make sure that your device meets all the minimum requirements that allow the utility to interact with the SSD and transfer large amounts of data.

The minimum requirements are shown in the following table:

Parameter name: Minimum value:
OS · Windows XP (32x only);

· Windows Vista (all bits);

· Windows 7 (all bits);

· Windows 8\8.1 (all bits);

· Windows 10 (all bits).

RAM At least 1GB
Types of drives you carry GPT or MBR
Copied sections Standard. Without the ability to transfer RAID arrays

You can compare your computer's settings with the specifications listed above using the About window.

It displays correct data about the main hardware and software components of the device:

We use the built-in capabilities of Windows

Follow the instructions to transfer the operating system to a flash device:

  • Open the window "Disk Management". To do this, enter the command diskmgmt.msc in the Run window and confirm the action;

Fig.3 - launching disk management tool

  • Now you need to reduce the size of the OS on the disk. You can perform this action using the Shrink Volume function. All data will remain in the same state, only the space occupied on the HDD will decrease. Right-click on the “System” section, and then on “Shrink Volume”;

Fig. 4 – Volume compression

  • After successfully reducing the size of the OS, a free partition will appear in the disk layout. This means that everything was done correctly;
  • Connect the drive to your computer and reboot the window "Disk Management";
  • Now click on the “Wizard” tab and select “OS SSD Transfer” from the list;

Fig.5 - “Master” tab

  • The standard utility for . Click on the "Next" button to go to the settings;
  • Click on the item "Unoccupied space" and go to the next window;

Fig.6 – disk space selection

  • Now you can independently change the size of the future disk or leave all parameters unchanged;

Fig.7 - changing the disk partition size

  • After clicking the “Next” button, the wizard will begin moving the system. After completing the action, you can turn off the computer and the next time you boot, select the OS that is located on the SSD.

Windows will also remain on the hard drive. You can delete it or use it as a backup copy when you need to restore the system.

Fig. 8 - the result of a successful Windows move

Don't forget to click on the "Apply" button in the upper left part of the window "Disk Management", otherwise all changes made will not be saved.

If you experience any error windows or freezes during the transfer, you should reset the settings, restart your PC, and try the transfer again.

Fig.9 - applying changes

Instructions for SSD from Samsung

The company has released an official utility that allows you to quickly move the OS from your hard drive to a purchased flash drive.

The utility is called Samsung Data Migration. You can download it for free from the company’s official website (section “Memory” - “SSD”) or using the disk that comes with the device.

The initial program window looks like this:

Fig. 10 – Samsung Data Migration utility window

Immediately after launching the utility, connect the SSD to your computer using the appropriate adapter. Click on the “Start” button.

Fig. 11 – analysis of a disk with an installed copy of Windows

After analysis, the program will automatically detect the SSD connected to the computer and display it on the screen:

Fig. 12 – reconciliation of the source and destination disk

If the space occupied by Windows on the HDD does not exceed the available space on the SSD, you can immediately begin the transfer by clicking on the “Start” button.

The automatic movement of all components will begin. The procedure can take from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours, depending on the version of Windows used.

Fig. 13 - successful system transfer

As a result, you will receive a success notification. Close the window and delete all Windows data from the HDD.

The advantage of using Samsung Data Migration is its simple interface. The program will do all the work for you and minimize the likelihood of errors or bugs appearing after transferring the OS.

What to do if during the analysis stage you find that there is not enough space for the OS on the SSD? In this case, you need to clean Windows of unused data and applications.

You can do this directly in the Samsung Data Migration utility window.

Fig. 14 - Error. Not enough SSD space

After the error text appears (highlighted in red), click on the “Next” button and in a new window, delete all library files that are cluttering the system.

Clean the OS until the text appears in the main utility window "Ready to clone to SSD".

Fig. 15 – successful cleaning of unnecessary files

Acronis True Image utility

Acroins is the most popular utility for transferring an OS to removable media. It recognizes all SSD brands. The application is supported by all versions of Windows, so there will be no compatibility problems.

Remember, you can only use the application if your PC hardware has a disk from the manufacturer Acronis.

If a component is missing, the utility will not start, and the user will be notified that it is impossible to work with the program.

Fig. 16 – main window of the Acroins application

To move the system, connect the removable drive to the computer and click on the tile in the program window "Disk cloning"-"Copying partitions".

In the window that opens, select automatic movement mode. It is suitable for all tasks and copies data quickly.

Fig.17 - selection of cloning mode

All sections will be copied to . All data that was on the SSD before cloning will be deleted.

The disk itself will become bootable and can only be used to run the operating systems installed on it.

Fig. 18 – copying process

Seagate DiscWizard utility

The utility completely replicates the Acronis interface. It must be used if your PC has at least one hard drive from the manufacturer Seagate.

To clone, you should follow the same steps as described in the previous paragraph of the article.

Fig. 19 – Seagate Disc Wizard main window

Changing bootloader configuration

After cloning the system, a copy of the OS will remain on the computer, and every time you boot, a window will appear with a boot selection. After the transfer, we recommend that you perform a number of actions:

  • Without deleting the original copy from the HDD, test the operation of Windows on the HDD. There are times when the system starts to slow down and performance deteriorates. This happens extremely rarely and depends solely on the selected SSD. As long as the first copy is not deleted, you will always have the opportunity to return to using it and remove the OS from the SSD;
  • Change your system bootloader settings.

The boot manager is a built-in component that helps your computer determine which installed operating system to run. You can also configure the startup order of hardware components.

Immediately after, the manager will show two systems with identical names - the original and the copied one.

If Windows runs normally on an SSD, you need to remove the version that remains on the computer’s hard drive. Follow the instructions:

  • Restart your PC and run the version that was moved to the flash drive;
  • Open ;
  • Enter the command shown in the figure below, giving the OS copies on the SSD a unique name;

Fig.20 - command for renaming the bootloader component

  • Now configure the dispatcher so that it always launches the new OS first. You can do this using the following command:

Fig. 21 – automatic launch of the cloned OS

  • To remove the old system, enter the following command (where ID is the number of the old copy of the OS in the bootloader list):

Fig. 22 - deleting the original copy of Windows

Bottom line

As you can see, to transfer the system to a removable flash drive, you just need to use a universal utility for duplicating components or perform the move yourself.

Don't forget to delete the boot record of a disk that is no longer in use. If this is not done, errors may occur when turning on the OS.

Users who have migrated their system to an SSD note increased computer performance and faster completion of complex tasks and processes.

The loading speed of the operating system increases by 2-3 times.

Thematic videos:

How to connect an SSD to a desktop computer. Transferring Windows from HDD to SSD

Correctly connecting an SSD drive to a personal desktop computer. How to quickly transfer Windows OS from a hard disk drive (HDD) to a solid state drive (SSD). Practical advice, performance assessment after replacing with an SSD.

Laptop hard drive HDD SSD system transfer free

Laptop hard drive HDD SSD system transfer + system cloning program

There is no need to say goodbye to the smooth functioning of the Windows operating system, and with it the installed, configured, activated licensed programs, if there is a need to replace the computer’s motherboard. Windows itself provides a special tool for such events - the Sysprep utility. Below we will consider in detail how to use it not only to resolve the issue with the operability of the operating system after replacing the motherboard, but also to completely transfer working activated Windows to another computer with different hardware components from the current ones.

We will transfer to another computer the most current version of the operating system from Microsoft - Windows 10. In addition to the built-in Sysprep utility, the free edition of the backup program AOMEI Backupper will help us in this matter. In its place there can be any other backup program; the essence of the process of transferring Windows to another computer with different hardware will not change. AOMEI Backupper was chosen because it is easy to use and free to use.

1. About the Sysprep utility

The Sysprep utility removes drivers and other system data about the hardware components of the computer, without affecting user data - installed and configured programs, files on the system drive, shortcuts on the desktop and in the Start menu. This utility was created by Microsoft to simplify the installation of Windows and software on a production scale. The installed operating system with already implemented and configured programs, upon completion of Sysprep, becomes a reference image, which is subsequently deployed on various computer devices of companies. On each of them, you subsequently need to install drivers for individual components and external devices that are not installed automatically. And, of course, you need to activate Windows separately on each computer.

The Sysprep utility can be used when replacing not only the motherboard, but also the processor. Replacing the latter is not the case in all cases, but in some cases it may lead to failures and errors in the operation of Windows. If and as soon as they are found, you can resort to Sysprep.

2. Preparatory stage

Whether it’s replacing the motherboard or processor, or transferring Windows to another computer with different hardware, before using the Sysprep utility, it’s better to create a restore point just in case. An alternative is a backup using the AOMEI Backupper program, which we will use to transfer the system to another computer. Before running the Sysprep utility, it is also advisable to disable your antivirus and firewall.

The preparatory steps listed above are sufficient if you are replacing the motherboard or processor, but to transfer Windows to another computer you will need a couple more things.

After the Sysprep utility removes the binding to the computer's hardware components, you will need to create a backup copy of Windows. This must be done in pre-boot mode using bootable media with a backup program. To create one you will need a CD/DVD media or flash drive.

You also need to consider how to transfer your Windows backup. To do this, you will need an external HDD, a capacious flash drive, or access to a local network resource if the computers are on the same small network. When migrating an operating system from one PC build to another, you can save a backup copy on the hard drive of the first PC, and then temporarily connect that drive to the second PC. If the computers are located at a distance, and the target computer has at least some operating system, a Windows backup can be saved on the hard drive of the source computer. And then transfer it to the target computer using cloud storage. But even if the target computer does not have any operating system, but the hard drive is partitioned, you can put any files from the Internet on it if you boot from a Live disk (or from a disk with a Linux distribution in mode without installing the system).

3. AOMEI Backupper Bootable Media

We omit this paragraph of the article for cases of replacing the motherboard or processor, but in the case of transferring Windows to another computer with different hardware, we proceed to creating bootable media with a backup program. This is done very simply using the AOMEI Backupper program. Go to the last section “Utilities” and click “Create bootable media”.

Then select “Windows PE”. Click “Next”.

Select the media – CD/DVD, flash drive or ISO image. The latter must be selected if the work is carried out with a computer based on BIOS UEFI. AOMEI Backupper cannot write UEFI bootable media. But other programs (for example,) can do this. Using these, using the ISO image created by AOMEI Backupper, you will need to create UEFI bootable media.

4. Reset hardware settings using the Sysprep utility

Now we proceed directly to removing the binding to the hardware components of the computer. Press the +R keys and in the “Run” command field enter:

After clicking “Ok”, the system folder with the executive file of the Sysprep utility will open in Explorer. Let's launch it.

A window with Sysprep launch settings will open. We leave the default option to go to the system welcome window (OOBE). To prevent Windows activation from failing, do not touch the checkbox for the preparation for use option. And, on the contrary, we set it when we need to reset the activation. Why an activation reset may be necessary will be discussed below, in paragraph 8 of this article. The third, also the last setting, is the way to complete the work. In the drop-down list, change the preset reboot to turn off the computer. Click "Ok".

The Sysprep utility will do its work and the computer will shut down. The next time you start Windows, it will already adapt to the new hardware. Therefore, after turning off the computer, we can proceed to replacing the motherboard or backing up Windows in pre-boot mode. If you replace the motherboard or processor, you can omit the backup items and immediately start starting the system - go to paragraph 7 of the article.

5. Backup of Windows without connection to the computer hardware

To create a backup copy of Windows, which, after running the Sysprep utility, will not be tied to the hardware of the current computer, load it from a previously created CD/DVD or flash drive with the AOMEI Backupper program. If you use an external HDD or a large flash drive to save a backup copy, connect them.

In the AOMEI Backupper window, go to the “Backup” section and select “System Backup”.

The disk with AOMEI Backupper will be defined as 500 MB reserved by the system, the system disk will be designated by the letter D. Select the latter in step 1. In step 2, indicate the path to the backup storage location - external media, non-system disk partition, network resource. Click “Launch”.

In the window that the backup process has started, we will use the option to turn off the computer when the operation is complete.

After creating a backup copy, the computer will turn off itself, and the external, internal HDD or flash drive can be disconnected and connected to the target computer where you plan to transfer Windows.

6. Restoring Windows on a computer with different hardware

Having connected the media with the created backup file to the target computer (or downloaded the backup file from the cloud storage to its hard drive), now on this computer we set the priority for booting from a CD/DVD disk or flash drive with the AOMEI Backupper program.

In the AOMEI Backupper window, go to the “Rollback” section. Click on the “Path” column at the bottom.

We indicate the path to store the backup file, after which the program will offer to restore the system from it. Click “Yes”.

In the next window, at the top, click on the backup copy, and at the bottom, check the “Restore the system to another location” option. And click “Ok”.

In our case, the backup file arrived on the target computer along with the hard drive removed from the source computer (Disk 1). The hard drive of the target computer (Disk 0), as we see in the screenshot, is not even partitioned. But this is not necessary. Just select it and click “OK”.

With the hard drive partitioned, select only the system partition. Important: when running backup programs from bootable media, the drive partition letters may differ from those listed in the system explorer. Therefore, you need to navigate disk partitions by their size.

If the system partition captured in the backup is smaller in size than the partition where Windows will be restored, we will find the “Resize partition” option in the AOMEI Backupper operation summary window. Let's press it.

In order for Windows to be restored from a backup to the entire volume of the system partition, and after it there is no unallocated disk space left, we pull the slider of the visual disk layout graph to the end or to the required limit. When finished, click “Ok”.

To start the Windows recovery process, in the operation summary window, click “Run”.

As when creating a backup, check the box for the option to automatically turn off the computer after the system restore operation is completed.

7. Running Windows on a computer with different hardware

When turning on the target computer, we set the boot priority from the hard drive. Either after replacing the motherboard or after transferring Windows to another computer, in either case we will see the same picture - the process of new installation of drivers for the computer’s hardware components will begin. This will be followed by a welcome window with options for choosing a language, region, and time zone. Specify the required information and click “Next”.

If the original Windows 10 was activated, the next window will ask you to accept the license agreement.

At the same stage, if the original Windows 10 was previously without activation, you will be prompted to enter. This can be done later in the system itself if you click the “Do later” option.

In the system settings window, in our case, select standard.

Next, as with a normal installation of Windows 10, the process of creating an account will follow. No need to worry about your existing account with its settings and data. She's fine and we'll have access to her later. The new account will be temporary and can be deleted later. Select “This computer belongs to me” and click “Next”.

Skip the prompt to create a Microsoft account.

And create a local (that same temporary) account. Enter the name, leave the password fields empty and click “Next”.

This will be followed by the final stage of Windows 10 settings.

Finally, we will find ourselves inside the new, just created account. We exit from it: press the +X keys and select exit from the system.

Let's go to the lock screen and see the old account. Let's go into it.

And we proceed to check if everything is in order with the data. Start menu settings, desktop shortcuts, installed programs, files on drive C - all this should remain untouched.

Now all that remains is to delete the temporary account if it is not needed. Go to the “Settings” application, open the “Accounts” section, and in it – “Family and other users”. We delete an unnecessary account.

8. Nuances of activation and launching the original Windows

Since one product key can activate only one Windows, there is a possibility that activation will fail in a system transferred to another computer. And this will happen soon after the source system has access to the Internet. Microsoft allows you to transfer an activated operating system to another computer, but on the condition that it is removed from the first computer. However, if, for example, a computer with original Windows is passed on to another family member, it is not necessary to say goodbye to this system. It can simply remain temporarily without activation until money appears in the family budget to purchase a new activation key. What needs to be done for this?

As mentioned, activating the Prepare for Use setting may cause Sysprep to reset Windows activation. Activation reset is limited to only three times. This feature in earlier versions of Windows was abused by many to extend the 30-day trial period of using the licensed system. In our case, the transfer of Windows was conceived together with its activation, and above, when running the Sysprep utility in its settings, we limited ourselves to only deleting the binding of the computer to a specific hardware. To prevent activation of Windows transferred to another computer from failing, you must turn off the Internet before turning on the original Windows computer. Then, after the same steps as described in the previous paragraph, in the original Windows you need to re-run the Sysprep utility, but with the activation reset settings - i.e., by checking the “Preparing for use” option.

That's all.

Have a great day!

Many users try every possible method to improve the performance of their computer. For this purpose, in addition to standard overclocking using special utilities, they install more modern types of storage media into their system unit, namely solid-state drives with higher data transfer rates.


Thus, they are faced with the need to transfer the operating system from a standard 3.5-inch hard drive to an SSD drive, however, the whole problem is that not everyone knows how to do this.

What are the benefits of moving the OS to a solid state drive?

Before considering the main methods of transferring tens to a solid-state hard drive, it is necessary to understand the main advantages of this, in addition to the higher speed of reading electronic data that the user receives.

Probably every user has encountered the fact that some applications or processes on the computer take a very long time to complete. This is due to the fact that conventional hard drives are unable to quickly write and read information. However, the situation changes dramatically if you install an SSD drive in a laptop or desktop computer and transfer Windows 10 to it. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with this, but the difference is very noticeable. The system will begin to work noticeably faster and significantly less time will be spent performing the same tasks. At the same time, it is recommended to transfer only the OS to the solid-state drive without any third-party programs. However, if there is a need to transfer the entire system as a whole, with all installed utilities, then with the help of some tools you can do this.

General transfer information

There is a misconception among novice users that to transfer an operating system from one hard drive to another, you just need to copy all the contents. However, such a transfer will lead to nothing, and the system itself simply will not work. The migration is a systematic process that can be performed using the tools integrated into Top Ten or third-party utilities that have been developed for the task. It is worth noting that no matter which transfer method you choose, it is very simple and does not take much effort and time. In addition, this process is as automated as possible, so no special actions are required on the part of the user.

In this article we will dwell in detail on each of the existing methods of transferring tens to an SSD drive, and also consider the most popular applications with which you can implement this idea.

Standard means

You can also transfer ten to an SSD hard drive using standard Windows tools. In this case, this tool is the “Data Backup and Restore” section, which can be found in the “Control Panel”. This method is one of the simplest, since there is no need to search the Internet for various applications from third-party developers and install them on your computer.

So, you've installed a brand new solid-state drive in your system and want to transfer Windows 10 to it. Where to start? The first step is to create a system image and write it to an optical drive or USB flash drive, from which the OS will be restored. After starting the recovery process, you will need to specify the path to the drive on which the previously created image is located. It is recommended to disconnect the old HDD from the motherboard during the transfer to avoid the occurrence of various kinds of problems. In addition, if in the future you use the old hard drive to store personal information, you must first format it. If this is not done, then both operating systems that are located on each drive will conflict, which will make normal work on the computer impossible.

Regardless of whether you use a laptop or a desktop system, the process of transferring dozens from a standard HDD to an SSD is absolutely identical, except that installing a solid-state drive in a laptop yourself will be quite problematic, and when contacting a service center you will have to pay a considerable amount. In addition, if the factory warranty has not yet expired, then installing any hardware will void it, so you should think very carefully before doing anything.

Third Party Tools

An alternative to standard Windows tools, with which you can transfer ten to a solid-state drive, are special applications from third-party developers. Today you can find a great variety of them on the Internet, however, when choosing one of them, you must take into account the fact that some utilities were developed exclusively for hard drives of a certain manufacturer, so they will work unstable with hard drives of other brands or will not function at all. For example, the Acronis True Image utility is designed for HDDs from WD, the Seagate Disk Wizard application works perfectly with hard drives of the same name, and the manufacturer Samsung has developed proprietary software for its products. If we talk about universal programs that can work with all models of hard drives, then it is worth noting Paragon Migrate OS.

Paragon Migrate OS to SSD

Paragon is a very well-known software developer that has many different utilities, both free and commercial, designed to perform various functions. One of the most famous applications is Paragon Migrate OS to SSD, with which you can transfer the operating system from one HDD to another. It is worth noting that you will have to pay for this program, since it is not freely available, however, it is worth it. Paragon Migrate OS to SSD is a powerful tool designed to migrate your system to an SSD drive. Its work is fully automated, so all that is required from the user is to start the process and wait for it to complete. The utility supports the transfer of both OS system files and user personal data, however, the first option is more preferable, since it allows you to save a lot of time and free space on the hard drive. You can select your preferred transfer mode in the program settings. It is worth noting that after completing the system copying, you will need to go into the BIOS and install the solid-state drive as the primary bootloader.

Acronis True Image

Another popular tool for working with hard drives is Acronis True Image. The utility has a simple and intuitive interface, as well as stable operation. It is universal and works equally well with hard drives from all modern manufacturers of computer components on the market. However, it is worth noting that if your PC has a WD hard drive installed, then to transfer dozens to it, it is recommended to use a special build of this program, which is called WD Edition.

Transferring the system to a solid-state drive using Acronis True Image is best done in automatic mode, which can be launched from the “Disk Cloning” section. The copying time depends on the overall size of the system, as well as the speed of the HDD from which the transfer is being carried out.

Seagate DiscWizard

As you can easily guess from the name, the utility was developed to work with hard drives manufactured by Seagate. As for the main aspects of the work and the tens transfer process itself, this tool is an almost complete copy of the two previous applications discussed earlier. Copying also occurs using a wizard that performs all actions without user intervention, so even the most retarded user can figure out Seagate DiscWizard.

Samsung Data Migration

This is another representative of narrow-profile utilities designed to service Samsung hard drives. The developer has implemented a step-by-step wizard in his product, following the recommendations of which you can transfer Windows 10 to a solid-state drive without any problems. The main advantage of Samsung Data Migration is the possibility of selective transfer, thanks to which the user can independently specify the types of data that will be copied to the new hard drive. This is a very useful feature, since SSDs have significantly less capacity compared to standard HDDs, so literally every gigabyte counts. As for the transfer process itself, as in the case of other similar utilities, it is brought to the maximum level of automation.

Macrium Reflect

Another tens transfer application that has a free license is Macrium Reflect. The main advantage of this software is its full compatibility with all hardware, so this utility stands out among many others that can be found on the network.

According to consumer reviews, Macrium Reflect has great functionality and allows you not only to transfer the operating system from one drive to another, but also to create images of the system and burn it to a CD, which can be used as a boot disk. Thus, if you are looking for a universal application with which you can perform absolutely any operation on your hard drive, then this program is perfect for you.

What else do you need to know about cloning Windows 10?

So, we have looked at the most common tools for system transfer, however, we still need to talk about some nuances that need to be taken into account when performing this procedure. On many computer forums you can find a lot of information about such a utility as AOMEI Backupper Standard. It is also free and allows you to copy ten to an SSD drive. However, it is not recommended for novice users to use it, since system cloning occurs by creating a bootable CD or flash drive, and directly transferring it from there to a solid-state drive. This process is more labor-intensive and requires the user to have certain skills. However, which tool to use is entirely up to you.

After purchasing a new HDD or SSD, the first question that arises is what to do with the operating system currently used. Not many users have the need to install a clean OS, but on the contrary, they want to clone an existing system from an old disk to a new one.

So that the user who decides to update the hard drive does not have to reinstall the operating system, it is possible to transfer it. In this case, the current user profile is saved, and in the future you can use Windows in the same way as before performing the procedure.

Usually those who want to divide the OS itself and user files into two physical drives are interested in transferring. After the move, the operating system will appear on the new hard drive and will remain on the old one. In the future, it can be removed from the old hard drive by formatting, or left as a second system.

First, the user needs to connect the new drive to the system unit and make sure that the PC has detected it (this is done through the BIOS or Explorer).

Method 1: AOMEI Partition Assistant Standard Edition

Unlike the previous two programs, in Macrium Reflect you cannot pre-allocate a free partition on the drive where the OS will be transferred. This means that user files on disk 2 will be deleted. Therefore, it is best to use a clean HDD.

  1. Click on the link "Clone this disk..." in the main program window.
  2. The Transfer Wizard will open. At the top, select the HDD from which you want to clone. By default, all drives may be selected, so uncheck the drives you don't want to use.
  3. Click on the link at the bottom of the window "Select a disk to clone to..." and select the hard drive to which you want to clone.
  4. Once you select disk 2, you can use a link with cloning parameters.
  5. Here you can configure the space that will be occupied by the system. By default, a partition will be created with no free space. We recommend adding at least 20-30 GB (or more) to the system partition for correct subsequent updates and Windows needs. This can be done using controls or by entering numbers.
  6. If you wish, you can select the drive letter yourself.
  7. It is not necessary to change the remaining parameters.
  8. In the next window you can configure the cloning schedule, but we don’t need this, so just click "Next".
  9. A list of actions that will be performed on the drive will be displayed, click "Finish".
  10. In the window asking you to make restore points, agree or reject the offer.
  11. The OS cloning will begin and you will be notified when completed "Clone completed", indicating that the transfer was successful.
  12. Now you can boot from the new drive, having first made it the main one for booting in the BIOS. How to do this, see Method 1.

We talked about three ways to transfer an OS from one drive to another. As you can see, this is a very simple process and you usually won't encounter any errors. After cloning Windows, you can check the disk's functionality by booting your computer from it. If no problems are observed, you can remove the old HDD from the system unit or leave it as a spare.