Transfer everything from hard drive to nvme m.2?

Posted by vHades-@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 12 comments

Hello, so I was wondering what is the best way to move everything on my pc hard drive to my nvme m.2 drive?

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WATAMURA@reddit

Best...

Start with a fresh OS install, and turn off all the unnecessary Windows stuff, pre-installed apps, telemetry loggers, background services, advertisement apps, etc. Either, manually de-selecting options while installing or using something like "Rufus" to create the USB Boot drive. Only re-install the programs you actually use and drivers you need. Manually, Copy/Paste user data/files (Documents, Music, pictures, video, etc.)

Easiest...

Use cloning software. Macrium Reflect, Clonezilla, DiskGenius, or OEM tools like Samsung Data Migration.

Probably should check your BIOS and verify boot order afterwards.

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vHades-@reddit (OP)

So before I move anything make sure the m.2 is clean and install my os on the m.2 first?

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WATAMURA@reddit

Yeah... Once you have the USB install dive built.... (Using Rufus...)

Open up the PC pull (unplug) the old drive, put in the new drive and boot to the the USB install drive. (press the boot menu key (commonly F12, F9, F11, or Esc) to select the USB device)

Install the OS.

Account creation step... I recommend creating a local user account and Admin, as opposed to a Microsoft account. https://www.tomshardware.com/how-to/install-windows-11-without-microsoft-account

Get to the desktop and do updates.

After everything is set up, do the data transfer.

Shut down, put the old drive back (plug-in) and boot to the BIOS and make sure the new m.2 is the first in the load sequence.

The old drive should show up under My PC. Go your user folder and transfer. Don't copy the whole folders just its contents. For example, transfer the content of the Documents folder, not the whole Documents folder. Adjust permissions in the security tab if needed.

AppData. There is a hidden folder in your user folder called AppData. It stores all kinds of profiles and settings. You should not need this stuff but it's good to know its there. [View > Show > Hidden Items]

Browser stuff. Ideally you have accounts on your browser and you just need to log back in to sync bookmarks and passwords. Like Chrome and Gmail or Edge and Microsoft.

You will find a lot of little things that need to be transferred over time. So I would suggest leaving the old drive in for a while. If you really need to, you can even boot back into the old drive using the boot menu.

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VoraciousGorak@reddit

Data files? Copy/paste.

Executables and/or operating system? Use a clone tool. I've used https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/macrium_reflect_free_edition.html for years and it's been great.

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vHades-@reddit (OP)

Does that mean it copies the operating system aswell?

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VoraciousGorak@reddit

The whole drive, yeah.

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vHades-@reddit (OP)

Sorry, last question, so when I’m finished I just boot bios and start pc up with m.2 and when I turn it on do I delete the is from the hard drive after that?

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