How to Clone or Move Your Windows 10 Installation to a Larger Hard Disk or SSD

When it comes to technology, upgrading is a fact of life, whether it’s your operating system, applications, or hardware devices. One of the most common hardware components users want/need to upgrade is their local hard drive. Reasons include limited space, better performance, and the ability to take advantage of advanced features like UEFI or support for GPT disks. Upgrading to a new SSD drive, for example, can extend the life of a desktop or laptop PC for many years. I know I’ve done it several times.

However, the issue with upgrading is dealing with the migration of your existing OS and data to the new drive. After all, who wants to rebuild the OS, figure out how to re-activate it, track down and reinstall all the apps, and oh yeah, move all your personal files over. Yeah, not me! That’s why today, I’m going to review an alternative process using the built-in System Image and Easeus Todo Backup to restore your installation to a larger or smaller disk.

There is an alternative in system imaging and cloning. In this article, we take a look using the built-in System Image and Easeus Todo Backup to clone your drive to a larger or faster hard drive.

Migrate your Windows 10 Installation to a New Hard Disk or SSD

Windows 10 includes a built-in option called System Image, which lets you create a complete replica of your installation along with partitions. We already covered the steps on how to create the system image. To back up your installation, you will need a USB external hard disk to store the image. An external hard disk with lots of storage is cheap, and a recommended buy, whether you plan on performing an activity such as this or keeping your system backed up regularly.

There is one major problem with System Image in Windows 10 and earlier versions of Windows; it doesn’t support restoring to partition layouts smaller in size than the drive it’s replacing. For instance, if you go from a 500 GB hard disk to a 256 GB SSD, when you attempt to restore the system image created from the 500 GB disk, you will receive an error indicating the disk is too small. If this is the case for you, then system imaging is of no use; instead, you should consider cloning, detailed further in this article.

After creating your backup, shut down the computer, install your hard disk or SSD drive, start the computer then load your BIOS or UEFI firmware. Check to make sure the drive is detected. After confirming these changes, connect your external hard disk, then power on the device. Boot from your Windows 10 install media, which will be used to facilitate the restoration of your system image created earlier. When you arrive at the Install Now screen, click the Repair computer link; this will load the Recovery Environment.

Click Troubleshoot, then click the System Image Recovery menu.

Your external hard disk should be detected along with the most recent system image you created. If it’s not the right one, use the Select a system image radio box, select the right image, then click Next.

If you have more than one local disk or partition, you can exclude it from the restoration process.

After confirming your selections, click Next to begin the restoration, then wait. Restoration can take some time, depending on the size of the system image. When complete, Windows 10 will restart then boot to the Windows 10 desktop.

There is a possibility if you restored the system image to larger disks, you will need to reconfigure your partitions if you restored the image to a larger hard disk or SSD. In Windows 10, press Windows key + X and click Disk Management. You will see an unallocated space created for you. You can recover this space using the Extend volume wizard. Right-click the system partition, then click Extend, click Next, then click Finish.

Restoring to a Smaller Hard Disk or SSD

If you are going the opposite direction, restoring to a smaller hard disk or SSD, cloning will be the recommended option. The best solution I have found for cloning and restoring a Windows 10 installation is the free EaseUs Todo Backup. EaseUs Todo Backup can not only restore a backup of your Windows 10 installation, but it can also do so to a non-corresponding partition layout. You can download a free copy here.

Once you have EaseUS Todo Backup installed, launch the app. You will need to connect the target hard disk or SSD to your computer where you would like to clone your Windows 10 installation. This can be done multiple ways; you can install the storage device as a local disk; or install it in a USB external enclosure, then attach it to your computer. After settling on a method of attaching the target disk, launch EaseUs Todo Backup, click the Clone tab.

Choose your source disk containing the operating system. As you can see below, I have two sets of disk attached: my Windows 10 installation on hard disk 0 31 GB and my new LOCALNEW disk 25 GB where the clone will be copied. Click Next.

The next step is to select the target disk, in this case, our LOCALNEW disk 25 GB drive. Click the checkbox, then click Next.

The following screenshot shows the disk layout after cloning the old drive to the new. Click Proceed to begin the clone.

Click OK to confirm the changes.

This process can take some time, depending on the clone’s size and the amount of data. After the clone is complete, click Finish, shut down your computer, remove the old storage device, install and configure the new hard disk or SSD as your boot drive.

Please turn on your computer; Windows 10 should start as it previously did. Still, if you experience activation problems, you can use the Activation Troubleshooter in Windows 10 Anniversary Update or later to resolve any problems.

This is definitely an involved task, and users considering upgrading their storage device should think carefully about the migration method they plan on using. My personal lesson, if you are moving to a storage device that’s larger than the one you are replacing, the built-in System Image tool in Windows 10 is more than sufficient. If you are moving to a smaller hard disk or SSD storage, then you will need a third-party utility such as EaseUs Todo Backup to help you. It goes without saying, additional tools to facilitate the restoration might be needed, such as an external hard disk or even an external enclosure.

How to Move/Transfer Windows 10 to New Hard Drive (HDD/SSD) | 2021 Full Guide

Migrating Windows OSВ to another driveВ is a tough task for mostВ Windows users.В Fortunately, it can be easy and fast for all levels of Windows usersВ to transfer Windows 10 to a new hard drive, whether it’s an HDD or SSD, with the help of professional Windows 10 migration solutions as shown below.

This page covers a full guide for you to follow andВ moveВ Windows 10 or other Windows OS to a new HDD/SSD with ease. LearnВ how to do this on your own:

Also work to: Move everything from CВ to D drive, move program files x86to another drive, move OS with installed apps to a new disk.

Preparations:В Make Everything Ready for Moving Windows 10

Before transferring Windows 10 OS, here are some preparation jobs that you should have done in advance.

1. Prepare a New Hard Drive — HDD/SSD

Before Windows 10 migration, you need to connect or install aВ new hard driveВ so to make sure that your computer can detect it correctly with the following tips:

Step 1. Prepare a new HDD/SSD and a SATA cable.

NoteВ that space on the new hard drive/SSD must beВ biggerВ than the system C drive used space on the source disk.

Step 2. Connect the new SSD/HDD toВ PC and initialize the disk.

Connect SSD/HDD to yourВ PC viaВ SATAВ andВ power cablesВ > Locate and right-click the new disk inВ Disk Management > Select «Initialize Disk» > Set the disk as GPT or MBR (the same as source OS disk).

2. Download A Reliable Windows 10 Migration Tool

To migrate OS to another new disk, you’ll need a reliable OS migration tool for help. Here we collect two tools for you to try:

EaseUS OS Migration Tool — Solution 1	Windows System Image Tool — Solution 2
Third-party OS migration tool. Easy, Beginners’ first choice. 3-Step to move Windows to HDD/SSD,В noВ data loss nor reinstallation.	Windows bulit-in tool, free. Complex for beginners. Multiple steps to take, a process of system image backup and restore.

EaseUS Suggestion:В To safely migrate or move your Windows 10/8/7 OS to another hard drive, EaseUS partition manager software — Partition Master in Solution 1В is the best option for you.В

Solution 1. How to Move Windows 10 to a New Hard Drive ViaВ OS Migration Tool

Duration: 25 minutes — 1 hour or so.В

Support:В OS migrationВ on Windows 10/8/7/XP/VistaВ and Windows servers, big to small or small to big HDD/SSD.

To move Windows 10 to another new hard drive or SSD, follow through the next two phrases.В You’ll successfully transfer everything from C drive to another disk without losing any data. Also, Windows and program reinstallations are not needed.

#Phrase 1. Migrate Windows 10 to a New Hard Drive (HDD/SSD) in 3 Steps

Note: The operation of migrating OS to SSD or HDD will delete and remove existing partitions and data on your target disk when there is not enough unallocated space on the target disk. If you saved important data there, back up them to an external hard drive in advance.

Step 1.В Select «Migrate OS» from the top menu. Select the SSD or HDD as the destination disk and click «Next».

Step 2. Click «Continue» after check warning message.В The data and partitions on the target disk will be deleted. Make sure that you’ve backed up important data in advance. If not, do it now.

Step 3. Preview the layout of your target disk. You can also click the disk layout options to customize the layout of your target disk as you want. Then click «Proceed» to start migrating your OS to a new disk

Video Tutorial to MoveВ Windows 10 to Another New Hard Drive:

When the OS migration process finishes, you can move toВ the next phraseВ to setВ Windows 10 boot fromВ the newВ disk.

#Phrase 2. Set Up Windows 10 to Boot from New Hard Drive

After the OS migration, you need to set up the computerВ to boot Windows 10 from the new hard drive. If you forget to do so, your computer will continue booting up from the old system disk.

Here are the steps to set the OS to boot from the new disk by changing itsВ boot priority from BIOS:

Step 1. Restart PC and press F2/F12/Del to enter BIOS.

Step 2. Go to the Boot section, set PC to boot from the new hard drive.

Step 3. Save changes, exit BIOS, restart PC.

After this, you are able to log in to your account and use Windows 10 on the new hard drive or SSD successfully.В

If you needВ toВ repartition the old hard drive or make full use of the space on both new and old hard drives, EaseUS Partition Master with its partition Windows 10 features can help.В

SolutionВ 2. TransferВ Windows 10 To Another HDD/SSD WithВ Windows System Image Tool

Duration: 30 minutes — 1 and half an hourВ or so.В

Support:В OS migrationВ on Windows 10,В small disk to big SSD/HDD only.

Limites:В New disk must be bigger than the original system disk space.В

For some experienced Windows users, they may feel like running the WindowsВ system image tool for the Windows 10 migration operation. Although free, yet it’s still not a handy solution for most average Windows users.

If you insist on doing so, follow the step-by-step operations in the below 3 phrases:

#Phrase 1. CreateВ Windows 10 System Image to An External Hard Drive

Step 1. Connect an empty external hardВ drive to your PC.В

Step 2. TypeВ Control PanelВ in the Search box and select to open it.В Click «Backup and Restore (Windows 7)».

Step 3. Click «Create a system image», select the external USB driveВ asВ destinationВ to save Windows 10 system image, click «Next» to continue.

Step 4. The System andВ System Reserved partitions willВ be selected by default, click «Next» to continue.

Step 5. Click «Start backup» to begin creating your current system image to the USB drive.

#Phrase 2. Create Windows Media Creation Tool

Step 1.В Connect an empty USB flash drive (min 8GB) to PC.В

Step 2.В Download Windows 10 installation mediaВ andВ run it as an administrator.

Step 3. On the «What do you want to do?» interface, select «Create installation media for another PC», andВ select «Next».

Step 4. Choose the language, edition, and architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) for Windows 10.

Step 5. Select USB flash driveВ to use:

#Phrase 3. Restore and Move Windows 10 System Image to Another New Disk

Step 1.В Connect bothВ Windows 10 installation media and Windows image backup diskВ to your PC and reboot it.

Step 2.В Press F1/F2/Del to enter BIOS and set the installation media as the boot drive.В

Step 3.В Reboot PC from Windows Installation Media, click «Repair your computer» on the Install Now window.

Step 4.В Enter the Advanced options, click «Troubleshoot» and then select «System Image Recovery».В

Step 5.В Check «Select a system image» to bring up your Windows 10 system image disk and select it. Click «Next» to continue.

Step 6.В Click «Exclude disks. » to exclude the original system disk, leaving the new HDD/SSD only. Click «OK» to confirm.

Step 7. Click «Next» to start the restoration process and wait for the restoration process to complete.В

Once finish restoring Windows 10 image to the new disk, Windows 10 will restart and boot up.В

If Windows 10 doesn’t boot up, revert to Phrase 2 in Solution 1 to set the new disk as boot drive. You will be able to run Windows 10 on the new disk without any issue any more.В

Conclusion

This page covers a full guide to help you migrate, move, or transfer Windows 10 OS to a new hard drive or SSD without losing any data or boot issue. You can get everything done in three parts:

1. Part 1. Prepare new hard drive/SSD — initialize the disk and download a reliable OS migration tool.
2. Part 2. Migrate Windows 10 to new hard drive/SSD via OS migration tool.
3. Part 3. Move Windows 10 via System Image Tool.В

As for Windows beginners, we would like to suggest you run reliable EaseUS Partition Master for moving Windows 10 to a new HDD/SSD with ease.

If you have more questions about migrating Windows 10 or transfer Windows OS to HDD/SSD, check the Further Readings below and you’ll find satisfying answers.

Further Readings — FAQs about Windows 10 OS Migration to HDD/SSD

Here, we collect some related questions that are frequently asked in the Windows forum. If you are having the same questions, check and find answers here.

1. How do I move Windows 10 to a new SSD?

As the full guide provided on this page, to move Windows 10 to a new SSD, follow through the guide steps below:

1. 1. Connect the new SSD to PC via SATA cable and initialize it (as the same partition style as your OS disk).
2. 2. Download, install and run EaseUS Partition Master on your PC.
3. 3. Select Migrate OS to HDD/SSD, and select the new SSD as your target disk to move Windows 10.
4. 4. Confirm and execute the operation.
5. 5. Insert new SSD to the computer, restart it and set the computer to boot from new SSD in BIOS.

2. How do I transfer Windows 10 to a USB flash drive?

It’s possible to transfer Windows 10 to a USB drive and take your OS anywhere now. Here are the steps for you to follow:

1. 1. Prepare an empty USB flash drive or external USB drive (external hard drive) with a bigger space than your system drive.
2. 2. Download and run a reliable system migration software. Here we recommend you try EaseUS Todo Backup.
3. 3. Run EaseUS Todo Backup and select System Clone > Create a Windows portable USB.

Wait for the process to finish. After this, you can take the USB to any computer and boot your own Windows 10 OS on the new computer. For more detailed steps, refer to Transfer Windows 10 to a USB flash drive for help.В

3. How do I fresh install Windows OS, like Windows 10, to SSD?

There are two ways that you can install OS like Windows 10 to SSD. One is as recommended on this page, to migrate or transfer Windows 10 to SSD using the Migrate OS feature in EaseUS Partition Master.

The other way is to fresh install Windows 10 on SSD with the following steps:

1. 1. Download the media creation tool from Microsoft.
2. 2. Run the downloaded tool,В choose «Create installations media for another PC» and click «Next».
3. 3. Select «Language, Edition, and Architecture for Windows 10» and then click «Next».
4. 4. Choose the USB Flash drive.
5. 5. Insert the USB drive into PC and click «Next».
6. After the drive is selected, the tool will start downloading Windows 10 and it will take a few minutes to finish the downloading process.
7. 6. Connect the USB drive with Windows 7/8 and run it in Explorer, click Setup.
8. 7. When you get with the Ready to Install dialog, click «Change» what to keep and choose Nothing. Click «Next»

Follow the on-screen tutorial to complete the Windows 10 installation process. If you prefer a detailed guide, you can refer to this page: Transfer/Install Windows OS to SSD. It has allВ the detailed steps that you need.

4. How to move installed programs to another drive windows 7?

To move installed programs and apps to another drive in Windows 7, you have two options to try:

1. 1. Transfer programs and program data to another drive via PC Transfer software.
2. 2. Manually copy and move installed program file like .exe to another drive.

For more detailed steps, you can follow Transfer Installed Programs to New Hard Drive for help.