How to Clone Windows from a Hard Disk to an M.2 SSD (and Keep It Bootable)

In this video, I show you how to copy the factory-installed Windows on a 1TB hard drive, to a 360 GB M.2 SSD on a Dell Inspiron 5570. I'll use Macrium Reflect Free to clone all six partitions to the SSD - including the bootable Windows partition - and I'll boot from the SSD. In a previously published video, I showed you how to disassemble the Dell Inspiron 5570 in order to install the M.2 SSD.

* * * * * * * * NEW VIDEO is up! * * * * * * * *

It has been updated to include the entire start-to-finish process of installing Macrium Reflect, cloning the hard drive to the SSD, changing the boot order in the BIOS, and finally, wiping and formatting the hard drive to use as secondary storage. The updated video also includes details on cloning from a smaller hard drive to a larger SSD. THANK YOU!

MAKE SURE to take every precaution before cloning, including 1) creating a rescue disk and 2) creating an image of the original 1 TB drive. I don't want you to be stuck without Windows in case something goes wrong.

Thanks to Kubomi: "A note that may be important to viewers is that if you have an 'active' partition be sure after you drag the partitions that the 'active' and 'primary' tags match up across both drives otherwise you may run into booting problems, although this can also be solved by having the windows rescue disc at hand."

Items in this video:

My Gear:

Thank you to all my subscribers and viewers!

Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

[accessrandom]

* * * * * * * * NEW VIDEO is up! * * * * * * * *

It has been updated to include the entire start-to-finish process of installing Macrium Reflect, cloning the hard drive to the SSD, changing the boot order in the BIOS, and finally, wiping and formatting the hard drive to use as secondary storage. The updated video also includes details on cloning from a smaller hard drive to a larger SSD.

THANK YOU!

Much obliged 🎩 to all my viewers. Like. Share. Subscribe. Enjoy.

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[jGRite]

YouTube is broken, because this video should be at the very top.

[Drbo]

As a guy that regularly gets upset at bloated and ambiguous how-to videos, I have to say that you did an amazing job here!

[Teacher]

I tried like 20 other guides for sata ssd to m.2 nvme clone but always got inaccessible when trying to boot..so 20 attempts and half the life of my new m.2 already gone..I found your video..It works. Flawlessly I might add. Thank you so much!

[george]

I haven't even started installing yet and I'm already confident about this tutorial.

[LesDominic]

EXTREMLY HELPFUL. Jeez, if every tutorial video was like this...

[tarekaliu]

Dude... You are the best... I was looking for a tutorial like this and your one was by far the best one... Thanks!

[Bagerkirby]

When cloning the partitions on macrium, the windows logo does not show before or after the cloning on the ssd, any fixes?

[c.m.]

This video is both excellent and resolutive, it explains everything you need to add SSD and still keep your old HDD as secondary disk. Best in class help! My laptop: Lenovo Yoga 520. Flawless, thank you so much. Subscribed 👍

[nightlifegaming]

Okay so I've watched a couple tutorials which makes me feel confident in doing this. This by far is the best tutorial.
Here's what I want: I have a 2.5" 500gb ssd with my OS and other programs running in it. I want to transfer ONLY my Windows 10 OS to my new 250gb M.2 ssd.

All tutorials show how to clone ALL the files in your old drive. Is it possible to Only transfer OS?
If so, how do I go about doing this???

[cglittle]

Your attention to detail is what makes you stand out from the rest!!

[luisitoquebonito]

And this is the way to make a tutorial right, great job, it's been really useful!

[anneninno]

If i have a voice like yours, I am set for life. Hire an agent for that voice, pronto!. Do audio books or commercials or anything that involves that voice. And the tutorial is helpful as well. Good luck with that voice.

[Natewu]

Most detailed video on cloning and upgrading to an SSD i've seen so far!

[wiseversa]

This is like the gold-standard of tutorials. Crisp, to-the-point and comprehensive.

[SpiceyNoodles]

i thought you were trying to scam me at first with how beautiful your voice is

[KarimJovian]

Finished cloning but my Pc won’t boot from the clone. And I can’t find it in bios. It shows up when I boot from the original source ssd. Any help with that?

[mariusradu]

I've seen like 10 videos about ssd instalation. But this, this is better than the others. Thanks, sir!

[morbidesque]

His is the voice that we never knew we needed.

[sosweetinfo]

realy looking for complete process that you provide 10 out of 10 its been 2 months that i am trying now this is the perfect solution thx