Your Beginners’ Guide to Moving Windows to Another Drive

Need a dependable device to maneuver Windows to a different drive with out reinstallation? EaseUS software program contains two safe and environment friendly instruments that can assist you with system migration from an previous drive to a different new disk or SSD drive instantly.

Can You Relocate or Move Windows to Another Drive？

Yes, you may seamlessly transfer Windows from one drive to a different disk with environment friendly strategies. Here is a breakdown of the method:

1. Install and initialize the brand new disk
2. Create a system picture of the present Windows set up
3. Restore and migrate Windows to the brand new drive

So you may calm down if you’re experiencing an analogous challenge to what Ravija Randiunu described to Microsoft: 

“Moving home windows 10 to a brand new drive: Recently i purchased a pocket book the place real home windows 10 is already put in. But sadly it simply has a SATA 1TB hdd and it’s somewhat slower typically. So now i wish to transfer to a SSD drive. But the query is my real home windows… Will i have the ability to transfer this real home windows 10 from my previous HDD to a brand new SSD? And additionally i used to be not given any home windows set up disk when i purchased my laptop computer…plz assist me…“

By following the subsequent half, you’ll study the important thing components that assure you to move Windows to another drive safely. 

Key Factors Before Moving Windows to Another Drive

It is smart so that you can observe a guidelines to make sure the process of shifting Windows 10, Windows 11, or an older system to a brand new HDD or SSD and not using a boot error.

1. Back-Up Data 

It’s an non-compulsory however necessary issue you need to contemplate, because the Windows shifting process will re-write all the goal disk. If the goal disk accommodates worthwhile knowledge, you need to first create a backup of those necessities.

2. Get A New Hard Drive or SSD with a Bigger Capacity 

If you wish to guarantee Windows runs quicker on the brand new disk, it’s best to ensure that it has a beneficiant quantity of capability. It’s sensible to go away 30% to 40% of free house on the system disk to maintain the pc efficiency at a excessive degree and secure.

For instance, in case your present OS disk is 120GB, the brand new disk must be 256GB and even greater. 

3. Install and Set Up the New Disk

To guarantee the method of moving to a new hard drive is clean with Windows, you also needs to ensure that the brand new drive is ready up correctly in your pc:

• Install the brand new disk to your PC by way of SATA Cable or NVMe SSD slot.
• Initialize SSD to the identical disk sort because the OS disk: MBR or GPT.

Also, if the goal drive is an previous and used disk, clear up all present knowledge and partitions.

4. Choose an Efficient Windows Migration Tool

According to Microsoft and commenters on Reddit, some professionals counsel customers use disk cloning software program like Macruim Reflect, Clonezilla, and so forth., for assist. Some customers additionally counsel making a Windows restoration drive and reinstalling Windows.

But for Windows rookies, these strategies will not be that simple to observe. Instead, we recommend two simpler instruments for shifting the Windows working system to a brand new disk drive:

How to Move Windows to Another Drive? (Two Tried & Efficient Ways)

When you put together all components, transfer to the respective information and begin shifting your Windows 11, 10, 8.1, 8, 7, and even older programs to a different new drive right here. 

Guide 1. Via System Migration Software

• Duration: 25-35 minutes
• Tools: System migration software program, new disk, Windows pc

For non-technical Windows customers, particularly rookies, it’s sensible to show to dependable OS migration software program for executing the relocating Windows to a brand new disk activity. EaseUS Partition Master Professional, with its Migrate OS function, simplifies shifting to a brand new drive.We clarify the method right here:

Step 1. Run OS migration software program and find a brand new disk

Launch EaseUS Partition Master, go to the Clone part, click on “Migrate OS,” and choose “Next” to proceed. Then, choose the goal new laborious drive or SSD as your vacation spot, and click on “Next.”

Step 2. Confirm to maneuver Windows to the brand new drive by way of OS migration

Click “Yes” to verify and permit EaseUS Partition Master to wash up the goal drive content material to maneuver Windows to the brand new disk.

Step 3. Start shifting Windows to the brand new drive

Click “Start” to verify that you could begin the Windows relocation process. Also, keep in mind to finish the operating packages and cease utilizing your pc throughout the course of. 

Step 4. Configure Windows besides from the brand new drive

Last, when the migration course of completes, you may verify “Adjust the order to boot from the clone target disk” and click on “Reboot Now” to maintain all of the adjustments in your PC.

By doing so, the pc will robotically boot from the brand new disk. Wait patiently to let the pc boot up, and chances are you’ll enter your password to log in. Also, all of your packages and private knowledge are intact on the brand new disk drive.

Guide 2. Using Windows System Image Tool

• Duration: 30-45 minutes
• Tools: Windows pc, Windows Backup and Restore, an empty USB with 16GB, and an exterior laborious drive.

The different environment friendly device is extra appropriate for skilled Windows customers as this requires extra handbook operation on exterior USB drives and Windows computer systems. The full process is to create a system image backup first, then create a restoration USB drive, and final, restore the system picture to a brand new drive.

 So make certain that you observe every step information rigorously, as proven right here:

Step 1. Create a system picture backup for Windows

• Connect an empty exterior laborious drive to your PC.
• Open Control Panel, go to System and Security, and click on “Backup and Restore (Windows 7).
• Click “Create a system image” and choose “Set up backup”.

• Select a vacation spot drive – which is freed from house for saving the system picture backup. Then, click on “Next”. An exterior empty laborious drive is ideal for shifting Windows to a different drive.
• Then, choose what you wish to backup – “Let Windows choose” or “Let me choose.” Click “Next” to proceed. 
• After this, click on “Save settings and run backup” to create a system picture.

Step 2. Create a restoration USB besides the PC to maneuver the OS

• Connect a USB flash drive to your pc.
• Press the Windows + S keys, sort restoration drive, and click on to open from the consequence.
• Once the Recovery Drive window opens, verify “Back up system files to the recovery drive” and click on “Next” to proceed.

• Select the USB drive because the goal, and click on “Next”. Then, observe the onscreen to complete the method.

Step 3. Transfer Windows to a different drive by way of System Image Recovery

• Shut down the pc.
• Open the pc case, and take away the previous OS drive out of your PC.
• Connect the restoration USB drive and exterior laborious drive with system picture backup to the pc.
• Reboot the PC, press the F2/Del key to enter BIOS, and set the pc besides from the USB restoration drive.
• When you see the Windows Setup display, click on “Next”.
• Configure Language, keyboard, and so forth., then go to “Next,” click on “Repair your computer,” choose “Troubleshoot,” and “Advance options.” Then, choose “System Image Recovery.”

• The latest system picture backup will present up within the window. If it fails, choose the right system backup picture out of your goal exterior laborious drive and click on “Next.” 

• Then, verify “Format and repartition disks” and click on “Next”.

The pc will create a brand new partition on the brand new disk drive to revive the system.

• Click “Yes” and “Finish” to verify you wish to transfer and restore Windows to a different new drive.

Last, wait patiently for the system restoration process to finish. 

Once finished, you solely must reboot the PC and watch for Windows besides up robotically. 

Tips to Keep Windows Running Smoothly On The New Drive

Moving Windows to a different drive must be simple if you use a dependable system migration methodology, as offered above. But it nonetheless requires some effort to maintain your pc operating nicely — so apply the next suggestions:

• Windows License Activation: When you progress Windows to a different drive on the identical pc, the license key stays along with your pc. So you may merely boot up the PC with none licensing points. If Windows pops or warns you in regards to the activation, you may merely reactivate it along with your product key. 
• Extend C drive: the important thing to conserving your pc booting rapidly and easily. So depart at the very least 30% to 40% further free house on the C drive. For instance, 120GB C drive with 40GB of free house unused.
• Move massive information and packages to a different drive: It effectively helps to ease the cupboard space within the C drive and shield private content material and packages from the system. 
• Run Disk Cleanup if needed: Cleaning up the system C drive junk information and previous non permanent information additionally helps to optimize pc efficiency.
• Enable antivirus software program: Blocking unknown viruses and malware from the pc can also be a helpful trick for conserving your PC performing nicely. 
• 4K align SSD: When it involves the SSD as your new system drive, 4K align SSD can even enhance its studying and writing pace to a big extent.

Final Words

The strategy of shifting Windows to a brand new drive utilizing system migration software program or system picture backup and restore device is simpler and extra dependable in comparison with system disk clone and Windows reinstallation.

For Windows rookies, it’s sensible of you to show to dependable system migration decision as a substitute of redownloading and reinstalling the working system. 

With a safe and quick Migrate OS function, EaseUS Partition Master eases your power and time from the journey of relocating your pc system to a brand new disk drive. Moreover, chances are you’ll additional optimize your new disk drive and handle the previous system disk with its disk partitioning options in EaseUS Partition Master.

Finally, don’t overlook to maintain your system C drive well timed to keep away from pointless system slowness or poor efficiency points.