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Upgrades Medium ⏱ 45–90 min

Clone Windows to a New SSD

Migrate your entire Windows installation to a faster SSD without reinstalling — zero data loss.

1

Download cloning software

Use Macrium Reflect Free or Clonezilla. Install and open it with your new SSD connected via USB adapter. Do not initialise the new drive in Disk Management — let the cloning tool handle it.

2

Select source disk

In Macrium: 'Clone this disk'. Select your current Windows drive (usually Disk 0). Ensure you see the EFI, MSR, and Windows partitions listed.

3

Select destination

Choose your new SSD as the destination. Drag all partitions across. If the SSD is larger, drag the Windows partition edge to fill the space.

4

Run the clone

Click Finish → OK → Continue. The process takes 20–60 minutes depending on data volume. Do not use the PC during this time.

5

Swap the drives

Power off. Remove the old drive and physically install the new SSD in its place. For laptops: use the main 2.5" bay or M.2 slot as appropriate.

6

Boot and verify

Power on. Windows should boot normally from the new SSD. Open Disk Management to confirm the correct drive is active. Speeds in Task Manager → Performance should be noticeably higher.