I just bought a new 2TB SSD to replace my old 1TB HDD, planning to clone everything using Acronis. After setting up the source and destination disks, the cloning process crashes every time I try to proceed. So, I decided to go for a fresh installation of Windows instead. I used the Microsoft Media Creation Tool to make a bootable USB drive, adjusted the BIOS to make the USB my boot priority, and started the installation. Unfortunately, after a couple of minutes, I get an error screen every single time. When I restart and try to enter my product key, it claims that it can't be found, even if I select the option for not having one. Now, I can't even get past the boot priority without hitting an infinite blue screen. I've tried using Rufus instead, but I still face similar issues. Recently, I got an error about corrupted drivers too. I'm not very tech-savvy, so I may not have provided all the necessary details. Any help would be appreciated!
3 Answers
If you can access Windows through Safe Mode, it could help you find crash dump files. These would give a lot more insight into what's going wrong. You can look in the C:WindowsMinidump folder for any files and upload them for analysis. Having those could help track down the BSOD issues you're facing with the new SSD installation.
Have you checked if your old 1TB HDD is booting up fine? If it's running okay, it may help to access the old Windows environment to create a backup or copy files over before you fully switch. By confirming everything works, we can get a better idea of what's failing during the clone or install.
It sounds like you're going through a rough patch! First off, make sure you back up your important data before trying anything drastic. If your system BIOS or disk setup has changed, data loss can happen. As for the cloning issues, sometimes manufacturers have their own software that works better. Check if your WD Black SSD has any dedicated cloning software from Western Digital that could simplify the process. Acronis can be hit or miss, depending on the hardware.
I've had good luck with SSDs from Samsung using their Magician software, which is very user-friendly for migrations!
Yeah, the old HDD is booting normally, which is a relief!