I've been using an HDD for booting my system for years, but now I'm looking to switch to an SSD. I've been installing software and saving data on my SSD for a while, and I want to make sure I don't lose anything during this process. The guides I've seen assume that the SSD is blank, and I'm worried about the cloning process potentially wiping my existing data. Is there a way to change the boot drive without losing anything on either drive?
4 Answers
Cloning your boot drive to the SSD **will** erase everything currently on that SSD. It's safest to use a brand new SSD for this cloning process. There are tools out there, some free, that can help you clone your HDD to a fresh SSD without risking your existing files. Trying to switch to an old SSD with data could lead to permanent data loss, so be cautious!
Keep in mind that if you're switching to an M.2 SSD, you might need to install additional drivers.
Check out this link for a tool to clone your drive: https://www.diskgenius.com/manual/clone-disk.php. It’s straightforward and can help you clone your drives safely.
Make sure you know the size of your SSD! If needed, you can use an enclosure to temporarily move files elsewhere before cloning.
How do I transfer data to an enclosure?
Yes, switching will overwrite any data on your SSD. You should back up your important files to another drive before proceeding. You can even clone the HDD back to the SSD later if needed.
Would using Google Drive for backup work?
Looks like I need to buy a new SSD then!