My Windows 11 PC has two NVMe SSDs: a 2TB drive containing Windows and a 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X with enough free space to hold everything from the 2TB drive. The computer intermittently fails to boot with an "INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE" error, so I suspect the 2TB drive may be failing. The PC has an Intel i9-13900K, an MSI Z790 motherboard, and an RTX 4090. I also have a separate drive available for a complete backup. What is the safest way to move Windows and all of my files to the 4TB drive? Can I simply copy the files and change the boot drive in the BIOS, or should I clone the drive or perform a fresh Windows installation?
3 Answers
A fresh installation is usually the safest option if you can reinstall your applications and restore your files afterward. Disconnect the suspected 2TB drive during installation so Windows Setup cannot place boot files on the wrong disk. Install Windows to the 4TB NVMe, reconnect the old drive only after the new installation boots successfully, then copy your data over. Do not format or erase the old drive until you have confirmed that the new one works.
Before replacing the drive, confirm that it is actually failing. Check its SMART health and run the manufacturer’s diagnostic utility or a tool such as CrystalDiskInfo. Also check that the NVMe drive is firmly seated and that the motherboard firmware is current, since an intermittent boot-device error can come from the drive, its connection, or firmware rather than Windows itself. If you choose cloning, keep the old drive untouched and test the cloned installation by booting with the old drive disconnected.
Simply copying the files in File Explorer will not make the 4TB drive bootable. You can either clone the entire 2TB drive, including its EFI and recovery partitions, or perform a fresh Windows installation on the 4TB drive. Before changing anything, back up important files and verify that the backup can actually be opened. Since the 4TB drive already contains data, copy that data somewhere safe first if you plan to repartition or reinstall on it.
I have not tested the drive yet. I’m going to back everything up first and look into checking its health, since I need to avoid losing my school files while I troubleshoot this.
Both drives are NVMe SSDs, and the 4TB WD_BLACK SN850X is fast enough to run Windows without a problem. The concern is mainly preserving the data and making sure the installer creates the proper boot partitions.