Can I clone a HDD from an SSD to boot from so I can install a larger SSD

[harristess]

Hello, this is a follow on question to a question a week or so ago.

My Desktop is M01-F0022na. It has a 256 GB PCIe® NVMe™ M.2 SSD and 1 TB 7200 rpm SATA HDD.

Everything runs from the C: SSD. I'd like to install a larger SSD. 

Someone in the community thought that I had space for a second SSD and I bought one. However, having opened the case, I can see that there's only one slot.

My questions are:

Can I clone the HDD from the SSD, then switch the boot drive to the HDD and replace the 256 SSD with the larger one?

Then can I clone the new SSD from the HDD with degradation of data?

Thanks.

[TheOldMan]

The cloning should work and it will be data for data.  It might be less trouble to use an adapter.  Here are two choices

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=StarTech.com+M2+PCIe+SSD+Adapter+-+x4+PCIe+3.0+NVMe&crid=2JE8IKJF4NG3O&sp...

OR

https://www.amazon.com/usb-m2-adapter/s?k=usb+to+m2+adapter

Using the existing HDD my be confusing unless you make a completely separate folder or directory for the cloning process to use, so as to not make a mess of the HDD.

[harristess]

Thanks for your reply.

Where does the adapter fit? How do I install and use it? 

[TheOldMan]

The USB one just plugs into a USB 3.0 port and then you plug the new SSD into the adapter.  I would disconnect the HDD, before the cloning,  just to prevent any accidental mistakes.

The PCIe adapter uses a PCIe slot.  It will work best on a x4 slot but will just be slower on a X1.

Once the new drive has been cloned, remove the adapter and place the new SSD in place of the old one.  Try a boot up to make sure it worked.

BTW: Acronis or Macrium Reflect are highly regarded but you can get free copies of Acronis if you have a WD or Seagate .

Samsung also provides free cloning software if you buy one of their drives.  If you buy a drive from Crucial they will provide the software.

AOMEI Backupper is also free

[harristess]

Thanks again. Sorry if this is a dumb question but how do I disconnect the hard drive? 

Also, after cloning the new SSD and replacing the old SSD with the new one in the M2 slot, will the PC automatically boot from the new larger one? 

[harristess]

Thanks.

I have bought an adapter for the PCIE slot and am ready to install it.

After cloning the new SSD from the old SSD, can I simply remove the new SSD from the adapter and replace the old SSD with it?