How to Transfer Data/Files from One SSD to Another [2 Ways]
Can I Transfer Data from One SSD to Another
You're looking to upgrade your SSD to a larger one and move all your files, games, and OS to the new drive, keeping everything intact. This is a common process called a "clone" or "image" of the original drive. You can use specialized software, such as Acronis or EaseUS, to create an exact copy of your current SSD, and then transfer it to the new, larger drive. This way, you'll have all your files, programs, and OS on the new SSD, with the same layout and structure as before. Is that correct?
You can transfer all data from one SSD to another, including files, apps, and the operating system.
Solid-state drives (SSDs) generally offer faster read/write and boot speeds than hard disk drives (HDDs), but often come at a higher cost for the same capacity. This may prompt users to upgrade from a smaller SSD, such as a 125/250/500 GB model, to a larger one, or to switch to a more advanced SSD model, like transitioning from SATA to NVMe, for a better user experience.
If you don't want to reinstall Windows and apps, or abandon your old data, you can try transferring everything to a new SSD using one of two methods, which can save you time and effort.
2 Ways of Moving Data from One SSD to Another
Transferring data from one SSD to another can be done in different ways, depending on the scope of the transfer. For a small number of files, a simple copy and paste will suffice. However, if you need to move all data, including Windows, a disk cloning or backup and restore approach is required.
Way 1. Clone one SSD to another
Transferring all data from one SSD to another can be done easily through a complete disk cloning process. This method creates an exact copy of the original SSD and transfers it to the target SSD, eliminating the need to reinstall Windows or reformat the drive, making it a convenient and efficient solution.
Way 2. Backup one SSD and restore to another
You can also take a detour by creating a system backup and restoring it to the target SSD, which is more suitable for cases where you have no way to connect the new SSD to your PC alongside the old SSD, or you want to migrate all the data to different hardware.
Both ways can be achieved by professional migration software, Qiling Disk Master Professional. It helps you move everything from one drive to another, suitable for all the HDDs and SSDs that can be detected by Windows.
| √ Transfer Everything | All files, including programs, games, and the operating system, from the source drive will be copied to the target drive, eliminating the need for a reinstallation process. |
| √ Intelligent Clone | This cloning method allows you to transfer data to a smaller SSD by copying only used sectors, which is useful for upgrading to a smaller drive. On the other hand, when transferring to a larger SSD, the sector-by-sector clone method can be used to copy every sector. |
| √ SSD Alignment | Align partitions on the target SSD with one click to enhance reading and writing speed and prolong its lifespan. |
| √ Secure Boot | After migration, you can boot from the cloned SSD successfully. |
Download this trial version of SSD cloning software to learn how to transfer files between any hard drives and solid state drives.
This version supports Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP and has a Server edition for Server users.
How to Transfer All Data from one SSD to Another Directly
Transferring all data from one SSD to another can be done easily and securely by following a step-by-step tutorial, which guides you through the process.
Step 1. Prepare for transferring data
Before moving files and OS to another SSD, prepare by backing up your data, disabling any unnecessary startup programs, and ensuring your SSD is properly connected and recognized by your system. Additionally, ensure your SSD is properly formatted and has enough space to hold your OS and files.
- Install the target SSD to your computer alongside the old SSD. If there's no extra port, you may need a SATA-USB cable or SSD enclosure to connect it.
- Download Qiling Disk Master, install and launch it to get started.
- Be sure to back up any important data on the target SSD before cloning, as the process will overwrite everything on the drive.
Step 2. Launch the software to set up the cloning task
To clone everything, including files and the operating system, to a new solid-state drive (SSD) from the main interface, go to the "Clone" tab and select "Disk Clone".
✍Tips:
◑ The Professional edition supports cloning both data disks and systems disks from MBR to MBR/MBR to GPT, or GPT to MBR/GPT to GPT, while the Standard edition only supports cloning data disks.
◑To move your operating system from one solid-state drive (SSD) to another, you can try using the " ystem Clone" feature. This feature allows you to create an exact copy of your current OS and transfer it to the new SSD, preserving all your settings, applications, and data.System Clone" feature. This feature allows you to create an exact copy of your current OS and transfer it to the new SSD, preserving all your settings, applications, and data.
Step 3. Select the source SSD and the target SSD respectively
Select the original SSD that you want to clone as the source disk, and then click on "Next".
Choose the new SSD as the destination disk and click on "Next".
Step 4. Start moving files to the target SSD
To accelerate the read and write speed of the SSD disk, select "SSD Alignment" and then click "Proceed" to start cloning one SSD to another. Alternatively, you can choose to clone the SSD sector by sector to ensure data integrity.
✎Tips on disk space management and disk partition styles:
You can use the "Edit Partitions" feature to resize partitions with different options and convert the disk type.
- Copy without resizing partitions: The default option, which will not resize the partition size, is the standard choice.
- Add unused space to all partitions: It will add unallocated space to all partitions automatically.
- Manually adjust partition size: To manually extend unallocated space, select a partition and drag the unallocated space to the left or right side.
- Convert the destination disk from MBR to GPT: To ensure compatibility between the source and target disks, convert the target disk's partition style to match the source disk's partition style, either by converting from Master Boot Record (MBR) to GUID Partition Table (GPT) or vice versa.
✎Choose cloning mode accordingly:
This software automatically skips unused and logically bad sectors when transferring data, only copying used sectors by default. If the target drive is smaller, it's best to keep the default settings.
If your target drive is larger than or equal to the source drive, you can select the sector-by-sector clone option to ensure that every sector, including unused ones, is copied. This is particularly useful when cloning a hidden recovery partition, as it guarantees the partition will still function on the target drive.
How to Move Files from One SSD to Another via Backup and Restore
If you want to transfer data from one SSD to a new one completely for free, you can use the backup and restore features in Qiling Disk Master Standard (the free edition) to do so.
A free backup and restore tool that helps transfer data, including the operating system, from one SSD to another by backing up the old disk and restoring it on the new drive, and also allows scheduling backups for added data safety.
I'm happy to help! However, I don't see any steps provided in the text.
✍You can use the File Sync feature to copy folders from one SSD to another while preserving the original format.
Step 1. Install the migration tool and connect the target SSD
To migrate your data to the target SSD, connect it to your computer and ensure it's detected. Next, install and launch the migration software Qiling Disk Master.
If you don't have a way to connect it, create a bootable disk that can boot your computer into WinPE, replace the old SSD with the new one, and perform a system recovery using the bootable drive.
Step 2. Make a backup of your source SSD
To back up your computer, you need to create a hard drive image using the Disk Backup or System Backup feature, or back up individual files or partitions using the File Backup or Partition Backup feature.
Save the disk image on a USB drive or network location to ensure its safety.
Step 3. Choose the backup image to restore
In the Home tab, select the disk backup task and click the Restore option.
You can choose to restore an entire disk or a partition, and click "Next".
Step 4. Choose the target SSD to restore data to
Select the connected SSD as the destination disk, confirm the operations, and click "Proceed".
📢Notes:
◑ If your system crashes or the disk fails, you can create a Windows PE bootable USB or CD to start up your computer and then perform disk image recovery by going to "Tools" > "Create Bootable Media".
◑ If transferring a disk image to a new computer, you can select the " niversal Restore" option in Qiling Disk Master Professional or higher, ensuring the system is bootable after recovery.Universal Restore" option in Qiling Disk Master Professional or higher, ensuring the system is bootable after recovery.
Additions: How to Transfer Specific Files to Another SSD
If you only want to transfer specific files and not the entire system, you can simply use the manual copy way.
1. Connect both SSDs to your computer, either directly or using an external SSD enclosure or dock, to ensure they are accessible and ready for use.
2. To transfer files, navigate to the desired files using File Explorer, then either drag and drop them from the source SSD to the destination SSD or use shortcuts for a simpler transfer process.
- To select multiple files or folders, hold down the Ctrl key while clicking on each item you want to select.
- Select the files/folders you want to copy, right-click on the selection and choose "Copy", or use "Ctrl+C" shortcut keys to copy the files to the clipboard.
- To move files to the new SSD, navigate to the destination folder, right-click on an empty space, and choose "Paste" or press "Ctrl+V" to copy the files to the new drive.
- The files will be copied from the source SSD to the destination SSD, taking time based on the size of the files and the speed of the SSDs.
3. 1. Copy data from old SSD to new SSD using a cloning software. 2.
Verdict
Transferring files and operating systems from one SSD to another can be done easily using a professional program such as Qiling Disk Master. This tool allows you to move data from one SSD to another, whether you're upgrading to a smaller or larger SSD, making the process effortless and efficient.
Qiling Disk Master can clone all types of SSDs, including cloning a hard drive to a Samsung SSD, Seagate SSHD, or another NVMe drive, among others.
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