Position: How Tos - Backup & Restore - How to Migrate Windows OS to SSD /HDD?
DiskGenius - Freeware to quickly migrate Windows OS to SSD or HDD without reinstalling everything!
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What is system migration? A system migration, just as the words imply, refers to the process of transferring current operating system to another storage device such as SSD (solid state drive) or HDD (hard disk drive). The process not only migrates Windows OS, but also installed apps, system updates, drivers, custom settings and wanted personal data on the system disk. If original system disk is of MBR format, both system reserved partition and C drive will be migrated; if it is a GPT disk, the OS migration will include system drive, EFI partition, MSR partition and other specified partitions. After system migration, the destination disk will be bootable, and it can be used to replace the original system disk immediately.
When do you want to migrating system to SSD or HDD? Here are some scenarios that you can simply migrate OS instead of reinstalling Windows from scratch:
How to migrate Windows operating system to SSD or HDD? If you google similar questions, you can find the best solution is transferring OS to new disk with a free and reliable system migration tool.
DiskGenius Free Edition is recommended here to migrate Windows OS to new SSD or hard disk. With this free edition, you can simply select the destination disk which will be used as new system disk, and then click Start button to move OS. Once the process is done, the destination will be bootable, and your computer can boot from it directly. Features related system migration:
Preparations for system migration:
The step-by-step guide to migrate Windows OS to new SSD or HDD:
Step 1. Launch DiskGenius Free Edition on your computer, and click Tools > System Migration.
Step 2. Select a target disk and click OK.
From the pop-up window you can choose the destination disk, and you should make sure the correct disk is selected.
You can set partition size on destination disk by dragging arrows between partition edges, as follows:
Besides, you can also set whether to change boot sequence on your computer, for example, if you want your PC to boot from destination disk at once after system migration completes, then choose "Automatically set to boot from migrated target system"; if you want to set boot sequence in BIOS on your own, then choose "Automatically enter BIOS after rebooting (manually set)". Of cause, you can unselect neither option, and computer will continue booting from original system disk.
Step 3. Click Start button and you will receive a warning that prompts all data on destination will be wiped and overwritten. Click OK to continue.
Step 4. Choose the way of migrating OS.
Hot migration: DiskGenius will migrate Windows to specified disk without shutting down system and users can perform the migration without being disturbed. Such system migration method is powered by Windows VSS technology, which is reliable and effective, and thus it is the recommended choice.
Reboot to WinPE: computer will automatically reboot to DiskGenius WinPE edition which migrates OS to specified SSD or hard disk. Please close all other running programs and save unfinished content before clicking this button. In general, this system migration method will be chosen when Hot Migration does not work as expected.
Step 5. Wait for the process to complete.
Notes:
With DiskGenius, you can easily migrate OS to SSD or HDD on Windows 10/8/7/Vista and Windows Servers, saving time and effort in reinstalling system and programs. Whatever reason of system migration, you can free download DiskGenius and process with the task now.
DiskGenius - A free tool to migrate Windows 10/8/7 operating system to SSD / HDD easily and safely.
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