SSDs surpass HDDs in terms of operational speed, resilience, and data security. Consequently, SSDs are gaining growing popularity as the preferred choice for primary storage. Individuals may transition from an HDD to an SSD if their computer is initially equipped with an HDD. If their computer already possesses an SSD, they might consider upgrading to a larger capacity SSD.
In different scenarios, individuals might also have the need to migrate data to an SSD. When the data being transferred includes documents, images, videos, and similar files, the process is relatively simple. However, when the data to be moved includes the operating system itself, a piece of disk cloning software becomes necessary to aid in the transfer process.
What is the best SSD cloning software in Windows?
Reliable disk cloning software is essential to streamline the cloning procedure. Which tool should I pick? Please follow these principles:
- Support various disk types
Frequently, the new disk might possess an interface or partition style distinct from the old one. The ideal disk clone software should enable you to successfully clone IDE hard drives to SATA, SATA drives to NVMe, M.2 SSDs to SATA SSDs, and similar scenarios.
Furthermore, in the event that the source disk follows a GPT format while the destination disk follows an MBR format, an effective tool must be capable of transferring data between these disks without necessitating an initial partition style conversion.
- Support cloning disks of different sizes
Most cloning software can effectively clone from smaller drives to larger ones. Nevertheless, post-cloning, you might come across the issue of the “cloned drive shows wrong size.” In such a scenario, having a tool that enables you to resize partitions on the destination disk while performing the cloning process would prove to be advantageous.
Occasionally, there’s a need to clone a larger drive, such as a sizable HDD, to a smaller one like an SSD. To accomplish this, a cloning application that can selectively clone only the utilized sectors from the source disk while disregarding empty sectors becomes essential.
- 4K Partition Alignment
In the file system of an SSD, data is typically stored using the smallest 4K sector size. Without 4K alignment on an SSD, any file-related actions require accessing twice the number of physical segments, leading to a notable decrease in SSD performance. When cloning a hard drive to an SSD, it’s imperative to employ a cloning application capable of aligning the SSD with the 4K sector size.
Does there exist a cloning software that fulfills the criteria mentioned above? The answer lies in AOMEI Backupper Professional. What’s more, its interface is designed to be intuitive, making disk cloning tasks easily achievable, regardless of your level of computer proficiency.
How to clone old SSD to new SSD
Suppose you want to clone a smaller SSD to a larger SSD. To begin, establish a connection between the target SSD and your computer. You can connect the destination SSD either internally by using a drive bay or externally through a SATA-to-USB adapter. If the SSD contains existing data, it’s imperative to create a backup of your files there. Following this, proceed with the subsequent steps:
Step 1. Download and install the top SSD cloning software onto your PC. Once launched, navigate to Clone > Disk Clone.
Step 2. After designating the original SSD from your computer as Source Disk, click Next.
Step 3. Choose the newly connected SSD as Destination Disk, then click Next.
Step 4. If you desire enhanced read and write speeds for the SSD, ensure to tick the SSD Alignment option. To initiate the data transfer from the old SSD to the new one, conclude by clicking Start Clone.
Step 5. After cloning, change the boot sequence in the BIOS to boot from the cloned SSD.
Note: For a successful boot, it’s essential to modify the boot mode when transitioning a system disk from MBR to GPT or vice versa.
In search of Windows backup options? Consider exploring the top-notch free backup software – AOMEI Backupper Standard. It offers the flexibility to back up your system, disks, partitions, or files as per your specific needs. With a backup at your disposal, concerns about data loss can be put to rest once and for all!
