SSD drive cloning advice

Hello,

I'm not sure if I am posting this in the right section of the forum. I am looking for some advice with regards to cloning my NVMe drive which has Windows 10 installed on it. It's a Samsung 970 Evo Plus, and I am looking to replace like for like. The problem I have is that I only have one of those smaller motherboards with only one SSD slot, so I don't have the option to put the new drive in the PC at the same time and clone directly to it. What options am I left with please (if any)?

In an ideal world, I'd just make the hardware swap and turn on my PC as normal without fuss. That is why I like the idea of cloning over a new Windows 10 installation and installing all of my programs again. But I am not sure if that will be possible in my case.

Unfortunately, my friend Malc, who used to post here [Clam1952], passed away in April. So I am now entirely at your mercy. He was my first port of call for technical assistance and often linked me to threads here hence how I know about the forum. :)

- - - Updated - - -

Forgot to say that the reason I am replacing like for like (i.e. with the exact same drive) is that HD Sentinel is reporting that my existing drive has only 118 days of lifetime left (although all stats otherwise appear good / PERFECT]. So it's not about an upgrade. It's only a Boot OS drive. I also have a HDD in the computer for files/storage.

I do a lot of video editing, so I think I have probably shortened it's lifespan a bit.

cereberus said:

The easiest way is to buy a usb enclosure for the new mvme drive e.g. like this one which I use.

Code:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/UGREEN-Enclosure-External-Thunderbolt-Compatible/dp/B08DNR22Q7/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=m2+ssd+enclosure&qid=1700245547&sr=8-4

Then it is easy to clone to it.

Thanks.

I had seen similar devices but I wanted to ask for advice here before rushing out and buying anything in case they are not very good . Do you mind me asking what software is involved etc? Is there a step by step guide anywhere that I could follow?

Another possibility I saw was a program called Flashboot, which can apparently clone an OS and create a bootable USB stick for installing it on a new drive, but if the backup failed, I would be stuck. I get a bit nervous inside computers so the less time I spend in there, the better. There is probably less risk involved in the method that you suggest cereberus.

cereberus said:

The enclosures need no software - thety just plug any play.

There are loads of tools that will clone directly.

My favourite cloning tool is Macrium Reflect - you can still download the free version even though it is no longer supported.

Some other quailty tools are AOMEI Backupper, Easus Todo, Hasleo Backup.

I am not sure if all the above provide cloning in free versions - Hasleo does definitely.

There is no risk using an enclosure.

Thanks again!

Macrium Reflect seems to be a popular choice (from a cursory Google search), so I would probably try to get hold of that.

In the event that I do manage to successfully clone the drive, will I need to do anything other than swap them inside my PC? Is everything cloned including boot records etc?

Diskgenius (free version) is the most reliable tool I have come across.

I have posted screenshot how to several times. The very entertaining Christopher Barnatt at explaining computers has since made a video , presumably after seeing my posts.

Free Drive Cloning Applications - YouTube

that is a reasonable walkthrough apart from his habit of saying "drive" when he really means disk.

DiskGenius: Data Recovery, Partition Manager, Backup & Disk Utilities

Thanks guys

This is all very useful information.

Out of Macrium and DiskGenius I think the latter looks the easiest to use? So I would pick that at the moment. But I will go back to that YouTube video and check out the Samsung part to see if that changes my mind.

Re Terrabytes written. That is also interesting information. Unfortunately I've already bought the replacement NVMe drive so will definitely be sticking with like for like. Here is the Sentinel info, not sure if I've exceeded reasonable use for the model I have? Something has to be determining the remaining lifetime, right? I know the power on time is a lot too, I tend to leave my PC running except when it's too hot in summer.

It says 85% remaining . I expect that is based on tb already written. That will probably last a while yet. Depends how much writing you do.

heres a screenie of a sdd it shows some 16tb written and 95% remaining.

It will probably drop to 94 % when something over 18tb have been written. Indicating the expected life of 320tbw.



They usually last quite a bit longer than the official quoted tbw.

But once they get past that point, you never know when it will suddenly go into read only mode or something worse.